PARAMOUNT SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE
TIME AND SPACE DISCOVERY CENTER
LESSON PLAN
1
Phases of the Moon by Sara Whitsell, Second Grade, 40 Minutes
Time and Space: Author: 40 minutes
Science Concepts
Mathematical Concepts
SCI.2.2.8 2010
MA.2.5.10 2000
Investigate how the moon appears to move through the sky
during the day by observing and drawing its location at
different times.
Know relationships of time: seconds in a minute, minutes in
an hour, hours in a day, days in a week, and days, weeks,
and months in a year.
Relationships of time—it takes about a month for the moon
to orbit the earth.
Elapsed time-how the moon changes over the course of 28
days.
SCI.2.2.9 2010
Investigate how the shape of the moon changes from day to
day in a repeating cycle that lasts about a month.
Lesson Objectives
Interdisciplinary Objectives
EL.2.3.5 2006
Students will be able to describe the phases of the moon.
Students will be able to understand that the moon does not
ever disappear or change shapes.
Students will be able to understand that we only see the
illuminated portions of the moon.
Confirm predictions about what will happen next in a story.
EL.2.3.7 2006
Identify the meaning or lesson of a story.
EL.2.7.3 2006
Paraphrase (restate in own words) information that has
been shared orally by others.
SS.2.4.6 2007
Define specialization and identify specialized jobs in the
school and community.
Example: Teachers, school nurses and firefighters
specialize in particular kinds of jobs.
Astronauts, Astronomers
•
Assessment
Vocabulary
Product Name or Assessment Description
Grade level tier 2 and 3 vocabulary used in lesson
Informal assessment is teacher observation of class
discussion and participation.
Formal assessment is the labeling the phases of the moon
worksheet.
Ø
Ø
Tier 2 vocabulary: cycle, phase, orbit, illuminate
Tier 3: Crescent, gibbous, waxing, waning
Lesson Description
Background Knowledge required: The moon changes shape; it is not the same every night. The earth
orbits the sun and is our source of light and warmth. The moon orbits the earth. The earth rotates on its
axis. There are 24 hours in each day with periods of light and dark.
Paramount School of Excellence
3020 Nowland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46201
www.paramountindy.org Ph: 317-777-6660
Fax: 317-423-0569
PARAMOUNT SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE
TIME AND SPACE DISCOVERY CENTER
LESSON PLAN
2
(Time & Space Presentation Room)
•
Begin with the story The Disappearing Moon by Dori H. Butler. It is a projectable book from Reading A-Z found at
this website http://www.readinga-z.com/projectable/book.php?id=916&lang=1&type=book (Ask your copilot for
user name/password are needed for this website) Have students read words out loud if able, lower level students
can follow along.
•
While reading, stop to check for understanding. Predict what is really happening.
•
Explain that the animals in the story were noticing the phases of the moon. (10 minutes)
•
Show graphic from http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases.phtml
Explain that we actually see the illumination of sunlight on the moon and that exactly half of the moon is
illuminated at a time. How much we see depends on the angle.
Fill in phases of the moon worksheet together as a class or separately, as needed. Worksheet can be projected on
the big screen TV. Available at http://pickettsmill.typepad.com/pritchard/2009/08/, Choose “Label phases” or
use a Core Knowledge worksheet with 4 phases for lower level students. Worksheets can also be completed in the
classroom. (10 Minutes)
(Solar System Room)
•
•
Project the website http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=swf::800::600::/sites/dl/free/0072482621/78778/Lunar_Nav.swf::Lunar%
20Phases%20Interactive
•
View and discuss the website’s introduction and names of the different phases of the moon.
•
View the “interactive” and discuss what is happening in each pane. The left pane shows the orbit of the moon
around the earth as the earth rotates on its axis. The top right pane shows the changes in the day and night sky
throughout the lunar cycle. The bottom right pane shows the progression of time throughout the lunar cycle.
•
Choose the ”exercises” tab. See if you can use the “interactive” to answer the questions. Answers are provided in
the “solutions” tab” (20 minutes)
•
Possible follow up in your classroom:
o Oreo Cookie moon phases see http://analyzer.depaul.edu/paperplate/Oreo%20Moon%20Phases.htm
Create cookies to resemble different phases of the moon.
o Keep a moon calendar for 1 month (whole class)
o Link to Moon Tracker one week worksheet: http://classroomcompulsion.blogspot.com/2012/09/shineon-shine-on-harvest-moon.html
Fast 5’s
1. What causes the moon to look different throughout the month?
2. Where does moonlight come from?
3. Name some phases of the moon.
4. Does the moon actually disappear?
5. What is the lunar cycle?
Differentiation
•
Teacher can choose students to read aloud from The Disappearing Moon based on student reading levels.
•
Teacher has two choices of worksheet to use as assessment based on student ability levels.
Paramount School of Excellence
3020 Nowland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46201
www.paramountindy.org Ph: 317-777-6660
Fax: 317-423-0569
PARAMOUNT SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE
TIME AND SPACE DISCOVERY CENTER
LESSON PLAN
3
Materials
•
•
Copies for the group of both moon phases worksheets
Pencils
Paramount School of Excellence
3020 Nowland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46201
www.paramountindy.org Ph: 317-777-6660
Fax: 317-423-0569
PARAMOUNT SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE
TIME AND SPACE DISCOVERY CENTER
LESSON PLAN
4
APPENDIX A
Websites
http://www.readinga-z.com/projectable/book.php?id=916&lang=1&type=book
http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=swf::800::600::/sites/dl/free/0072482621/78778/Lunar_Nav.swf::Lunar
%20Phases%20Interactive
http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases.phtml
http://pickettsmill.typepad.com/pritchard/2009/08/
•
Possible follow up in your classroom:
•
Oreo Cookie moon phases see http://analyzer.depaul.edu/paperplate/Oreo%20Moon%20Phases.htm
Create cookies to resemble different phases of the moon.
Paramount School of Excellence
3020 Nowland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46201
www.paramountindy.org Ph: 317-777-6660
Fax: 317-423-0569