Phases of the Moon

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why the moon is different shapes, and how it relates to the Earth? Today, you are tasked with learning about the moon phases and how they relate to the Earth. With your groupmates at your table, you will work with each other and figure out the moon's phase order and how it relates to the Earth. 

 Aligned with SC.4.E.5.2 - Describe the changes in the observable shape of the moon over the course of about a month.

Task

Today, you are tasked with figuring out:

1. The phase order of the moon

2. The phase pattern 

3. How the moon is affected by the Earth!

4. One Fact that you didn't know about the moon or Earth!

Finally, you will include this in a PowerPoint Presentation that you will present to the class!

 

Process

Groups of 4: In your groups, you will choose a Researcher, an Image Finder, a Fact Finder, and a Note Taker 

1st Group: Moon Phases

How many phases of the moon are there?

What are the phases of the moon?

2nd Group: Moon Pattern

What is the pattern of the moon?

Why are moon patterns important?

3rd Group: Moon's Effect on the Earth

What is the moon's purpose?

How does it affect the Earth?

Resources

spaceplace.nasa.gov - Moon Phases YouTube Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lrnNUqTmGU

ScienceNews.org - Using the Moon as a Calender in the Sky- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moon-time-calender-ancient-human-art

planetary.org - The phases of the moon explained Article - https://www.planetary.org/articles/the-phases-of-the-moon-explained

Present: Each group will present their PowerPoint Presentation to the class

Submit your work: Each Note Taker will turn in the notes that they took after while their group made the powerpoint 

Evaluation

Category

4 - Accepted

3 – Great

2 Can be Improved

1 -

Incomplete

Content Accuracy

All answers are accurate, detailed, and fully answered.

Most answers are accurate, detailed, and mostly answered.

Some answers are accurate and detailed, while others are not.

None of the answers are accurate and detailed, or accurately answered.

Use of Technology

Used Technology effectively

Mostly used technology effectively

Some used technology effectively

None of the technology is used technology

Team

Collaboration

All Groupmates worked very well together all groupmates contributedanswer s are accurate,

detailed, and fully answered.

Most groupmates mostly worked together, and most groupmates contributed

Some groupmates worked together, and some groupmates contributed

None of the groupmates worked together and noe of the grroupmates contributed

Notetaker

Submission

Notetakers’ notes are related to the topic

Notetakers’ notes are mostly related to the topic

Some Notetakers’ notes are related to the

topic

None of the notetakers' notes are related to the

topic.

Presentation

The presentation is engaging and well organized. All

Groupmates talk.

The presentation is mostly engaging

and well

Some of the presentation is engaging and

well organized.

None of the presentation is engaging

and well

 

 

Conclusion

Well done, students! You learned about the moon phases and how they impact the Earth. 

Each group gave a pretty detailed presentation, logging all your finds, finding images, taking notes, researching, and finding fun facts about the moon or the earth, and what purpose it has in our environment. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt_LtIJyISQ

Enrichment Video about the Phases of the Moon