Moon Phases Daily Log

by Liz LaRosa

www.middleschoolscience.com

Objectives:

• to observe and record the phases of the moon

• to identify moon phases

• create a phases of the moon flip book

Materials:

• Lab Notebook

• pencil, black marker

• 30 - white 3 x 5 index cards

• round object to trace moon shape onto paper

• metal fastener

Procedure:

1. Take a moment each night and note the appearance of the moon

2. Record moon phase in notebook for one month

3. Identify the following: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent.

4. Students will make a flip book showing the phases of the moon.  "As the students flip and view the animation, have them make a distinction between that part of the phase cycle characterized as “waxing” and that part characterized as “waning.” Using the cards, have the students identify the phases as new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent." (Discovery Channel)

Data:

Table #1: Moon Phase Observations 

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

etc....

Analysis/Results:

1. How many days does it take to complete one lunar cycle, a "lunation"?
2. How many days are there between the first quarter and the Full Moon?  Full Moon to Last Quarter?
3. What happens when we have 2 Full Moons in one calendar month?  Why does that happen?
4. How does the sun's position determine if there is a new moon or a full moon?

Conclusion:

2-3 sentences on what you learned

Teacher Tips:

Allow one full month for observations.  Keep a large chart in the class room and have a different student come up and fill in the chart each day.  If you have 4 or 5 classes, only show one chart at a time, you can have the charts stacked on top of each other.  You may want to incorporate this lesson with the Night Observation Lesson.

Extension:  You can use a large sheet of graph paper to record the daily moon rise and moon set related to sun rise and sun set as a line graph, time vs. day, 4 lines.  Analyze data and compare phases to rise/set time

Great Link: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/faq/docs/moon_phases.html

Demonstration:

Lunar Phases

"Fix a table-tennis or polystyrene ball on a nail or dowel into the centre of a shoe-box. Make three equidistant holes along the two long faces of the box and one in the centre of the short side, level with the ball. These holes only need to be tiny, just large enough to enable the children to peep inside the box. On the opposite short side of the box make another peep hole with a 3cm diameter hole next to it (for a torch). All the holes need to be level with the ball (Moon) inside the box. Cover each hole with a piece of black sugar paper to exclude the light. To use the box, shine a torch through the large hole. A child can then peep through the hole in the short face of the box that is opposite the torch. As the child looks through each hole in turn, the amount the Moon appears to be illuminated varies depending on which hole you look through. Notice how you see different phases of the Moon through different holes." Source