Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Week 16: The Moon (Phases and Such)





The other night, my girls were baffled as to where the moon went.
When we looked online,
we saw that there will be no visible moon for another 5 days....
this inspired me to teach them
about the phases of the moon and other aspects about the moon.

I am excited to see how simplified I can make this lesson
and still maintain some level of education
about the phases and properties of the moon.


Side-Note: From a Christian perspective, I love the idea of the moon because it can only get its 'light' from the 'Sun' just as we can only get our light from the Son... I guess this is why the idea of the moon intrigues me so much.. (Side-Note Complete:)


Books
CoverMoon dreams by Martin, Ruth
CoverLittle Rabbit couldn't sleep by Shoshan, Beth.
CoverLas fases de la luna = Phases of the moon by Olson, Gillia M.
CoverWhy does the moon change shape? by Stewart, MelissaCoverThe way back home by Jeffers, Oliver

CoverCatching the moon by Goldberg, Myla
CoverThe moon by Stevenson, Robert Louis
CoverLittle Honey Bear and the smiley moon by Lobel, Gillian


Learning Points:

1. When we cannot see the moon, it is called the New Moon...its when the moon is 'missing'

2. The phases of the moon are: Crescent, Half, Gibbous, Full and back down again to Gibbous, half and Crescent.


Crafts:

We will be doing marble painting with all of the phases of the moon...then hanging them on our wall next to the window where we can see the moon. Then we can compare the moon and our phases and see where we are.
(I hung up their phases artwork and l labeled them)
Songs:

Going to the Moon- Who doesn't love pretending you are in a spaceship!
(Do movements like you are sitting down) Get in the spaceship we're going to the moon, going to the moon, going to the moon.
Get in the spaceship we're going to the moon. Let's countdown right now. 5-4-3-2-1 BLAST OFF! (When the group says "Blast off" jump out of the chair with arms outstretched)

(Stretch your arms out like you're flying) Get in the spaceship we're flying to the moon, flying to the moon, flying to the moon.
Get in the spaceship we're flying to the moon. Let's countdown right now. 5-4-3-2-1...BLAST OFF!

(Walk around with very tall, exaggerated steps) Get out of the spaceship we're walking on the moon, walking on the moon, walking on the moon.
Get out of the spaceship we're walking on the moon. Let's countdown right now. 5-4-3-2-1...BLAST OFF!

(Do movements like you are very sleepy and ready to get back home) Get in the spaceship we're going back home, going back home, going back home. Get in the spaceship we're going back home. Let's countdown right now. 5-4-3-2-1...BLAST OFF!


Snacks:

English Muffin Moon Craters..... I'm going to make homemade English Muffins, then we will explore the 'terrain' of them... show the kids what the moons surface looks like... Then we'll practice coordination with a butter knife, and use 'nighttime jelly' (blackberry) and try to create the different phases...we'll see! I'll try to take pictures...should be interesting!
Making our homemade English Muffins...( I accidentally read the directions wrong, so ours came out more like dough discs, but it was still fun!)
Even the little one got involved in measuring and putting in the ingredients!

This was Lily practicing her knife skills and our 'nighttime' jam to create a quarter moon...



Thanks!







2 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a great collection of Moon books! My son always wants to know why the moon "follows us" when we go somewhere. I will have to see if any of those can answer that question.

Anonymous said...

Those books look interesting. It looks like you're doing some great things with your girls.

I found you from your comment on my blog. Thanks for stopping by :).

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