The Moon and its Phases Lauren Leale May 25, 2010 Start out by possibly reading them a book about the Moon. Lauren Leale May 25, 2010

What do you know about the Moon? Can you see the Moon during the day? Does the Moon change shape? Get class discussion about what they have observed when they see the Moon at night.

How many shapes does the Moon make? Ask them how many shapes they think the Moon makes (have them count the pictures) and then talk a little bit about the proper names of those shapes. Ask them how often they think the Moon shapes change and then tell them about how often they change. “Now I have an activity for you. Do you think you can put the Moon shapes in order of how they happen throughout the month?”

After students have lined up their pictures according to what they thought the order would be talk about it as a class and ask what their thought process was. Then show them this slide to show what order it happens. Why do they think this order makes sense? Discuss it a little bit more and then go into the flashlight activity. Once that activity is over then they will make their Moon books to show the phases in the order with which they occur.