MOON UNIT Lesson one – How the moon was formed and it’s orbit

Standard:

Earth and Space Science. Students will gain an understanding of Earth and Space Science through the study of earth materials, celestial movement, and weather.

ObjectiveObserve, describe, and record patterns in the appearance

and apparent motion of the moon in the night sky.

Observe and describe the number, arrangement and color/brightness of stars in the night sky.

Vocabulary

moon: the large round object that circles the Earth and that shines at night by reflecting light from the sun

Earth: the planet we live on myth: a story that was told in an ancient culture

to explain a practice, belief, or natural occurrence

theory: an idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain facts or events

orbit: the path an object in space follows as it rotates around another object

Know Want to know Learned

In your moon book write down what you know about the moon.

Next, write some things you would like to know about the moon

After each lesson of the moon unit, write down one fact or interesting thing you learned about the moon.

Don’t forget to write itty bity and neat

What Objects do you see at night? Possible objects:

stars moon a thing that looks like a

banana. Hint, it’s the moon! falling stars planes lights shinning

These are all wonderful observations. Today we will be learning about the moon’s orbit.

Moon Myths

Long, long ago people would look at the sky and wonder about the sun and moon. They made up stories that explained how the moon was made or how it was placed high in the sky.

Let’s listen to a myth from Africa, explaining how the moon and sun got high in the sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWU2oyqCg5o

Moon Myths

There are many myths about why the moon is the the sky and how it was formed (made). Scientists have their theories too. Here are some of them: The moon is a sister world that formed

in orbit around Earth as the Earth formed.

The moon formed somewhere else in the solar system then was captured into orbit around Earth.

Early Earth spun so fast that it spun off the moon.

Moon

Most scientists believe that the moon and Earth formed at about the same time, back when our whole solar system was formed. Earth was forming from many chunks of rock and icy material. Possibly a big chunk hit the new Earth and knocked loose a big piece, which became the moon.

Moon Orbit

As we know from previous lessons. The earth orbits the sun and the moon orbits the earth. The moons orbit is not perfectly round it’s elliptical.

Visit this site to learn how the sun, earth, and moon orbit. http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/earthandbeyond/soonmoonearth/

Visit this site to hear a song about the moons’ orbit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i235Y2HRksA

Moon Check for Understanding

What are some objects found in the sky?

What is the moon? How do scientist believe the moon

was formed? Explain how the moon orbits

Moon Activity 1(optional)

Follow the directions on the sheet to make the orbit model. Then write about how the moon orbits the earth. Materials:

scissors 3 brads crayons, markers, or

colored pencils

Directions

Moon Activity 2 (optional writes)

Write your own myth story on how the moon was made and put in the sky. Stories must have a beginning, middle,

and end When you’re done draw a picture of

your story

Other Moon Myth Stories (optional)

The Night the Moon Fell- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

HCLQZ1iURyY

resources

Lunar Cycle, Why The Moon Change Shapes, 8 Phases Of The Moon, Learning Videos For Children

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCweccNOaqo