Phases of moon
?Download as PPT, PDF?
0 likes?547 views
The moon appears to change shapes throughout the month because it orbits Earth, taking one month to complete its cycle. As the moon orbits Earth, different portions are illuminated by the sun, causing the phases from new moon to full moon and back again over four weeks. Demonstrating the moon's orbit around Earth with balls and showing how perspectives of a ball with light on one side appear at different angles helps explain the lunar phases seen from Earth.
Phases of moon
- 1. Why does the moon appear to change its shape at different times in the month? Earth Sun Explain that moon orbits the Earth, and takes one month to travel all the way round, demonstrate using balls to show moon orbit.
- 2. Explain that it depends on where the moon is in the cycle as to how much you see of the light and shade 1. Put a mug in the middle of a table and ask each person sitting round table to draw it ¨C should get 4 different perspectives 2. Repeat with ball with torch shining on it to create light half/ dark half ¨C should get the four main phases of the moon ¨C new, full, 1 st and last quarters 3. Get children to put their drawing on board or hang on washing line in order Photo credit: Woodlands Junior School http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/time/moon/times.html http://www.delicious.com/jobadge/moon Sites used for research