The Moon StudyJam

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

1, 6

Overview

Earth’s moon reflects the sun, and so it is visible at night. It also rotates at the same rate that it orbits, 27 days, which means that we only see one side of it. The moon has one-sixth of the gravity of Earth and no atmosphere at all!

The classroom resource provides a slide show that will explain the characteristics of Earth's moon. There is also a short test that can be used to assess students' understanding.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 1

SC15.1.2

Construct explanations from observations that objects can be seen only when light is available to illuminate them (e.g., moon being illuminated by the sun, colors and patterns in a kaleidoscope being illuminated when held toward a light).

UP:SC15.1.2

Vocabulary

  • light
  • illuminate
  • construct
  • explanation
  • observation
  • available
  • objects

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Light comes from different sources (natural/man-made).
  • Objects can be seen only when there is a light source.
  • Objects can be seen if they give off their own light.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Gather evidence from observations to support the explanation that objects can only be seen when illuminated.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Objects can be seen only when a light source causes it to be illuminated.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect
Science (2015) Grade(s): 1

SC15.1.8

Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

UP:SC15.1.8

Vocabulary

  • observe
  • describe
  • predict
  • pattern
  • sun
  • moon
  • star
  • sky
  • day
  • night
  • sunset
  • sunrise
  • motion
  • appear

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Stars are not seen in the sky during the day, but are seen in the sky at night.
  • The sun is at different positions in the sky at different times of the day, appearing to rise in one part of the sky in the morning and appearing to set in another part of the sky in the evening.
  • The moon can be seen during the day and at night, but the sun can only be seen during the day.
  • The moon is at different positions in the sky at different times of the day or night, appearing to rise in one part of the sky and appearing to set in another part of the sky.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Organize data from observations in order to describe objects in the day/night sky
  • Use patterns found in data from observations to describe and predict the position of objects in the day/night sky.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Patterns related to the appearance of objects in the sky can be observed and used to provide evidence that future appearances of those objects can be predicted.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns
Science (2015) Grade(s): 6

SC15.6.2

Construct models and use simulations (e.g., diagrams of the relationship between Earth and man-made satellites, rocket launch, International Space Station, elliptical orbits, black holes, life cycles of stars, orbital periods of objects within the solar system, astronomical units and light years) to explain the role of gravity in affecting the motions of celestial bodies bodies (e.g., planets, moons, comets, asteroids, meteors) within galaxies and the solar system.

UP:SC15.6.2

Vocabulary

  • Model
  • Simulation
  • Gravity
  • Gravitational force
  • Solar system
  • Galaxy
  • Milky Way galaxy
  • Sun
  • Planets
  • Moons
  • Asteroids
  • Asteroid belt
  • Stars
  • Celestial bodies
  • Elliptical orbit

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The solar system is a collection of bodies, including the sun, planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and meteors.
  • A galaxy is any of the very large groups of stars and associated matter that are found throughout the universe.
  • The Earth's solar system is one of many systems orbiting the center of the larger system of the Milky Way galaxy.
  • Gravity is an attractive force between solar system and galaxy objects.
  • Gravity increases as the mass of the interacting objects increases.
  • Gravity decreases as the distances between objects increases.
  • Gravity affects the orbital motion of objects in our solar system (e.g., moons orbit around planets, all objects within the solar system orbit the sun).
  • Gravity is a predominantly inward-pulling force that can keep smaller/less massive objects in orbit around larger/more massive objects.
  • Gravity causes a pattern of smaller/less massive objects orbiting around larger/more massive objects at all system scales in the universe.
  • Gravitational forces from planets cause smaller objects (e.g., moons) to orbit around planets.
  • The gravitational force of the sun causes the planets and other bodies to orbit around it, holding the solar system together.
  • The gravitational forces from the center of the Milky Way cause stars and stellar systems to orbit around the center of the galaxy.
  • The hierarchy pattern of orbiting systems in the solar system was established early in its history as the disk of dust and gas was driven by gravitational forces to form moon-planet and planet-sun orbiting systems.
  • Objects too far away from the sun do not orbit it because the sun's gravitational force on those objects is too weak to pull them into orbit.
  • Without gravity smaller planets would move in straight paths through space, rather than orbiting a more massive body.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Develop a model and identify the relevant components including gravity and celestial bodies.
  • Describe the relationships and interactions between the components of the solar and galaxy systems.
  • Use the model to describe gravity and its effects.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Gravity is an attractive force between solar system and galaxy objects.
  • Gravity causes a pattern of smaller/less massive objects orbiting around larger/more massive objects at all systems scales in the universe.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

Crosscutting Concepts

Systems and System Models

CR Resource Type

Interactive/Game

Resource Provider

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/

License Type

Custom
https://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/solar-system/moon.htm

Custom License Type (URL)

http://www.scholastic.com/terms.htm

Comments or Notes

The test may be completed as a whole group or independently on student devices.

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

habradley
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