Adapted From Wiggins & McTighe, Understanding by Design

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

Established Goals 8th grade
1. Use models of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon to discover why moon phases occur.
2. Learn the order of the moon's phases.

Enduring Understandings Essential Questions

Students will understand that
The changing proportion of the Moon's sunlit side
that we see as the Moon orbits Earth causes the moon
phases. There are 5 phases lunar, gibbous, crescent,
waxing, and waning.
How much of the moon does the Earth see
illuminated? How would you describe the
shape?
Which side of the moon appears to grow
brighter/darker?
How much of the moon is actually being hit
by the suns rays?

Students will be able to Learning Targets in the I can format

I can name the phases of the moon
I can identify what causes the phases
I can recite what an axis is
I can recall why the moon changes phases
I can locate the moon in the atmosphere

Stage 2: Determine Evidence for Assessing Learning

Performance Tasks: Summative Assessment (formal Other Evidence: Formative Assessment (informal
assessment to ensure students meet SOL standards) assessment to assess learning)
Post assessment Exit ticket
mini quiz Pre assessment
Test
 Stage 3: Build Learning Plan
Learning Activities: Step by step activities

Students will be given a pre assessment to see what they are able to recall from past
lessons.
Step 1: Kids will be partnered off into pairs
Step 2: each group gets l styrofoam ball, pencil, and a flashlight to serve as the sun
Step 3: direct students to set up the activity then ask them to get in a semi circle around the
flashlight to observe the different moon phases that occur
there will then be a class discussion and explained for better comprehension and an exit ticket will
be handed out to see what they have learned.
(Teacher will be demonstrating and answering questions the kids might have and checking to see if
they did the activity correctly)