Karen Sanchez

Lesson Plan for the Phases of the Moon

Title of Lesson: Phases of the Moon
Grade level: 5th
Overview/Purpose: To examine and identify the eight different phases of the moon. To
examine the position of the earth, moon, and sun for each phase of the moon. To give
examples of characteristics of the moon. To understand why there are different phases of
the moon.
Science Standards Integrated:
Concept 2: Earths Processes and Systems PO 1. Describe how the Moons
appearance changes during a four-week lunar cycle.
Essential Questions:
What are the phases of the moon?
How do the earth, sun, and moon work together to make these phases?
Time: 60 minutes
Materials:
PowerPoint presentation, video, vocab worksheet, notes, Oreos (8 per student),
plastic knife or spoon, construction paper, glue, markers, pencil
Content Objectives:
Students will identify the eight phases of the moon.
Students will demonstrate the position of the earth, moon, and sun for each phase
of the moon.
Common Core Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups,
and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on
others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.2
Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media
and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Language Objectives:

Students will participate in discussion when asked about prior knowledge and
their understanding of the phases of the moon.
Students will receive a worksheet with important vocabulary words.
Students will watch and listen to a PowerPoint that identifies each phase of the
moon.
Students will be able to write notes based on presentation.
Students will watch and listen to a video that describes why the moon changes
appearance and verbally answer the questions from the video.
Students will make/draw a diagram of the Earth, sun, and phases of the moon.
Students will discuss as a class what their overall take away from the lesson was
(identify phases, why they happen).

Overall:
Students will become more familiar on why the moon changes in appearance.
Students will be able to demonstrate and identify the eight phases of the moon.
Key Vocabulary:
waxing, waning, moon, moon phases, Sun, Earth, gibbous, New moon, full moon,
revolution, orbit, crescent, first quarter, third quarter
Lesson Sequence/Procedures:
1. Anticipatory set- Asking questions about prior knowledge about the moon. Asking
students what shapes they have seen the moons appear as.
Do you see the moon every night or day?
Describe what the moon has looked like.
2. Overview/Task analysis- teaching the content: Providing important vocabulary words
with translation. Providing pictures of the moon and its different phases through a short
PowerPoint lesson. Explaining how the moon changes in appearance and the relation
between the moon, earth, and sun through a short, fun video.
3. Assessment- Students will get a chance to make a diagram that correctly positions the
eight phases of the moon in relation to the sun and the earth using Oreo cookies. They
will also identify and label the eight phases.
4. Closure- We will discuss and review what the eight phases are. We will discuss the
main ideas of what we learned.
Review/Assessment: Students will be able to identify the eight phases of the moon by
making a diagram.
ELL Accommodations:
Bringing up prior knowledge that students may have about the moon. Providing a
worksheet with vocabulary words in both English and Spanish. Providing a PowerPoint
with images of the phases of the moon, demonstrating each phase, which also serves as a

visual. Students will also watch a video with serves as a visual and audio. Allowing
students to create the phases of the moon with their diagram for hands on learning.
Allowing students to work in groups for student interaction and learning. Allowing
students to draw and be creative about what they have learned.
SEI/SIOP Teaching Strategies:
Cognitive: Establishing the purpose of the moon and why we have these different phases.
Building background information so students can relate.
Student interaction: Discussing prior knowledge to content. Having students work
individually, in groups, and as a class. Having wait time and encouraging discussion.
Application: Using reading, writing, listening, and speaking in the lesson. Having hands
on activities that engage students (i.e. diagram) Incorporating new language (vocabulary
worksheet) and new content in lesson.
Lesson delivery: Presenting the content and information in different ways (i.e. lecture,
video, hands on activities, group/individual work). Having different activities to keep
students engaged.
Review: Going over what we have learned as a class. Ask what the different phases of the
moon are called. Encourage questions and give feedback.
What is the content?

How to teach it?

Write content
objectives on the
board and read aloud

Students will
identify the eight
phases of the
moon.
Students will
demonstrate the
position of the
earth, moon, and
sun for each phase
of the moon.

Anticipatory Set

Asking questions
about prior
knowledge about
the moon. Asking
students what
shapes they have
seen it as.
Do you see the
moon every night
or day?
Describe what the
moon has looked

Student (Active
participation)
Students will listen
as teacher reads the
objectives.

Sheltered
Strategies
Listening to
objectives.

Students will think

about the questions,
talk to a partner
about them, and
participate in a
class discussion.

Making personal
connections
Student interaction
Wait time

like.
-Ask these
questions and have
students share with
a partner. Then ask
class as a whole to
discuss.
Overview/Introductio
n

Today we will be
learning about the
phases of the
moon. We will also
be talking about
why we have these
different phases.
Some questions we
are trying to
answer are:
What are the
different phases of
the moon? How do
the earth, sun, and
moon work
together to make
these phases? Why
do we have these
phases of the
moon?

Vocabulary words

Provide worksheet
with important
vocabulary words,
read words aloud
as a class. One
student will read
one word and
definition and so
on.

Students will listen

and read.

Using language
skills.

Practice language

Vocabulary is in
both English and
Spanish.

We will begin by
discussing what a
phase is.

Students respond to
question.

Wait time
Class discussion

Present PowerPoint

Students will take

Listening to

The phases of the

moon

Providing an
introduction of
what the class will
be learning.

presentation on
notes.
phases of the
moon.
Discuss each
phases appearance.
Discuss the names
of the phases.

How we get the

phases

Underlining vocab
words in
PowerPoint.
Ask what they
know about how
shadows happen.

Discuss as a class.

Show short video

Answer video
about phases of the questions as a class.
moon, pause during
review questions.
Pause video during
important parts and
review what the
video said.

Check for
understanding

Ask if they know

what the phases of
the moon are.
Ask if they know
how we get these
different looking
moons.
Ask what their
favorite part of the
video was.
Encourage
questions about the
lesson.

Discuss in groups
and then call on
one person from
each group to
discuss their group
answer.

language and
content.
Seeing visuals of
content.
Writing about the
content.

Wait time

Listening to
language and
content.
Students can
visualize phases of
the moon through
the video.
Practicing speaking
when answering
questions.
Links to objectives.
Student interaction.
Assessment and
comprehension.

Tell your partner

about your favorite
part.
Provide feedback

Oreo cookie diagram

Give each student 8

Oreos, paper,
plastic knife, glue,
markers.
Give students
directions.

Listening to
directions.

Listening skills.

Demonstrate how
they will make the
cookies look like a
phase of the moon.

Students will watch

demonstration.

Modeling

Teacher will walk

around and check
on all students and
make sure they are
on task and answer
any questions.

Students will work

individually and
with group to
complete diagrams.
Students will draw,
label, and
incorporate what
they have learned.

Using all four

language skills.
Working in small
groups and students
interaction.
Hands on activity.
High student
engagement.
Guided practice

Students may ask

questions.
Once finished

Ask students to
share their diagram
with their group.

Students talk
amongst groups.

Linked to
objectives

Go over what we
have learned as a
class.

Class discussion to
end the lesson.

Promotes
participation
Student interaction

Ask what the

different phases of
the moon are.
Ask how we get
these phases.
Encourage
questions and give
feedback.

Wait time
Speaking and
listening
Strategies
incorporated
High student
engagement

Wrap up with
saying:
Now that we know
what each phase of
the moon is called
and what it looks
like, we will be
able to identify
what each moon is
every night.

Phases of the Moon Vocabulary

(Fases de la Luna)
Moon (luna)- the natural satellite of the earth, visible by reflected light from the
sun.
Sun (sol)- the star around which the earth orbits
Earth (tierra)- the planet on which we live; the world
Revolution (revolucion)- an instance of revolving
Orbit (orbita)- the curved path around a star, planet, or moon
Full Moon (luna llena)- the phase of the moon in which its whole disk is
illuminated
New Moon (luna nueva)- the phase of the moon when it appears as a slender
crescent
Gibbous (giboso)- having the observable illuminated part greater than a
semicircle and less than a circle
Waning (menguante)- have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface
illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size
Crescent (creciente)- the curved sickle shape of the waxing or waning moon
First Quarter (primer trimestre)- during this phase of the moon fifty percent of it
is illuminated and visible from the Earth
Third Quarter (tercer trimestre)- the moon is one-half illuminated by the sun

Example of diagram: