Modeling The Phases of The Moon

Author : Safiroh Nimatur Rizki, Ineu Gustiani, Lidya Velesia

Understanding the phases of the moon can be a tricky concept for a child in secondary school.

There are many different aspects of the phases of the moon that children should learn.

Interactive teaching is one of the most effective methods of instruction.

Second and third grade classes: old enough to learn about phases of the moon.

Well-explained practical project will improve the students' understanding to begin thinking scientifically, using logic and imagination to draw conclusions.

Role Playing

Synodic period: the time required for the Moon to return to the same or approximately the same position relative to observer position.

Procedure
three students portray the moon, the earth or the sun.

The sun is the only student who carries an electric lamp, and he will continuously shine the light onto the moon.

The students representing the moon and the earth will move around the classroom illustrate the phases of the moon.

Hands on Activity

By building and using two different, but simple, physical models students will investigate why we see different phases of the moon here on Earth.

Procedure
Make three or four viewing holes along each long side of the box and one viewing hole in the other short side of the box - each hole should be about the size of a 5p piece.
The pencil/dowel is a little stand for the squash ball - you need to attach the squash ball to one end of the pencil/dowel and the other end needs to be stuck in the centre of the shoe box.

Line the shoe box with black paper or paint with black paint (leave to dry)

Make one larger hole in the middle of one short side of the box (about the same diameter as the torch you will use in this experiment

Using the model:

The torch represents the Sun, the squash ball the moon and your eye the position of the Earth.

Place the torch at the larger hole so that it shines on the squash ball inside.

Look at the squash ball through one of the 5p sized holes along the side of the box - you should see a bright part and shadow on the "moon" squash ball.

To record the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth for the different phases of the moon, students will use cookies as a last project

The Last Project

Each student gets eight cookies, and each cookie represents one of the phases of the moon.

A plastic spoon, they are too slowly and carefully scrape away the white icing, creating each phase of the moon.

The students have to identify and repeat what they see on their cookie.

For homework, tell students to look at the moon, draw what they see and name the phase of the moon.

Conclusion
Keep it fun and interesting for the students. Remember that students will understand the phase of the moon better (and enjoy your lesson more)

This moon phases lesson will allow you to effectively teach your students the phases of the moon while having fun at the same time.

you use a variety of teaching tools such as hands on experiments, diagrams, pictures, software and verbal explanations.