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A moon month

Science Year 5
This unit is part of Year 5 Science Space Presenters

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Objectives

Can you implement some investigations to show why the moon appears to change shape throughout the month - you could also do some stargazing of your own!

Science Objectives
i) Describe the movement of the Earth, and other planets, relative to the Sun in the solar system.

ii) Describe the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical bodies.

Working Scientifically

  1. Plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary.
  2. Record data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels
  3. Report and present findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations.
  4. Identify scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.

Extended Writing Opportunities
Journalistic writing: Write your own stargazing column for a local paper based on daily observations.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Carry out a simulation to investigate and demonstrate why the moon appears as it does in the sky.
  • Use photos as a scientific source to identify features on the moon.
  • Link lunar phases to the position of the Moon, Earth and Sun in the form of a diagram.

Activities

  1. Carry out a simulation investigation to demonstrate why the moon appears as it does in the sky.
  2. Look at photos of the moon and identify key features.
  3. Match lunar phases to relative positions of the Moon, Sun and Earth.

Investigation - exploring/analysing secondary sources
Investigate moon phases.

Vocabulary
Earth, Moon, celestial body, sphere/spherical, rotate/rotation, spin, orbit, support/refute, eclipse, light, reflection, telescope, satellite, tide, mass, gravity

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