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

Once on the roof ask the students:

• Q: How would you describe the moon?

A: the moon is less lit than on Tuesday, it is lit on the right side.

• Q:How has the moon changed since last class?

A: it is less lit and is higher in the sky

• Q: How would you describe the angle formed by my arms when one arm is pointed at the sun and one at the moon?

A: They struggled determining if it was right or obtuse angle. The students came to the conclusion that the angle was still obtuse.

• Q: What will happen to the moon in the next few days?

A: the moon will get less lit, the angle formed by the sun and moon will become smaller, and the moon will set later in the day

• Q: On Tuesday we saw the moon set on the horizon, moving East to West. Over the past two days what direction has the moon seemed to move? East to West? or West to East?

A: after discussing the fact that the moon is higher in the sky then it was on Tuesday, the students concluded that the moon seems to be moving West to East from day to day

The students then asked about the sun and if it was also moving (maybe West to East from day to day). They discussed how day light savings time, changes of sunset/sunrise time may affect this, and how that could play into the angle formed with the sun and moon. We left all questions unanswered and let them generate and try to answer these questions among themselves.

Students pointing to the moon.

The moon, more than half lit and high in the sky.