Title: Lunar & Solar Eclipses

Fiction

Genre: Non-

Lunar Eclipses
Although the Moon appears brightly in the night sky, it does not
in fact shine but simply reflects the light from the Sun. The shape of
the Moon that you see depends on both where
you are on Earth and where the Moon is in its
orbit around Earth.
Usually, when the Moon is on the far
side of Earth from the Sun, the three bodies
do not lie in a straight line; instead, the Moon
is slightly above Earth and is still illuminated,
so we see a full moon. Occasionally, however,
Earth passes directly between the Sun and
Moon, and the Moon is completely in the Earths shadow we call this
a lunar eclipse. You can see it with the naked eye, as the Moon enters
the Earths shadow (the umbra) and travels across it, taking on a
beautiful dim red glow. As the Moon crosses in or out of the umbra, you
can even see the curve of Earth partially shadowing the Moon. This
partial shadow is called the penumbra.
Solar Eclipses
Unlike lunar eclipses, solar eclipses are very rare. Most people
will never see one because solar eclipses are only visible from
relatively small areas of Earth at any one time. Solar and lunar eclipses
have somewhat different causes: during a solar
eclipse, we are in shadow. When the Moon passes
exactly in front of the Sun, it casts a shadow on
Earth. Because the apparent size of the Moon is so
much less than that of the Sun, this shadow will
only be seen in a small area of Earth.
Once the Moon moves directly between
Earth and the Sun, the sky takes on a spooky twilight, which causes
animals to become confused. The air cools and, during a total eclipse,
the Moon appears as a black disk in the sky surrounded by a crown of
fire. That fire is actually the Sun behind the Moon; as the Moon passes,
the full burning light of the Sun returns.
http://www.scienceinschool.org/2012/issue23/eclipses

Illuminated
Lunar Eclipse
Reflect
Umbra
Penumbra
Solar Eclipse Shadow
Ask me to explain the difference
between a lunar and solar eclipse
Comments:

Writing Word Study:

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Retell, relate, reflect:
Make Your Own Solar Eclipse:
Materials
Flashlight

Large Styrofoam ball

Small Styrofoam ball covered
in aluminum foil (shiny side
out)
Empty toilet paper roll
Wire
Procedures
1. Balance the large Styrofoam
ball on the toilet paper roll
2. Attach the small Styrofoam
ball using the wire (Make
sure that they are ~8inches
apart and the equator of the
earth is parallel to the
equator of the moon)
3. Place flashlight on a stack of
books about 2 feet away
from the model. Make sure
the flashlight is at the same
level as small Styrofoam ball.
4. Dim classroom lights for
better observation and then
shine the light from behind
the small Styrofoam ball ball.
5. Check out the shadow on the
large Styrofoam ball.
https://www.teachervision.com/childrens-scienceactivities/lesson-plan/63829.html

Overall purpose/rationale: Using informative text to learn about

lunar and solar eclipses.
Level: Early Intermediate
Subject Area: Language Arts, Science
Curricular Competencies: Language Arts: Use a variety of
comprehension strategies before, during, and after reading, listening,
or viewing to construct meaning from text, Science: Demonstrate an
understanding and appreciation of evidence
Daily Letter Instructional Practice:
1. Introduce Genre: Students will be able to compare and contrast
this genre from other genres
Good readers know different genres of text
Introduce Title: Students will be able to explain what they already
know about this topic or what they have heard.
Good readers pause to think about the title before reading the text
2. Text exploration:
Pre-reading strategy
Ask a volunteer to read while others follow along (have more
than one volunteer)
Have students do a shared reading in groups of three or four
teacher can make groups according to seating arrangements
Good readers reread the text
Code the text
Ask students to highlight a word that looks interesting
Ask students to put a star next to a word they will remember
Ask students to circle two words that make a picture in your mind
Post-reading strategy
Students should be able to visualize what a lunar and solar
eclipse would look like
Students should be able to visualize the positions of the earth,
sun, and moon during an eclipse

Good readers can visualize in their mind what they are reading
Students turn to a partner and take turns explaining Lunar and
Solar eclipses and the positions of the earth, sun, and moon
3. Graphics
The graphics assist students in visualizing the eclipses and the
positions of the Earth, Sun and Moon.
4. Reading word study type of words chosen to study: Words
related to subject topic
Students will be able to read the words fluently
Students will be able to give a meaning to each word if
students are unsure have them re read the text and then get
volunteers to share the meaning
If no one knows then teacher can provide meaning
Good readers re read the text
Good readers try to find the meaning of the words they read
5. Ask me prompt (30-45 seconds)
Students will be able to do a Think-Pair-Share with their partner
Students will be able to signify the differences between a solar
and lunar eclipse
Good readers share what they know with others
6. Comments
Students are to write one thing they wonder about regarding the
eclipses
Good readers ask questions about the content of the text
7. Written word study type of words chosen to study: words
associated with the subject topic
Students will be able to write the words on paper through
recognition or memory of the word from the text.
Good writers love learning new words
8. Science Experiment (30 min)
Students are to follow the directions and build a model of an
eclipse
Students will be able to see the physical movement of the earth
and the moon that results in an eclipse
- In the experiment, the small Styrofoam ball represents the Moon, the
flashlight the Sun, and the large Styrofoam ball is the Earth. When the
moon blocks the Sun's light from the Earth, it casts a shadow on Earth.
The darker, middle part of the shadow is called the umbra. The lighter
shadow on the outer rim is called the penumbra.

- Debrief questions: (pose questions to groups as extensions and then

discuss some responses as a class)
During a solar eclipse, what would you see if you stood on the
Moon and looked at Earth?
What is the phase of the moon during a solar eclipse? And during
a lunar eclipse?
Why dont we see a lunar eclipse during every full moon?
Do other planets have eclipses?
9. Retell, relate, reflect
Students will be able to retell the process of eclipses
Students can extend writing to include thoughts on extension
questions
Students will be able to share this with a partner in 3-5 min