Sun and Its Neighbors

Lesson 3 – Phases of the Moon

SOL 4.7b.2

Link

Students will complete the R.A.P. Briefly share R.A.P. responses.

Engage and Educate

Introduce the lesson by reviewing that a planet revolves around a star and a moon revolves around a
planet and this occurs at the same time. Ask for 3 student volunteers. One student will represent the Sun
and stand in the center. The second student will represent the Earth and will slowly rotate and revolve
around the Sun. The third student will represent the Moon. That student will revolve around the Earth and
will not rotate. Make sure that students observe that we only see one side (face) of the Moon from Earth
and we always see that same face. It may seem that the moon does not rotate, however it is actually
rotating on its axis at the same rate that it is orbiting the Earth. This is why we only see one face of the
Moon.

Now, ask the students if the Moon looks the same every night. Use this discussion to lead you to the Key
Notes in the W.O.W. After discussing the Key Notes use the following website to demonstrate the phases
of the Moon: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases. As you go through each phase have
students use a yellow colored pencil to color in the bright part (what we see) of the Moon.

Active Learning

Students will complete the W.I.O., using the information in the W.O.W.

Reflect

Use a transparency of the W.I.O. and have student volunteers to label and color in the phases.

Now and Then

Next, students will expand their understanding of the phases of the Moon by learning how they are formed.

Teacher Materials
Transparency of W.I.O.
Computer with T.V. connection or a projector

Additional Notes

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006