<Moon Journal Assignment>

Make your Moon Journal your new best friend. Take it with you
wherever you go. You will be keeping a moon journal for the next
three weeks. Bring your journal with you if you go out of town
or spend the night away from home. When you pack your
toothbrush, pack your journal too because youll be writing about
the moon every night (from February 10th through March 3rd)
This assignment is designed to encourage a level of long-term observation that leads to questions
and more importantly new understandings. Through the process of observing and thinking about
the moon, you will gain valuable insights into the behavior of the moon, and will also learn
something about the kind of record keeping that scientists need to do.
Moon Journal Observation Log
Keep a daily log of your observations of the moon over a period of 3 weeks (from Febuary 10th
through March 3rd). Try to make your observations at the same time most nights, but if you
notice the moon at a different time of day, feel free to record that, too.
Your Moon journal MUST include:
The date and time of each observation
The position of the moon relative to the earths horizon (use a protractor or the fist
method well discuss how to do this in class)
The position of the moon relative to the geographic direction (north, south, east, west)
A sketch of the size and shape of the moon as well as any nearby stars (feel free to use
color!)
A specific physical description of the moon as it appears to you in the sky
Any wonderings you have about what you see
Look for patterns in your observations. What do you notice? Can you predict where
youll see the moon, and when
If you cant see the moon, write about what you think the moon would look like if it were
visible and why you think that.
At the end of the month, youll be asked to complete a chart
indicating the Moons shape throughout the month.

How to measure the angle of the moon in the sky:

Aim the base of the protractor level with the ground you are
standing on, and then 90 degrees is straight up. With this you can
tell what 10 degrees, 20 degrees, etc. are above the horizon. 90
degrees is directly overhead.
If you need to make a quick observation and dont have your
protractor with you, you can use the fist method. It isnt as
accurate, but will do in a pinch. Make a fist and hold it at arms
length. One fist above the horizon = 10 degrees, two fists = 20
degrees, etc.

Rubric (How your journal will be graded)

100%
Has observations and notes from all days
Includes detailed written and illustrated description of what is observed
Includes many in-depth and thoughtful questions, wonderings, and predictions.
Has accurate information of students observation including time, date, angle, and
direction
90%
Includes observations and notes from 5 days per week
Includes written and illustrated descriptions of what is observed.
Includes questions, wonderings, predictions.
Has mostly accurate information of students observation including time, date, angle, and
direction
80%
Includes observations from 4-5 days per week
Includes some written and illustrated detailed descriptions of what is observed
Includes some questions andwonderings
Includes information of students observation including time, date, angle, and direction
70%
Includes some observations from 3- 4 days per week
Includes few detailed descriptions of what is observed
Includes few questions and wonderings
Includes little information of students observations
PLEASE NOTE: If you cant see the moon, you still need to fill out the journal with as much
Information as possible. You should include what you think the moon would look like if you
could see it and why you think that.

Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
___________________________________
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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Date:

Time:

Direction of moon:

Angle of moon above horizon:

Sketch of moon and nearby stars:

Descriptions, thoughts, questions,

wonderings, observations
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