Grade: 4th

Topic: Moon Phases

Materials: Oreo cookie for each moon phase, Pencil, Popsicle stick or any other tool for scraping the frosting, Oreo cookie moon phase sheet (PDF), Moon Phase poster, Moon phase viewer

TEKS: 

Grade 4. (8) Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among the Sun, Earth, and Moon system. The student is expected to:

(C) collect and analyze data to identify sequences and predict patterns of change in shadows, seasons, and the observable appearance of the Moon over time.

Next Generation Science Teacher (NGSS)

Content Standard B. Earth and space Science for K-4-

Properties of earth materials. Objects in the sky changes in earth and sky

Topic Question

How many moon phases are there and what are they?

Objectives

1. The students will be able to list and describe the 8 different moon phases.

Stages of the  5E modelTimeQuestions

Engage.
Ask questions
about objects,
organisms, and event in the
environment.
5 mins.
Begin the lesson by using the Moon phase
viewer to show the students the phases of the
Moon and ask questions.

1.   Have you ever seen any phase of the moon
while being outside at night? (Knowledge)
2.  What did you observe about the moon? (Comprehension)
3. How would you describe a moon at night?
(Knowledge)
4. What can you point out about any moon
phase? (Analysis)

Explore.
Ask questions to gather evidence to answer the question posed.
15 mins.
1. How would you explain the reason of different moon phases? (synthesis)
2. Predict what phase the moon will look tomorrow. If   today the moon was a full moon? (synthesis).
3. Observe what happens as the moon is
changing phases.

Activity:

Divide students into groups of 3-5 students. Give each
group four cookies and a copy of the “Moon Phases       Cards” handout. Ask students to twist open their            cookies and put both sides down on the table, with the  cream side facing up. Ask each group to recreate the eight phases of the moon, using the eight cookie halves and by scraping the cream onto or off their cookies with a popsicle stick, spoon or another tool, to make them look like the shapes featured on the “Moon Phases Cards.”   (Students may need to scrape some of the cream off of one cookie and add more to another to create their phases.)
Each group should place their eight moon phases in the order shown in the cards.
After each group has placed its cookie moons in
order, ask them to check their moon cookies with the    phases in the “Moon Phases Cards” to make sure they   have their phases in the right order. Have students       observe the creations of the other groups.  

Explain.
Ask questions to use new knowledge and observable evidence to construct scientific explanations and answer initiating questions.
5 mins.
1. How would you explain these different moon phases? (Analysis)
2. How would you identify the moon phases? (Knowledge)
3. What appears to happen to the moon as it gets through the cycle?
(Analysis)

Observe the changes of the moon “Oreos” and share your thoughts with others.

What does the oreo filling represent?
The oreo filling represents the different moon phases.

Elaborate.
Ask questions to apply new understandings to new problems.
5 mins.
1. Would this information be useful? (Applications)
2. Can you think of any other cultures that have  different beliefs about the moon? (synthesis)

Multicultural Activity:
In different cultures around the world,
people have different beliefs about the moon such as:

The Algonquian tribes of Native Americans and In ancient times, Chinese people. 

https://www.windows2universe.org/?page=/mythology/planets/Earth/moon.html

Evaluate.
Ask questions to assess developing understandings and inquiry skills.
5 mins.
Students will complete a graphic organizer that  has pictures of the different phases of the moon. They will be asked to label the phases and put them in order.

Ask students to write on their science journal about what they observe about the moon from studying it at home that night.

Ask students to use what they have learned about the  moon phases to predict when the next full moon will    be.

Students will use the app: My moon phase lunar Calendar, to pick a date and find out all the information they   can about the moon on that date. They will then create a poster using the information to present to the class.