Context:

This project was created during the Fall of 2007 under the advisement of Jeff Goodman for Science Instruction in the Elementary Classroom (GS 4401). The assignment required studying the moon and its phases, as well as noted the position of the moon in the sky over the course of a night.

Impact:

When students are required to observe and study the moon, they will begin to see the patterns in the phases of the moon. Students who watch the way that the moon changes from night to night, and even moves across the sky during one night, will begin to have their curiosity in science sparked. They will begin to ask why the moon changes in these ways, lending opportunity for teachers to teach in an inquiry based method. Students will begin to discover the answers to their own questions by observing the world around them, supported by class instruction.

Alignment:

Standard 2: Elementary teachers have a broad knowledge and understanding of the major concepts in mathematics.

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Indicator 2: Teachers have knowledge of geometry and measurement. Teachers:

• Understand construction of simple geometric figures,
• Understand and apply concepts of relative position and relationships and geometric formulas, and
• Model appropriate measurement systems in various settings (standard, nonstandard, and metric system) in measuring length, perimeter, area, capacity, volume, weight, angle, time, money, and temperature.

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This standard is met by studying the relationship of the moon in the sky relative to objects around it. Spatial skills are required to realize that the moon moved across the sky over the night. Then scientific reason, that the Earth is rotating, is employed to explain this relationship. This assignment required the drawing of shapes that are seen in the moon’s phases. Without accurate construction of these simple geometric figures, the moon’s phases will not be adequately demonstrated.  </u1:p>

Standard 3: Elementary teachers have a broad knowledge and understanding of the major concepts in science.

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Indicator 3: Teachers have knowledge of basic earth science concepts including:

• Planetary astronomy (objects in the sky, changes in the earth and sky, and weather)
• Properties of earth materials (rocks, minerals, fossils, water, air)
• Earth dynamics and systems
• Interaction of earth and living systems including management of natural resources and pollution

<u1:p><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT color=#336600>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#336600>I have met this objective by understanding that the phases of the moon that we see from Earth are caused by the moon&#8217;s relative position to the Earth and Sun. One side of the moon always appears to be a full moon, it is just a matter where the Earth is position to see the moon. When the full moon side is positioned opposite of the Earth, it appears to be a New Moon on Earth. If an astronaut flew his ship around to the other side of the moon, he would see a Full Moon, on the same night. I also learned discovered through the project that the moon rises in the East and sets in the West, just like the sun. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT color=#336600>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#336600>Standard 12: Working alone, or with arts specialist teachers and/or other qualified arts professionals, elementary teachers are able to integrate the arts into the elementary curriculum.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P><u1:p></u1:p><!-- ### Begin File Attachment Section ### --> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p><FONT color=#336600>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT color=#336600><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">This assignment required drawing both the moon and something around it to reference it&#8217;s place in space. By drawing the church in front of my apartment, I have integrated the arts into this scientific study of the moon. </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#336600></FONT></u1:p>