Marcia's Science Teaching Ideas
Observing the Moon Activity
In this moon instructional activity, students observe the moon on three consecutive nights and draw their observations. They answer questions about the phases of the moon and its position in the night sky. They identify the position of...
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Bringing the Solar System to Life
Students walk marked paths as they simulate the orbit of the planets. In this solar system lesson, students recognize the relationship between the sun and the planets. Students visualize how the phases of the moon are seen.
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Line Ups
Fifth graders describe the lunar cycle. develop an understanding of the order and phases of the moon. Each student in a team contributes orally in order to make a line up of the moon phases in order.
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Moon Exploration
Third graders examine the various phases of the moon. They define each moon phase, create an illustration for each phase, identify patterns in the moon's phases for the upcoming months, and take a quiz.
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Reflected Light and the Moon
In this moon activity, students draw the different moon phases and name them. Students review why the moon has phases. This activity has 6 fill in the blank and 4 short answer questions.
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Moon Record
In this science worksheet, learners record what shape the moon is for 15 days. The worksheet also includes a parent letter regarding the assignment.
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The Phases of the Moon
Students view an applet to study the phases of the Moon in relation to the orientation of the sun, moon, and Earth.
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Moon Watch
Learners can keep track of the phases of a moon with this lab sheet. They put the date, a sketch of the moon, and write down what phase it's in over the course of one complete phase of the moon. A great addition to an astronomy unit or a...
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The Phases of the Moon
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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Moon Phases
In this moon worksheet, students fill in the different phases on the moon on a diagram and label each phase. Students compare a solar and lunar eclipse. This worksheet has 2 fill in the blank and 3 short answer questions.
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How Do Weather Conditions and Lunar Cycles Affect Fishing Success?
Middle schoolers use weather measuring devices to record and study weather conditions at different locations, during different times. They attempt to draw conclusions about the relationship between weather conditions, lunar cycle and...
NASA
Eclipse Activity Guide
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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Earth's Moon
In this moon worksheet, students review the different phases of the moon and differences between a lunar and solar eclipse. This worksheet has 13 fill in the blank and 5 true or false questions.
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The Earth-Moon System
In this Earth and moon worksheet, students will review the different phases of the moon, how eclipses are created, and how the moon influences tidal patterns. This worksheet has 13 fill in the blank, 8 true or false, and 2 short answer...
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Phases of the Moon
Sixth graders observe the changes in the moon's appearance over a two week period of time from their homes. They record and illustrate their observations and also complete daytime moon viewings as a class.
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Sampling Rocks
Students investigate rocks. In this earth science lesson plan, students collect rocks from the schoolyard and describe each of the rocks. Students measure and weigh each rock and record the results. Students create a rock guide for the...
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Life on the Moon
Students study the physical properties of the Moon. In this life on the moon lesson students describe the ways life on the Moon would be different than on Earth.
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Exploring the Night Sky: Fall/Winter
Students explain how moon phases occur. They explain three ways that the night sky has been used through history. Students locate some of the constellations in the night sky. They discuss stories and myths surrounding stars.
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The Moon
Students explore the relationship between the earth, sun, and moon in our solar system. They create a moonrise/moonset chart, perform a dance that models the moon phases, and create a Styrofoam model of the moon's surface.
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Moon Exploration
Third graders investigate the phases of the moon. Using handheld computers, they describe the four phases of the waxing and waning moon, record their moon observations for a one month time period, create an illustration using Sketchy,...
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The Starry Night Time and Day Time
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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Birthday Moons
Young scholars find the phase of the moon on the date of their birth. In this science lesson, students chart the moon from the date of their birth till they were one month old. Young scholars fill out a graphic organizer...
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I'm Being Followed By a Moonshadow
Students explore solar and lunar eclipses and how the sun, Earth, and moon cause them.
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Orbits Worksheet #2
Brief, but beneficial, this resource draws space scientists into the orbit of a moon around its planet. Assignees answer five multiple choice style questions using a diagram of the planet, the moon's orbit, its focal points, and the...