Background+Information



**__ Important Vocabulary to Know About Moon Phases: __** //Phase-// the shape of the moon as seen from the Earth  //Revolution-// the motion of the moon around the Earth, one complete orbit   (//The moon's revolution around Earth is what causes the moon to appear to be changing shape.)//   //Waxing-// describes a moon that appears to be getting larger each night   //Waning-// describes a moon that appears to be getting smaller each night   //Gibbous-// when the moon is larger than a quarter moon, but smaller than a full moon   //Crescent-// a moon that is smaller than a quarter moon, but larger than a new moon  // New Moon- // lunar phase that occurs when the sun and the moon are in the same location in the sky. The moon is not visible because it is the far side of the moon that is illuminated. // Full Moon- // phase of the moon that is fully illuminated and rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. ** Vocabulary found from: [|Science Class. Net] **

Meredith Duncan Common Misconceptions About the Phases of the Moon One of the biggest misconceptions about the phases of the moon is that the moon phases are caused by the earth’s shadow. While the earth’s shadow is responsible for eclipses is does not cause the moon’s phases. Some students also attribute the phases to clouds, the earth’s rotation on its axis, or the moons rotation on its axis. The moons phases are caused by the reflection of sunlight on the moon at different angles depending on where the moon is in its orbit around the earth. A website that has activities and information on this can be found at: [|Moon Phases Activities]

Another misconception is that the moon can only be seen at night. Some students may not ever have noticed the moon during the day. The reality is that each different phase of the moon rises and sets at different times. The full moon will never be seen during the day because is rises in the evening and sets just before daylight. The new moon rises in the morning and sets in the evening.

One other big misconception is that the moon makes its own light. Like the earth and all planets the moon is non-luminous and only reflects the light of the sun.

The last big misconception is the moon takes one day to orbit the earth or that the moon orbits the sun. The moon takes approximately 29 days to orbit the earth a little less than a month. Because the earth is also moving it takes slightly longer than the 27 days it would take if the earth was standing still.

Information found at [|http://sunshine.chpc.utah.edu/labs/moon/lunar_phases_main.html#part2]

[] Aimee Welton

__**Basic Facts to Teach Students**__
 * The changing shape of the bright part of the Moon that we see is called its phase.
 * The moon is illuminated because it reflects the light from the sun. The part of the moon facing the sun is lit up. The part facing away from the sun is in darkness.
 * The phases of the Moon depend on its position in relation to the Sun and Earth. As the Moon makes its way around the Earth, we see the bright parts of the Moon’s surface at different angles. There are called “phases: of the Moon.
 * The Moon travels around the Earth in a circle called an orbit.
 * The Moon is 4.5 billion years old.
 * The Moon rises in the east and sets in the west.
 * The Moon is about 250,000 miles from Earth.
 * There are 8 phases of the moon.
 * New
 * Waxing Crescent
 * First Quarter
 * Waxing Gibbous
 * Full
 * Waning Gibbous
 * Last Quarter
 * Waning Crescent

Facts found at: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/explore/nworld/space_earth_science.htm

Jessica Torres __** Additional Facts to share with middle school students. **__
 * Develop of the concepts of scale and how to relates it to vast distances. (5-7th grades)
 * Students should distinguish the differences between light from the moon versus light from a star. (5-6th grade)
 * Explain the cause of lunar and solar eclipses. (6-7th grade)
 * Introduce the unit of measurement an astronomical unit, the distance between the Earth and Sun. (6-7th grade)

*Information from NSTA Formative Assessment book //Uncovering Student Ideas in Science. Wendy//