Select a Subject

Grade 4, Science
Std 9: Describe the appearance and movement of Earth and its moon.

Identifying the waxing and waning of the moon in the night sky
Identifying lunar and solar eclipses

Lesson Plans:

Birthday Moons
Students become familiar with lunar phases by locating and then graphing the Moon phase of their own birthdays. After listening and discussing lunar myths and legends they create their own Birthday Moon Stories.

Discovering the Earth's Journey Around the Sun
The revolution of the earth around the sun is a phenomenon that is hard for students to deal with concretely. The following lesson will help students to more fully understand our planet's relationship to the sun.

Planetary Profiles
In this lesson, students will understand the characteristics of the nine planets, moon, and sun; how astronomers study them; and the difference between scientific theory and scientific fact.

MOON MAGIC
In this lesson the students will discover how the position of the earth, sun and moon cause the moon's shape to appear to change in the night sky.

What Makes Day and Night?
A kinesthetic modeling of day and night allows students to experience the spinning Earth and the day/night cycle.

Resources:

Earth, Sun, and Moon Students will see the movements of these in the solar system.

The Moon Online lesson in which students will discover the characteristics and phases of the moon.

Moon Shadow: Solar Eclipse Students can read and see the making of a solar eclipse.

Astronomy: Our Place in Space Links to resources and activities about the solar system

Science Online A must see! Great site for links to Blueprint Skills, Lesson Plans, Topical Sites, Interactive Websites for Students and Worksheets

Science Clips You will find an alphabetical list of science interactive movie clips.

Suggestions for English Language Learners (ELLs):
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding)

(E/B): Identify pictures showing morning, afternoon, evening, and night.
(E/B): Place pictures of various activities under headings of morning, afternoon, evening, and night.
(E/B): Sequence various activities and estimate what time the activity might have occurred.
(E/B): Using representations of the earth, moon and sun, students will role play the motions and routes of their rotations and revolutions; (D): ...and will then brainstorm questions about rotation and revolution and then write answers to the questions; (E): ...and will use the answers to make an oral presentation.
(D): Working with a partner, create a sundial with a paper circle and a craft stick and mark the shadow at three times during a day.
(D): Working with a partner, show how the earth rotates and revolves. Identify which movement causes day and night and which causes seasons.
(D): Describe (orally) how to make a sundial and mark the hours.
(D): Create and label a diagram showing the earth's orbit around the sun.
(E): Write sentences describing how the earth's movement around the sun creates our seasons.

© 2005 Mobile County Public Schools
MCPSS is not responsible for the content of links beyond the initial levels
in this site and does not officially endorse any software or other products mentioned
on the linked sites.