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Lesson Plan
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California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Moon Phases

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
We are the world! Each of your class members models Earth and holds a styrofoam ball to see its phases. Thorough teacher background information and a detailed lesson plan will make this a cinch to teach. If you do not want to purchase...
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Activity
School World

Moon Observation Project

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Mrs. Flynt has designed a 12-day moon observation activity that is best assigned when daylight hours are shorter. Middle school moon experts record several factors, including the altitude above the horizon, the azimuth, the phase, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on the Moon

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study the physical properties of the Moon.  In this life on the moon lesson students describe the ways life on the Moon would be different than on Earth. 
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Life on the Moon

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students learn about the physical properties of the Moon. They compare these to the properties of the Earth to determine how life would be different for people living on the Moon. Using their understanding of these differences, they...
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Graphic
Cornell University

Cornell University: Astronomy: The Phases of the Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Cornell University provides great information on the different phases of the moon. As the Moon moves in its orbit around the Sun, our view of the side illuminated by the Sun changes. Furthermore, the rising and setting...
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Website
Extreme Science

Extreme Science: The Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the birth of Earth's moon, its composition, orbit, visible phases, and other interesting facts. Link to a virtual moon phase interactive which shows the current lunar phase and the phase on any date in the past or future.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Exploration of Shadows: Earth, Moon, Sun System: Moon Phases Eclipses

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A guided inquiry where students participate in the simulation of moon phases and eclipses.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: The Moon in Motion: Monitoring the Moon's Phases

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Using a moon calendar data-gathering tool, students discover the patterns of the lunar phases through observations and other exploration activities.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Going Through a Phase: The Changing Patterns of Our Moons Appearance

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about lunar phases by investigating and observing the changing shapes of the moon as sunlight is reflected away from the moon.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Cycles of the Sun and Moon

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students download sunrise and sunset data along with moon phase data, and graph these data sets together in a spreadsheet in order to visualize the cycles of the seasons and the moon.
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Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: What Are the Phases of the Moon?

For Students 3rd - 8th
This page provides basic information about the causes of the phases of the Moon. A good diagram shows the lit portion of the Moon as seen from Earth through one complete Lunar cycle.
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Primary
Other

On Hiatus: The Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
This commercial site [without any advertising] provides a diagram of the current illumination of the Moon, and the dates of the most recent and upcoming New, Quarter, and Full Moon phases. All dates and times are in universal Time, only.
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Activity
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Moonlight Madness

For Students 3rd - 8th
The revolution of the Moon around the Earth causes the Moon to appear to change shape in the sky. These apparently different shapes are called "phases" of the Moon. The Moon passes through a cycle of eight phases which repeats itself...
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Lesson Plan
Michigan Reach Out

Reach Out michigan.org: Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site explains the phases of the moon and an easy way to remember waxing and waning. Students have to explain a given phase to their classmates with a model.
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Activity
TOPS Learning Systems

Tops Learning Systems: Top Science: Moon on a Stick [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 8th
Investigate why the moon does not always appear to be round.
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Activity
PBS

Nova: Lunar Puzzlers

For Students 9th - 10th
See if you can answer 4 challenging questions that will require you to take a lunar perspective. These questions deal with the way things look from the moon.
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Interactive
US Navy

Usno: Virtual Reality Moon Phase Pictures

For Students 9th - 10th
In addition to providing the current phase of the Moon [within 4 hours] you can find the phase of the moon for any date and time from 1800 to 2199 A.D. Universal, Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time Zones will apply to most users.