Kimberly Baker - Marquette East 

Moon Phases

Kimberly Baker                    Marquette East 
                                  6201 S. Fairfield
                                  CHICAGO IL 60629
                                  (773) 535-9500 

Objective(s):

        A moon phase chart is an easy way to illustrate the waxing and waning of 
the moon.  Students can discover why the moon isn't visible.  They also come to 
understand why varying locations warrant different phases. 
        This lesson is designed for second grade, but may be used for upper 
grades as well.

Materials Needed:

        One large poster board
        One medium - large size ball
        An overhead projector
        30 paper circles about 8cm in diameter, made from black construction 
         paper
        A calendar with dates of the new moon, 1st quarter, full moon and the 
         4th quarter
        White chalk

Strategy:

        1. Make a chart to show the phases of the moon.
        2. Use black circles (8cm in diameter) to show the thirty phases 
           of the moon.
        3. Use white chalk to show the white portions of the moon phases.       
           For example:
        4. Paste or tape the various moon phases in order on the large poster 
           board.
        5. Number and label each card, under each moon phase, in the following
           order:  1 - New moon; 2 - New Crescent; 3 - Crescent; 4 - Crescent;
           5 - Crescent; 6 - Crescent; 7 - Crescent; 8 - First Quarter; 9 - 
           Gibbous; 10 - Gibbous; 11 - Gibbous; 12 - Gibbous; 13 - Gibbous;
           14 - Gibbous; 15 - Full Moon; 16 - Gibbous; 17 - Gibbous; 18 - 
           Gibbous; 19 - Gibbous; 20 - Gibbous; 21 - Gibbous; 22 - Gibbous;
           23 - Last Quarter; 24 - Crescent; 25 - Crescent; 26 - Crescent;
           27 - Crescent; 28 - Crescent; 29 - Crescent; 30 - Old Crescent.
                                                                          
Performance Assessment:

        1. Have students circle the projector and ball.  As the students 
           circle, the ball's crescent grows from First Quarter to First 
           Gibbous, it becomes obvious to them that the Moon's change is 
           gradual rather than a jump from one phase to the next as pictured 
           on some calendars.               

                (Of course, since each child is in a slightly different 
                 location with respect to the ball (Moon) at any given  
                 moment, each is seeing a different phase.)

        2. Students may also be assessed while having fun with musical moon         
           positions.  Chairs are optional.  Music should be used.  While 
           students slowly circle the moon (ball in front of overhead  
           projector), call stop, then ask students to identify the 
           phase they see.

                (This demonstration actually shows the phase changes of an 
                 inferior planet rather than the Moon; it is not intended to 
                 be accurate, only to show phases.)

        3. To be sure that students have grasped the pattern of moon
           phases, refer to a calendar for the current moon phase and have 
           each student, on a blank calendar, draw moon phases accordingly.
           Students can check their accuracy each night by watching the moon.

                (Again, warn students that, because each child is in a slightly  
                 different location with respect to the Moon, each is 
                 seeing a slightly different phase.)

        4. Have students chart the phases from their calendars on the board.
           Start with the more significant phases first, ie New Moon, 1st 
           qtr., Full Moon, etc...   Next, fill in all of the other phases.
           Be sure to inform students on whether white shading will 
           represent the lightness or darkness of the moon in its phase!

Conclusions:

        A moon phase chart is an easy way to illustrate the waxing and waning  
of the moon.  Children who follow a phase on the moon chart each morning will 
not grow up thinking that the moon has only four phases and will be in a 
better position to understand other gradational processes in nature.

References:

       Science and Children.  May 1982, Vol. 19, No. 8