Teaching Planetary Science - Phases of the Moon

Resource for Grades 7-10

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Teaching Planetary Science: Phases of the Moon

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Video

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Size: 24.9 MB

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Executive Producer Jill Peters

Producer Michelle Chen

Associate Producer Eliana Cruz

Content Producer Sybil Berry

Camera Greg Barna, Michael Pruitt-Bruun

Audio Ken Chin

Editor Michiel Pilgram

Re-recording Mixer Jon Berman

Music Supervision Rosie Fishel

Senior Budget Controller Rekha Menon

Intern Megan Schumm

Special Thanks to Herricks High School, Ward's

Director of Children's and Educational Media Sandra Sheppard

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Related Resources:

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Teaching Planetary Science - Origin of the Moon
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In the second lesson of the series, Andrew Cloud asks students to participate in an activity that illustrates the phases of the Moon. He asks one student to represent the Earth and the other student, the Moon. The student representing the Moon makes one complete rotation or one full spin on their axis while standing in one spot. Andrew guides students to see that the Moon makes a full rotation in the same amount of time it takes to revolve around the Earth one time. The demonstration is followed up by a hands-on lab where students draw the placement of the moon in revolution and rotation.

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Teaching Tips

Phases of the Moon Classroom Activity and Demonstration

In this video, Andrew Cloud asks his students to physically represent the earth and moon. Please note that some teachers prefer to use spheres to model this concept.

Andrew’s Phases of the Moon Classroom Activity

Have one student represent the Earth and the other student, the Moon. Ask the student representing the Moon to make one complete rotation or one full spin on their axis while standing in one spot.
Let the student representing the Moon know they should make the full rotation in the same amount of time it takes her/him to revolve around the Earth one time.
After the Moon student makes the revolution, ask students if they think it’s possible to observe all sides of the moon from Earth. (We only see the near side due to the fact that the moon’s period of rotation is the same as its period of revolution.)
Follow-up with the assessment questions below:
o Do we always see the entire disc of the Moon throughout the month?
o Does the shape of the Moon change? What are these called?

Ward’s Modeling the Moon Motion and Phases Lab Activity

For the lab activity seen in this video lesson, Andrew used Ward’s Modeling the Moon’s Motion and Phases Lab Activity.

Lesson Follow-Up

At the end of the lesson, Andrew gives his students a long-term assignment to map the phases of the moon over the span of one month. Students record their daily observations in a journal.