Astronomy in the Elementary Classroom

1. Astronomy in the Elementary Classroom Ben Sellers Astronomy 101 – Honors Presentation Dr. Harold Williams May 3, 2005

2. Lesson Overview & Objective • Two-day lesson on the relationship between the Earth’s moon and eclipses • Day I: Phases of the moon • Day II: Lunar and solar eclipses • Objective • Students will read about and discuss the phases of the moon in order to discuss lunar and solar eclipses.

3. Day I: Phases of the Moon • Engagement • Students will read “The Sun and the Moon” • Explains the myth of the Kalahari Desert San people • As a class, discuss the familiar phases of the moon • Full, half and crescent • Exploration • Students will predict the order of the phases of the moon • Cut out the moon pieces from the booklet, placing them in the correct order

4. Day I: Phases of the Moon cont’d • Explanation • Instructor will present a physical example of the moon phases • Utilizing an aluminum-wrapped ball and a flashlight • The class will review the phases throughout the example • Elaboration • Students will watch the United Streaming video “Moon Phases” • Elaborating on the classroom example

5. Phases of the Moon – Video Clip

6. Day I: Phases of the Moon cont’d • Evaluation • Students will revisit their earlier predictions • Rearranging the moon phase pictures • Gluing them into their booklets

7. Day II: Lunar & Solar Eclipses • Engagement • Student volunteers will be used to demonstrate the size differential in the moon and sun • How objects of different sizes appear to be the same size at a certain distances • Exploration • The volunteers will then be positioned accordingly to perform a physical example of both solar and lunar eclipses

8. Day II: Lunar & Solar Eclipses cont’d • Explanation • The instructor will discuss lunar and solar eclipses as the volunteers rotate • Elaboration • Students will watch a Microsoft Encarta diagram and short video to fully explain eclipses

9. Day II: Lunar & Solar Eclipses cont’d • Evaluation • Students will revisit the information covered over the last two days to answer a comprehension question, addressing both the moon phases and eclipses Bill and Alvin are discussing the moon after school for a lunar eclipse project that they are working on for science class. They are supposed to make a diagram that displays the sun, earth, and the moon during a lunar eclipse. They are arguing because Bill says that the moon should be behind the earth and farthest away from the sun in the diagram and Alvin says that the moon is full during a lunar eclipse and should therefore be closest to the sun. Using your notes and diagrams, discuss who is correct about the diagram and how do you know?

10. Lesson Summary & Conclusion • This lesson provides a comprehensive model for the elementary classroom teacher • Integration of space science into curriculum • Basics of moon phases, lunar & solar eclipses • Utilizing technology/multimedia and active class participation in instruction • Concluding with an overall assessment question • Summarizing the main points of the lesson