A lesson demonstration using a golf ball, softball and basketball, along with a flashlight, serves as a model to aid in comprehension. The moon reflects the light of the sun, but does not make its own. After the completion of the activity, students complete a written reflection. Select a dark room for this activity and move desks and other objects out of the way so that students can move around the room freely.
Sep 03, 2009 my son and i are enjoying our time spent learning about the moon. Science teaching junkie, inc clearest way to teach moon. Moon at a glance suggested books expository narrative the moon by melanie chrismer the moon book by gail gibbons moonday by adam rex drill and practice conceptual activities bingo memory phases of the moon cookies phases of the moon flashlight. The moon phase trek lesson plan educators reference desk. I offered fresh, unstrep cookies after the job was completed. Compare your drawings with the moon phases shown on the transparency. This can be a very effective way to show the light and dark areas of the moon and i love that they used cookies to show all the phases in a full cycle im sure everyone will volunteer to help clean up after this activity is over. Nasa jpl this moon phase activity allows students to act out the phases of the moon in about 30 minutes. The teach junkie physical science section is growing in numbers of pictured tutorials with free lesson plans for how to teach science so you. Usually we think of the moon as having four phases, but there are actually twentyeight. Carry the beauty of moonlight and project it anywhere with this convenient moon torch.
Make oreo moon phases and use a flashlight to explain why the moon changes. The day we used the oreos, only 16 students were present. I have chosen an activity that helps students actually see the moon go through its phases, a related text, and a followup way to make and record the phases. Because the visualization in this activity can be difficult for some students, consider doing this activity with a smaller group while the rest of the class works on a moon phase chart or another project, or do this activity more than once.
Montessori phases of the moon activities gift of curiosity. Moon learning activities and book suggestions lessons. Exploring the phases of the moon activity uciobs 5 grade level. We have been reading some books about the moon lately see end of post for three of them and i have been working on some moon activities to accompany our reading. Kids of all ages will be excitedly to learn in this moon unit for kids. One of the most exciting parts of homeschooling with oak meadow is the. Here are 21 super moon phases activities and resources including a. Phases of the moon printable oreo moon phases, moon. Toys from trash moon activities, toys from trash, flip book. To help your kids learn about the eight phases of the moon, you can do a 3. Moon phases flip book lunar and planetary institute. I shuddered in my shoes when i planted these seeds. Moon phases ideas for teaching, resources for lesson.
Have students cut out each of the 8 pages in the book. Montessoriinspired moon activities for toddlers and preschoolers. From there, students create moon phase cards, which is used to track their learning of the moon. Montessoriinspired moon activities for toddlers and. Students roam the classroom and other students give hints as to which phase the other students are. Sep 20, 2018 oreo cookie activity to show kids how the moon has different shapes and phases.
Check out this moon phase slider and some favorite books about the moon. This cookie moon phase activity is included in our full moon unit. Why does the moon look different on different days. Enjoy learning about the moons phases with this handson moon activity for kids. The moons placement for this chart is based on pacific standard time pst. The student will provide an explanation for why each phase of the moon is lit the way it is. When my son brought home his phases of the moon project from school, he wasnt very happy. We have all seen the moon change its shape throughout the month as it goes through its phases. They take part in a fishbowl think aloud to encourage conversation and questioning from one another. Everyone has gazed at the moon, but why does it not always look the same to us.
We are well into our oak meadow grade one curriculum now. The moon shines because its reflecting light from the sun. My kids absolutely love playing with flashlights, so i deliberately included a flashlight in our first moon phases activity. Have them stand facing the sunlamp at noon with the. Sep 28, 2016 i am excited to partner with oak meadow to bring you these fabulous moon activities for kids. When you and your kids look into the night sky, you may discuss how the moon changes shape over the course of a month. The recorders take note of the amount of light reflecting from the moon with regard to the different locations of the moon and the earth throughout the activity.
Students construct a model using construction paper, chalk, tape, flashlight, scissors, string, and a. This is a general list of lunar phase activity dates. During our first 4 weeks we have been observing and learning about moon phases. We used the flashlight along with the moon models we had previously created to show how the sun only lights up one side of the moon at a time. I often awoke from a deep sleep, grabbing a flashlight and rushing to the garden fence to see if some creature had stolen my no no crop. Using one student to hold the flashlight, two to hold the board, and one to get into the moon phase transporter, you can actually see the moon phases lit by the flashlight. Ask participants where the light on the moon comes from the sun c. The participant would observe the changes in moon phase as the moon ball orbits their head, the earth. Moon phases ideas for teaching, resources for lesson plans. My 2yearold granddaughter, zoey, has been in love with the moon for quite awhile now. Looking for a fun moon phases activity for teaching kids. Occurs after the waxing crescent phase and before the waxing gibbous phase. Driveby science moon phase activity stanford solar center.
This activity is normally done using a clear light bulb placed high in the middle of a circle of participants. Jan 16, 20 join rick as he and his students use a model to demonstrate the eight phases of the moon. She adapted lessons from lawrence hall of sciences gems in order to give her students lots of opportunities to answer the essential question. Annotation recommended annotation visible only to you. Students learn about the phases of the moon and apply this knowledge to other fun activities. I am excited to partner with oak meadow to bring you these fabulous moon activities for kids. Simple science at its best perfect for kindergarten, first grade and second grade. Demonstrate moon phase exploration activity to class. We have been reading some books about the moon lately see end of post for three of them and i have been working on some moon activities to accompany our reading the first activity is our moon phase viewer. Turn on and point the torch at walls and ceilings at night or in dark rooms to see the moon. Oreo moon phases activity oreo moon phases, moon activities.
Copy of the book faces of the moon by bob crelin charlesbridge. Then, in the associated activity, student pairs use styrofoam balls and lamps to act it out, reproducing the moon phases. In todays lesson, we focus in on the first pattern the moons phases. In 30 minutes, they will act out one complete, 30day, moon cycle. Enjoy hours of fun with this handy 4m kidz labs moon torch kit. I believe the oreo is a staple for teaching moon phases. Look for the new moon phase the completely black moon for. Students construct a model using construction paper, chalk, tape, flashlight, scissors, string, and.
The 16 page mini book easily explains how the moon phases work. A neat project that i have done with much success is a moon phase book. For easier flipping, paste each one onto a separate index card. In light of publishing my first childrens book about the moon, i decided to update our delicious moon phase project made with cooki. Tape a popsicle stick as a handle at the bottom of each plate. As an introduction to this activity, view the newtons apple video about the phases of the moon. I know this is not a good tutorial with photos and everything and the result is not a. May 01, 2015 creating phases of the moon with a flashlight. Ericas students used their science notebooks to record observations of the moon, formulate initial ideas about. In this activity, your child will put together his or her own flip book of the moons phases. The moon appears a little different every day or night, and then begins to repeat its changes of shape or phase each month. In this identifying the phases of the moon activity, students read descriptions of phases of the moon and draw pictures of the moon showing those phases.
Participants will learn what causes the phases of the moon and eclipses. After they asked how the moon shrunk and grew, i knew it was the perfect time to teach them about the moons phases with this ohsoyummy oreo space activity. The moon phase when the moons entire illuminated side is. Driveby science a series of quick activities for informal. Super fun and yummy project for kids studying all about the moon. Assessmentfirmup ordering moon phase imagery activity this activity is inspired by one originally taught by dennis schatz to the astronomical society of the pacifics project astro participants. Tape a page from the flip book on the back of each student. When it is more than halfilluminated, it is said to be in gibbous phase. After you have created the transporter, you are now ready for the viewing. In this lunar phases activity, 3rd graders work in groups to create the moon and the earth out of playdoh and use a flashlight to demonstrate how the phases of the moon occur. In this phases of the moon lesson plan, 3rd graders experiment with a ball and a flashlight to explore the phases of the moon. Give each student a copy of the moon phases chart to take home. Assessmentfirmup ordering moon phase imagery activity this activity is inspired by one originally taught by dennis schatz to the astronomical society of the.
When we cant see the moon at all during the new moon phase, the moon is positioned between the earth and the sun so that the bright part of the moon is facing completely away from the earth. A moon calendar that has students observe and draw the phases of the moon. This includes my favorite activity, building a moon phase. Demonstrate reflection by shining a flashlight on a mirror and showing the reflection on a wall. The moons phases are caused by its orbit around the earth.
Students create moon logs to record and sketch how the moon looks each night in the sky. As you do the activity, remind students that what they are doing in 30 minutes takes the moon about 30 days to do. In preparation for this activity, discuss moon phases with students. Read descriptions of each phase to the class from the moon book and.
Alongside the moon rows, i had planted several rows of beets when the moon chart clearly said, do not plant root crops at this time. Oreo cookie activity to show kids how the moon has different shapes and phases. Moon phase when half of the moon is illuminated by sunlight and the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing. Moon phase sequencing the moonie pokey song flashlight phases of the moon word work game. Great handson science for kids during a space unit. This is hard to visualize, but you can try it with a ball for the moon and a flashlight for the sun, and you as. We do this project after i have read the moon seems to change by franklyn branley andor papa, please get the moon for me. So ive gathered some montessoriinspired moon activities that work well for toddlers or preschoolers. We have found mixandmatch fun flip books templates for different creatures as well as a moving action flip book to. Learning about the moon and stars can be a fun activity for you and your children. Emily morgan, author of next time you see the moon, takes you through the phases of the moon in a demonstration that will be easy to.
Phases of the moon lesson plan for 3rd grade lesson planet. Students learn about the phases of the moon by acting them out. Moon phases activities free moon activities, oreo moon. Apr 12, 2016 my 2yearold granddaughter, zoey, has been in love with the moon for quite awhile now. Light source, such as a lamp shade removed with a bright, clear, incandescent bulb 100 watts or higher management. We also do this after the students have observed the changes in the moon over a period of time or we have shown how the moon phases work in class with. Give each group of four students a flashlight, softball, and moon charts. An expert answers common student questions, including why the moon changes shape, how it affects our tides, and the possibility of humans ever living there. Emily morgan, author of next time you see the moon, takes you through the phases of the moon in a demonstration that will be easy to replicate in your own classroom. Teaching the phases of the moon just got a little easier. In fact, the month is based on the changing moonits a moonth.
The light bulb would represent the sun, the participants head the earth, and the styrofoam ball the moon. Copy the moon phases worksheet if you are using the brainpop movie rather. When the moon is full, and we see a full circle of light in the sky, earth is between the moon and the sunthe moons bright side is facing us. Draw each prediction of the moon phases on your paper. With these firsthand observations, they are ready to figure out how the continuously changing relative positions of the moon, earth and sun. Here are 21 super moon phases activities and resources including a few printables, a song and videos. Sometimes it is a big, bright, circle, but, other times, it is only a tiny sliver. My view of the new moon using the moon phase transporter. Make a moon phase viewer books and activities for kids.
The sign of the moon plus the phase of the moon at midnight for the listed dates is considered the primary placement for the day in this time zone. A flashlight held near the moon ball will represent the light from the sun. Read descriptions of each phase to the class from the moon book and show corresponding illustrations. Have students put the pages in order from 1 to 8, with 1 on top and 8 on the bottom. It helps to look at a diagram to fully understand the phases of the moon and there is a good one at clear skies on demand. I hope these can help you teach phases of the moon for kids in meaningful ways. Power the torch with 3 ag button batteries included with the torch. Join rick as he and his students use a model to demonstrate the eight phases of the moon. Phases of the moon using a flashlight and basketball. Good for science regarding the solar system, earth, sun, moon, or a space theme. Moon phases investigation california academy of sciences.
The activity uciobs6 rising and setting of the moon is an excellent followon to the moon phase activity, in which students will explore why each different phase of the moon rises and. In this lesson, the moon and its phases, students begin with a brainstorming activity about the moon to activate their prior knowledge. Erica spent a few months exploring phases of the moon with her fifth grade students. This cookie moon phase activity uses oreo cookies to show the various phases of the moon. For day two, collect tennis balls, soft balls, beach ball, and a flashlight. Who knew science could be so tasty getting ready to prep the activity, i needed.
This includes a coloring worksheet with the accurate names for the phases of the moon. Assessmentfirmup ordering moon phase imagery activity. It is hands on and interactive and will be a science activity that your students will remember. Book clubs book fairs scholastic education classroom magazines about us. Abstract sometimes a full moon can be so bright, you can walk around in the dark without a flashlight. The moon has a fixed and predictable orbit circular pattern around our earth. Sep 16, 2014 emily morgan, author of next time you see the moon, takes you through the phases of the moon in a demonstration that will be easy to replicate in your own classroom. The part of the moon we see each night depends on the positions of the earth and moon relative to the sun. Ask students to flip the pages and observe how the moon changes phases. Along with drawing the moon phase,students record the time of day and direction in which they view the moon. Kids will have fun learning about the moon with this free moon phases mini book. Students can keep a journal of what the moon looks like each night for a month, create a picture book for younger children explaining why the moon goes through phases and what the moon looks like for each phase, research about moon landings, or explore myths and folklore pertaining to each full moon during the year.
Make a photocopy of the moon phase experiment pages 1114. How much brighter is a full moon than the other phases of the moon. Discuss the phases of the moon and show pictures of each phase full moon, crescent moon, half moon, new moon. When groups are finished, maybe 5 minutes, each group should debrief with itself. My son and i are enjoying our time spent learning about the moon. Page 2 moon phases investigation quarter moon has its left side illuminated.
Moon phases activity for kids moon phases activity for kids looking for a fun moon phases activity for teaching kids check out this moon phase slider and some favorite books about the moon moon phases activity for kids great for a space lesson finsing the best science fair project idea can be hard. Cookie moon phase project victoria washington cookie moon phase project super fun and yummy project for kids studying all about the moon. This phases of the moon lesson plan is suitable for 3rd grade. Which phase is the moon in for each groups drawing. Students cut the flip book and see the moon change over a 29 day cycle. After making a run to the dollar tree and rummaging through our science storeroom to collect the needed supplies to make this, it was pretty inexpensive and so worth every penny.
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