The Earth / Moon / Sun System

NC Standard:  3.04, 3.05

Activity:  Phases of the Moon

Question: Does the moon seem to change from night to night?

Vocabulary: reflection, phases

Background: Read the following book:

The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn Branley

Due to the fact that the moon usually isn't visible while school is in session use the following website to see the phases of the moon as it travels around the sun:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/

Procedure: 

• 1. Tell students that each of them will be doing some observations of the moon at home during the evening.

• 2. Observations will need to take place about the same time and from the same location every time.

• 3. These observations will need to include drawings of what the moon looks like.

• 4. They will need to keep track of their observations for almost a month.

• 5. Pass out the calendars.

• 6. Explain how each day has space for a small drawing of what they see.

• 7. Discuss each day what the moon looks like.

• 8. Other questions for discussion may be:
  Why does it change shape?
  If the moon is a sphere, why does it disappear and change so much?
  Where does the rest of it go?
  Why is the moon moving in the sky?

• 9. Have students make predictions about the moon changes.
  

Conclusions: Students after sharing and discussing their moon charts should understand the following:
1. The moon is orbiting the Earth.
2. The moon is reflecting or bouncing sunlight
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Line of Learning:  This line is drawn to provide students with a space to share their experimental learning in words or pictures.
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