LESSON PLAN: Earths Moon (Day 2)

Student Teacher: Nicole Huber

College Supervisor: Mr. Hipple

Date: 4/22/2015
Grade Level: 4

Pennsylvania Academic Standards and Common Core Standards

3.3.4.B2: SCALES Know the basic characteristics and uses of telescopes. PATTERNS/PHASES Identify
major lunar phases. PATTERNS Explain time (days, seasons) using solar system motions.
Objectives
Students will:
Students will be able to identify and illustrate objects in the night sky.
Students will be able to describe and explain the phases of the moon.
Student-Friendly Learning Targets
I can:
I can identify and illustrate objects in the night sky.
I can describe and explain the phases of the moon.
Vocabulary
Tier 1:
Tier 2:
Tier 3:
Day
Moon
Night
Stars
Earth
Lunar Cycle
Sunrise
Phases
Sunset
Moon Calendar
New Moon
Full Moon
Waxing
Waning
Crescent Moon
Gibbous Moon
First Quarter
Third Quarter
Essential Question(s)
What natural objects can be seen in the night sky?
How does the shape of the moon change over four weeks?
Materials and Resources
Student Science Notebooks
Lunar Cycle Worksheet
All About the Moon Video (FOSSWeb)
Phases of the Moon Worksheet
White Ball (to model Moon)
Lightbulb
Eyes (to model Earth)
Demonstrating the Lunar Cycle Worksheet
Looking at the Moon from Earth Worksheet
Moon Phases Worksheet

Instructional Procedure/Activities
Introduction:
I will begin the class by asking students what they learned about the Night Sky: What can you see in the
sky at night?
We will then talk about the moon. Students will describe what they learned towards the end of the class
the previous day.
Teacher Model & Explanation (I Do):
Ask students: Do you think the moon will be the same tomorrow?
Then, show the students the Moon Calendar. Explain that the Moon Calendar is used to keep track of the
shape of the Moon as it changes over the month.
We will then write the essential question on the board and in our science notebooks.
How does the shape of the moon change over four weeks?
Then ask students, how would you describe the pattern of the moon shapes?
Explain to students: There is a pattern that occurs over the course of four weeks. We learned yesterday
that this is called the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle shows the changes of the shape of the moon.
I will then show a video to explain the phases of the Moon. While we are watching the video, we will stop
to write the definitions of the words in the glossary of the science journals. We will also show the phases
of the Moon by having students share their drawings that were completed the previous day. We will also
begin to complete the Phases of the Moon worksheet while defining the words.
(Start video at 5:00, stop the video at 8:25).
**New Moon: The time where the moon is not visible from Earth because the Moon is between the Earth
and the Sun. The dark side of the Moon is toward the Earth, so we see nothing.
**first Quarter: The right side of the Moon is lit. The left side is dark. You can see 1/2 of the moon.
**full Moon: The time where the entire side of the Moon is visible to Earth because it is lit up by the Sun. T
**third Quarter: The left side of the Moon is lit, and the right side is dark. You can see 1/2 of the Moon.
I will then explain the intermediate phases of the Moon.
**Crescent Moon: Occurs between the new Moon and the quarters because the Moon is less than half lit.
It is a sliver of the moon.
**Waxing: The moon is getting bigger.
**Gibbous Moon: Occurs between the Full Moon and the first quarter. The moon looks like an egg.
**Waning: The moon is getting smaller.
Guided Practice (We Do):
Together, we will demonstrate the phases of the Moon similar to what we watched in the video.
Explain to students that the ball represents the Moon, the light bulb is the Sun, and we are the Earth.
I will begin the activity by demonstrating first, asking questions as I am demonstrating.
- Where does the light on the Moon come from?
- How much of the Moon model is lighted by the light source?
- Where is the part of the Moon model that is in the dark?
Have students use their notes (Phases of the Moon Worksheet) to call out the phases.

Students will then work with a partner (or group of 3) to demonstrate the phases of the Moon. Students
will need to ask the questions given while completing the activity.
Transition:
Students will complete Looking at the Moon from Earth Worksheet their group or partner.
All Students:
Students will complete the Moon Phases worksheet to review the vocabulary. They will glue this into
their student notebook as the answer to the essential question.
Differentiation
The video is to allow students to see the phases of the moon while understanding the vocabulary.
Students will be able to demonstrate the phases of the moon with a partner to see the phases of the
moon occur for themselves.
Students will be able to work with a partner during the activities to help each other explain the concepts.
The worksheets help students see visually and ordering the phases of the moon.
Higher-Order Thinking
Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Synthesis
Assessment(s)
Formative:
Summative:
Teacher Observation
I-check (quiz)
Collect Science Journals
Lunar Phases Timeline
Student Worksheets
Closure/Follow-up/Homework
Students will stand up and order themselves by date to observe the changes of the moon over the course
of one month (lunar cycle) to see the phases of the moon again.