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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Shape is the Moon Tonight?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students understand that the moon appears differently throughout the month. In this phases of the moon lesson, students observe and record the phases of the moon.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Moon

For Teachers 1st
First graders complete an experiment illustrating why the moon appears to change over time using a flashlight and ball. Students discuss the shape of the moon and identify it as a sphere. Students write a short informational piece after...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dark Side of the Moon

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students discover the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun during each of the phases of the Moon. They then draw a diagram to show the position of the Moon, Earth, and Sun in each of the phases of the moon.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Moon Orbits the Sun?!?!

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students calculate the strength of gravitational force exerted on the moon by the sun and earth. In this orbital lesson students view a demonstration to see the gravitational forces between bodies.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research and identify the phases of the moon. They consider the moon's rotation, as well as that of the earth and sun. They write a description of their research and present it to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read "The Moon Seems to Change" and conduct an experiment with oranges to demonstrate the phases of the moon. They write about the experiment and describe each phase of the moon.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Tides, Eclipses, Day and Night, and Seasons

For Students 6th - 8th
In this earth science worksheet, students use the clues given at the bottom of the sheet to complete the crossword puzzle on tides, eclipses, day and night, and the seasons of the year. There are 17 clues to solve in the puzzle.
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Navigation in the Ancient Mediterranean and Beyond

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Ancient texts, like Homer's Odyssey, mentions navigating ships by observing constellations. Pupils learn about the link between history and astronomy as they relate to navigation in the Bronze Age. Scholars complete two hands-on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Glow

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify the Earth-Moon relationship and the phases of the Moon. They participate in an activity that illustrates why the Moon has so many different looks within a lunar cycle. They discuss solar and lunar eclipses.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy: Earth/Moon

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Pupils investigate the Earth and the Moon. They select activities from a menu of options including viewing videos, drawing magnetic fields and plate tectonics, creating vocabulary flashcards, observing the phases of the moon over a two...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Many Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the phases of the moon as it relates to the calendar.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Night Sky: Summer

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain how moon phases occur. They describe and explain at least two common misconceptions that people have about the moon. Students explain what a star is. They explain 3 ways that the night sky has been used throughout history.
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Activity
NASA

Eclipse Activity Guide

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Ever made solar s'mores? Or recreated the solar system using peanuts? Astronomers young and old investigate all things solar using a variety of activities. Explore how the sun works, types of light it emits, and methods of charting the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Starry Night Time and Day Time

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete a unit of lessons on the solar system. They complete various art projects inspired by Van Gogh's 'Starry Night,' create a moon phases book, create a moon phase wind chime, develop a timeline of space exploration,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moons Of The Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the solar system and its moons. They conduct research in groups to find information. Also the teacher uses models of the planets in order to teach different facts about the solar system through the use of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wax On, Wane Off! the Different Views of the Moon

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students create a three-dimensional model of the Earth and Moon to show the different phases of the moon as they appear on Earth. In small groups, they draw a diagram for a phase, set up the model in the drawn positions then test it with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wax On, Wane Off

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate the cycles of the moon through an in class experiment.  For this lunar lesson, students utilize a tennis ball and their own head to simulate the moon and Earth and create moon phases by observing the tennis ball from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students observe the questions, "Why do we say there is a man on the moon?, What do you think of when you hear "the moon is made of cheese"?, What is meant, to you, by the expression "Once in a blue moon"? and a comic of Snoopy typing,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lunar Lollipops

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students simulate the phases of the moon using a lamp and styrofoam balls. In this lunar phases lesson, students stand around a lamp and act as Earth. They hold styrofoam balls and rotate to show the phases of the moon.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Reasons for the Season

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explain the reason for the changes in season. In this lesson examining the relationship between the Earth and the Sun, students use an applet to discover how the alignment of the Earth and the Sun cause the change in seasons.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Just a Phase

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are introduced to the correct terminology for the phases of the moon and arrange picture cards in the correct order. They use flashlights and Styrofoam balls to illustrate the phases of the moon. They write science journal...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students create a model of the phases of the Moon by giving students pictures of the phases of the Moon, a picture of the Earth, and a picture of the Sun. They then take a picture, and stand in correct place to make the phases of the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Astronomy Test

For Students 6th - 8th
In this astronomy test, students answer 50 true/false and multiple choice questions about the relationships of the earth, moon, and sun. The test also includes questions about the solar system, galaxies, and the universe. An answer key...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working on the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Students take a mission to the moon. In this space science lesson, students visit selected websites to discover information about Earth's moon and the solar system. Students may take virtual missions to the moon and share information...