Moon Phase wheel / Lesson Plan

PDF

Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand and identify the different phases of the moon using a Moon Phase wheel.

Materials and Prep

  • Moon Phase wheel template (can be printed from online)
  • Scissors
  • Brass fastener
  • Markers or colored pencils
  • Reference material on moon phases (books, websites, etc.)

Prior knowledge: Basic understanding of the concept of phases of the moon.

Activities

  1. Create the Moon Phase wheel by cutting out the template and attaching the two circles together with a brass fastener in the center.
  2. Color each phase of the moon on the wheel using markers or colored pencils.
  3. Refer to the reference material and identify the different phases of the moon.
  4. Rotate the wheel to match the current phase of the moon.
  5. Observe the moon in the sky and compare it to the Moon Phase wheel.
  6. Draw or paint a picture of the moon in its current phase.
  7. Write a short paragraph describing what you have learned about the moon phases.

Talking Points

  • Art: "Art allows us to express our creativity and imagination. Today, we will create a Moon Phase wheel and use our artistic skills to color each phase."
  • English: "In English, we will write a short paragraph to describe what we have learned about the moon phases. This will help us practice our writing skills."
  • Foreign Language: "In a foreign language, we can learn useful phrases related to the moon phases. For example, in French, we can say 'la pleine lune' to describe the full moon."
  • History: "Learning about the moon phases is also a part of history. Ancient civilizations used the moon to track time and create calendars."
  • Math: "Mathematics plays a role in understanding the moon phases. We can use numbers and angles to calculate the position of the moon in the sky."
  • Science: "In science, we explore the natural world. Studying the moon phases helps us understand the relationship between the Earth, the moon, and the sun."
  • Social Studies: "Social studies involves learning about different cultures and their beliefs. Many cultures have myths and stories related to the moon, which we can explore."