As you walk in Please sign in Grab

As you walk in: – Please sign in – Grab some breakfast & coffee!

All activities are online on LPI’s STEP website

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?

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.

Moon Size ~ 1/4 width of Earth Radius of 1080 miles Gravity ~1/6 of Earth’s http: //grin. hq. nasa. gov/IMAGES/SMALL/GPN-2000 -001444. jpg

Relative Size and Distance of Earth and Moon? http: //nix. ksc. nasa. gov/info; jsessionid=gfuzp 418 gewa? id=C-1979 -00910&orgid=2

Earth and Moon to Scale If Earth were a basketball, then the Moon would be a tennis ball, 23. 5 feet away! http: //visibleearth. nasa. gov/view_rec. php? id=1624

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

Graphing the Moon’s Illumination Percent of Moon Illuminated by the Sun (as seen from Earth) Day % 1 10 8 25 15 89 22 89 2 4 9 35 16 94 23 82 3 1 10 46 17 98 24 74 4 0 11 56 18 100 25 64 5 3 12 66 19 100 26 53 6 9 13 75 20 98 27 42 7 16 14 82 21 94 28 31 How does the amount of the Moon we see change over time?

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.

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 “ 1 st Q” and “ 3 rd 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

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

Observing and Identifying New (couple days) Waxing Crescent (several days) 1 st Quarter Waxing Gibbous (several days) Full Waning Gibbous (several days) 3 rd Quarter Waning Crescent (several days) New http: //www. lpi. usra. edu/education/skytellers/moon_phases/about. shtml

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?

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

Modeling Moon Phases and Eclipses

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

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

Paper Plate Phases Create a 3 D 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 http: //www. lpi. usra. edu/education/skytellers/seasons/activities/light. shtml

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?

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)

Which of these best describes the Sun, Earth, Moon system? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 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.

Examine the data for the Moon’s phases. What lunar phase will occur on August 10? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Date Lunar Phase June 27 3 rd Quarter July 4 New Moon July 11 1 st Quarter July 19 Full Moon July 26 3 rd Quarter Full at or very near 1 st Quarter at or very near New any of the above, depending upon other factors.

Which of these statements about the Moon are accurate? a) b) c) d) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The The a and b a and c a and d b and c b and d Earth is ½ the width of the Moon is ¼ the width of the Earth. Moon’s revolution lasts a week. Moon’s revolution lasts a month.

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?