Going on a Field Trip to the Roof to Observe the Sun and Moon

Before heading to the roof we had students share their findings on the moon questions they were asked to create during week 1.

Once on the Roof

Ask students the following questions:

• How many of you saw the moon yesterday?
• What was the shape of the moon yesterday? (half lit)
• What was the angle formed by pointing your arms at the moon and sun yesterday? (right)
• Talk about a Third Quarter Moon (a moon that is half lit on the left side). The angle formed is a right angle.
• What is the shape of the moon today? (less than half lit)
• What is the name of that kind of moon? (waning crescent)

• What angle is formed by your arms? (acute? Right? Obtuse? Straight?)(acute)
• How has that angle changed since a week ago? (smaller: obtuse to right to acute)

• What is the relation between the lit portion of the moon we have seen and the angle formed by pointing one arm at the sun and one arm at the moon? (The smaller the angle, the smaller the lit portion)

• What do you think will happen next?
• Where will the moon be tomorrow?
• Will the angle be getting bigger or smaller? (smaller)
• Will the lit portion be getting bigger or smaller? (smaller)

• Compare the third quarter and waning crescent phases: (invite students to talk with neighbors about this) (listen to what they offer)
• How long does the third quarter phase last?(just the moment when the moon is half full)
• How long does the waning crescent phase last? (several days, as less and less is lit as we see the moon)
• How do the sun and moon appear to be moving during the day?
• Where do you predict the sun will be by the end of class? (further to the west)
• Where do you predict the moon will be by the end of class? (further to the west)
• How do the sun and moon seem to move during one day?(east to west)
• How has the moon seemed to have moved during one week? Point to where the moon was at this time on Tuesday, a week ago. Point to where the moon was at this time on Thursday last week. Point to the moon now.
• How has the moon seemed to have moved? (west to east)
• Why do you think that is? (listen to ideas, encourage thinking but do not judge right or wrong)

• This is a puzzle. How can the moon seem to be moving both east to west during one day but west to east over several days?