THE EARTH-SUN-MOON SYSTEM Phases of the Moon OBSERVING PHENOMENA Phenomenon: The appearance of the moon changes every night. 1. What questions do you have about this phenomenon? 2. Sketch a simple model that shows how the moon reflects light from the sun. Label the following in your diagram: Earth, sun, moon, sunlight. 3. Use your model to provide an explanation for why we see moonlight here on Earth. Teachers Curriculum Institute Phases of the Moon 1
INVESTIGATION 1 1. Draw and label a diagram of the Earth-sun-moon system that you modeled. Include the revolution and rotation of the moon. 2. Use your model to explain the phenomena below. Why do people on Earth only see one side of the moon? What causes the moon to rise and set? 2 Phases of the Moon Teachers Curriculum Institute
1 - The Changing Moon 1. Reflect on different shapes of the moon that you have seen. Draw as many of these moon shapes as you can remember. If you know the names of these shapes, label your sketches. 2. Do you think the moon is actually changing its shape? Predict what you think causes the moon s changing patterns. Teachers Curriculum Institute Phases of the Moon 3
2 - The Sun Lights Up the Moon 1. What is a model? 2. Consider how you are able to see the moon. Create a simple model that shows the path that light travels that allows you to see the moon. Label the sun, the moon, and Earth. Draw in arrows to represent the path of light. 4 Phases of the Moon Teachers Curriculum Institute
INVESTIGATION 2 1. After modeling moon phases, complete this diagram with your partner. For each location of the moon: shade in the side of the moon that is not lit (in the smaller circle) draw the moon phase you would see from Earth (in the larger circle) label the name of the moon phase (in the rectangle) 2. Use your model to explain what causes the phenomenon of moon phases. Teachers Curriculum Institute Phases of the Moon 5
3 - Modeling the Earth-Sun-Moon System 1. Each model below shows the sun, the moon, and Earth. Notice that the moon is in different orientations to the sun and Earth. (Note: These models are NOT drawn to scale.) How would the moon appear from Earth s perspective? Directions: For each box in the first column, shade the side of the moon that is not receiving sunlight (or use a highlighter to represent the side getting sunlight). For each box in the second column, shade in the part of the moon we cannot see. Leave the part of the moon that we can see from Earth unshaded (or use a highlighter to represent the reflected light). 6 Phases of the Moon Teachers Curriculum Institute
INVESTIGATION 3 Examine each orientation of the Earth-sun-moon system model. Then answer the questions from Earth s perspective. Scenario 1: 1a. Shade in the blank MoonBelt below to show which part of the belt is lit and which part is dark. 1b. Which moon phase is visible in this orientation of the Earth-sun-moon system? Scenario 2: 2a. Shade in the blank MoonBelt below to show which part of the belt is lit and which part is dark. 2b. Which moon phase is visible in this orientation of the Earth-sun-moon system? Teachers Curriculum Institute Phases of the Moon 7
Scenario 3: 3a. Shade in the blank MoonBelt below to show which part of the belt is lit and which part is dark. 3b. Which moon phase is visible in this orientation of the Earth-sun-moon system? Scenario 4: 4a. Shade in the blank MoonBelt below to show which part of the belt is lit and which part is dark. 4b. Which moon phase is visible in this orientation of the Earth-sun-moon system? 8 Phases of the Moon Teachers Curriculum Institute
4 - The Earth-Sun-Moon System 1. The calendar below shows a sample month of the year. Suppose that you see a full moon on the first day of this month. Draw and label a picture of the full moon on this day. Draw and label a picture of the third quarter moon on the day you would expect to see it. Draw and label a picture of the new moon on the day you would expect to see it. Draw and label a picture of the first quarter moon on the day you would expect to see it. 2. Suppose your friend wants to see some of the other phases of the moon, such as a gibbous and crescent moon. Provide a day in the month above that your friend could view each of the following lunar phases. Then, draw that lunar phase on the calendar in a different color. Waning Gibbous Waning Crescent Waxing Crescent Waxing Gibbous Teachers Curriculum Institute Phases of the Moon 9
INVESTIGATION 4 1. Orientation Card In the box, draw the practice Orientation Card. Sketch and label the moon phase that would be visible from Earth in this Earth-sun-moon orientation. 10 Phases of the Moon Teachers Curriculum Institute
2. Moon Phase Card Sketch and label the practice moon phase below: Then draw a picture of the orientation of the sun, the moon, and Earth that would allow that moon phase to be seen from Earth. Teachers Curriculum Institute Phases of the Moon 11
3. Throughout this investigation, how did you use patterns to identify the causes of moon phases? 4. How do patterns allow you to predict moon phases and the orientation of the Earth-sun-moon system. 12 Phases of the Moon Teachers Curriculum Institute
5 - Reducing Risk for Apollo 11 1. What problem were NASA engineers trying to solve in 1969? 2. Define the problem by listing the criteria and constraints in the chart below. Criteria Constraints 3. Why was it so important for NASA engineers to precisely define the criteria and constraints of the Apollo 11 mission? Teachers Curriculum Institute Phases of the Moon 13
MAKING SENSE OF PHENOMENA Phenomenon: The appearance of the moon changes every night. 1. Use what you have learned to explain this phenomenon. 2. A storyboard is a series of panels that shows the visual and verbal components of a video you intend to make. Create a storyboard that explains this phenomenon. It must be one to two minutes in length. demonstrate an understanding of the cause of the phases of the moon. include an explanation of why the moon appears to change its shape. include the terms: pattern, Earth, moon, phases, gibbous, crescent, waxing, and waning. You may use any of the aspects of the models used in class and in the Student Text. Visual 1 1 Script 2 2 3 3 4 4 14 Phases of the Moon Teachers Curriculum Institute