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4. All activities are online on LPI’s STEP website

5. Lunar Phases Essential Question
How can using different models of moon phases help
students understand why we have moon phases each month and not lunar eclipses?

6. How Far Is the Moon
Create a scale model of the Earth-Moon system with balloons.
Each pair will have two balloons.
Step 1: inflate them to the relative sizes of the Earth and Moon.
Step 2: estimate how far apart they should be, at this scale.
You have 5 minutes for this task.

7. Moon Size ~ 1/4 width of Earth Radius of 1080 miles
Gravity ~1/6 of Earth’s
Earth’s radius = 6378 kilometers or 3963 miles
Moon’s radius = 1738 kilometers or 1080 miles
Earth image from

8. Relative Size and Distance of Earth and Moon?
From
This is what Earthrise looked like from lunar orbit during the Apollo 11 mission. One of the reasons for studying the Moon is to understand more about the origin and geologic history of the Earth. The Moon provides information about how Earth formed, about its initial state, and about its bombardment history. This information has been erased from Earth by billions of years of mountain building, plate motions, volcanism, weathering, and erosion. (AS )
Relative Size and Distance of Earth and Moon?

9. Earth and Moon to Scale
From
This image conveys the distance between Earth and Moon. You can demonstrate a scale model to your audience by providing one of your participants with a tennis ball (Moon) and one with a basketball (Earth).  Ask the audience to determine how far apart the two balls should be about 24 feet.
Original Caption Released with Image:
2001 Mars Odyssey's Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) took this portrait of the Earth and its companion Moon, using the infrared camera, one of two cameras in the instrument. It was taken at a distance of 3,563,735 kilometer s (more than 2 million miles) on April 19, 2001 as the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft left the Earth. From this distance and perspective the camera was able to acquire an image that directly shows the true distance from the Earth to the Moon. The Earth's diameter is about 12,750 km, and the distance from the Earth to the Moon is about 385,000 km, corresponding to 30 Earth diameters. The dark region seen on Earth in the infrared temperature image is the cold south pole, with a temperature of minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit). The small bright region above it is warm Australia. This image was acquired using the 9.1 µm infrared filter, one of nine filters that the instrument will use to map the mineral composition and temperature of the martian surface. From this great distance, each picture element (pixel) in the image corresponds to a region 900 by 900 kilometers or greater in size or about size of the state of Texas. Once Odyssey reaches Mars orbit each infrared pixel will cover a region only 100 by 100 meters on the surface, about the size of a major league baseball field.
If Earth were a basketball, then the Moon would be a
tennis ball,
23.5 feet away!

10. Moon Mania: Modeling Lunar Phases
If the Moon is a waxing crescent today, what phase will they see in China in a week?

11. Graphing the Moon’s Illumination
Percent of Moon Illuminated by the Sun (as seen from Earth)
Day % 1 10 8 25 15 89 22 2 4 9 35 16 94 23 82 3 46 17 98 24 74 11 56 18
100 64 5 12 66 19 26 53 6 13 75 20 27 42 7 14 21 28 31
How does the amount of the Moon we see change over time?

12. Let’s Graph
Each person or pair will graph data for 1 week on their graph sheet; each table should collaborate so that an entire month is graphed.
Graphs will be line graphs.
Write the name of the dates on your graph.
You have 4 minutes to complete this part of the activity.

13. Analyze Your Data Assemble your graphs in order and examine the data.
Which dates are New Moon? Write “New” above those dates.
Which dates are Full Moon? Write “Full” above those dates.
Estimate and write “1st Q” and “3rd Q” for first and third quarter dates.
What patterns do you observe?
What is the order of the Moon’s phases? Does the order ever change?
How often is there a full moon? A new moon?
You have 5 minutes for this task

14. Moon Phases: Preliminary Topics
Before students can understand the reason for phases, they need to understand:
The Moon orbits the Earth
The Moon orbit at an angle with respect to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun
The Moon doesn’t shine on its own; it reflects sunlight
The scale of the Moon and Earth’s sizes and distance
We highly recommend doing Earth and Moon statistics with workshop participants before doing this powerpoint, if you intend to discuss the reason for phases or eclipses.

15. Observing and Identifying
New (couple days) Waxing Crescent (several days) 1st Quarter Waxing Gibbous (several days) Full Waning Gibbous (several days) 3rd Quarter Waning Crescent (several days) New
Images from
In some states, young elementary students may be required in their science standards to observe the changing patterns in the Moon’s appearance. Making observations part of the classroom assignments is a fundamental part of this; the students can bring in drawings of the Moon’s appearance on paper or on paper plates, and they can be placed on the wall over a period of 1-2 months. Students can also make phases out of Oreo cookies.

16. Golf Ball Phases
Model the Moon’s phases using a golf ball on a tee and a blacklight.
What does the golf ball represent in this model?
What does the blacklight represent?
Where is the Earth?

17. Golf Ball Phases Exaggerate the Moon’s inclination:
Start at waist height, between you and the blacklight
As you turn counterclockwise (to your left), raise it to shoulder height
As you face away from the blacklight, raise it above your head
As you keep turning to your left, lower it to shoulder height, then waist-height
You have 8 minutes for this task

18. Modeling Moon Phases and Eclipses

19. Phases of the Moon
Do you see the different phases as the “Moon” revolves around the “Earth”?

20. Discussion What phases did you see?
Why was the direction you turned important?
What are the limitations of this model?

21. Paper Plate Phases
Create a 3D model of the Moon phases using paper plates surrounding a globe.
We will pass out paper plate sets and Moon globes to teams of 9 people.
One person will hold the “Sun” beach ball.
Everyone needs to determine where their phase should be, relative to their Earth and the Sun.
If time permits, we will trade phases (and move the Sun).
You have 5 minutes for this task
Once the reason for seasons has been demonstrated, the concepts can be mastered with further activities. For instance, the participants may be able to predict the location of various cities (far north, north, equatorial, south, or far south) from the pattern of daylight hours throughout the year.
From SkyTellers activity
Seasons Across the Continents

22. Conclusion
How Far Is the Moon - Graphing the Moon’s Illumination - Golf Ball Phases - Paper Plate Phases
How would you modify these activities for your classroom?
What other resources do you need for these activities?
Other suggestions and questions?

23. Think-Pair-Share Moon Phases Assessment
The intent is to ask questions that require the students to use reasoning and critical thinking skills, then invite them to share their thoughts with each other. These are not fair test questions.
Best procedures: read quietly to yourself (so you don’t give any subconscious clues)
As the instructor, we read it too, for timing, then ask if anyone needs more time
If not, it’s time to vote simultaneously—use your fingers, right in front of your chest so others don’t see (anonymous)

24. Which of these best describes the Sun, Earth, Moon system?
The Moon orbits the Earth, which orbits the Sun.
The Earth orbits the Moon, which orbits the Sun.
Sometimes the Sun goes around the Moon.
The Earth and Moon orbit the Sun.
None of these are correct.

25. Examine the data for the Moon’s phases. What lunar phase
will occur on August 10?
3rd Quarter
Full
at or very near 1st Quarter
at or very near New
any of the above, depending upon other factors.
Date
Lunar Phase
June 27
3rd Quarter
July 4
New Moon
July 11
1st Quarter
July 19
Full Moon
July 26

26. Which of these statements about the Moon are accurate?
The Earth is ½ the width of the Moon.
The Moon is ¼ the width of the Earth.
The Moon’s revolution lasts a week.
The Moon’s revolution lasts a month.
a and b
a and c
a and d
b and c
b and d

27. Implementation Discussion Collaboration/Reflection
How can you use any of the activities/ presentation content from today in your programs/activities?
What barriers may present themselves? How can you modify activities to suit your needs?
Do you have suggestions for your colleagues?
Are there ways you can partner with anyone here?