Student Activities for Earth and Moon
It is important to note and to remind students that none of the diagrams of the Earth, Moon, or Sun are made to scale. This is done intentionally to aid with conceptual understanding.
Essential Questions for Earth and Moon
- Why does the Moon look different night to night?
- Why do we have seasons?
- How can we see the Moon?
- What is the difference between orbit, rotation, and revolution?
The Earth and the Moon
Because our planet has near perfect conditions for life, it is a unique planet in our solar system. This includes the fact that it is the only one we currently believe has liquid water in the present day. The Earth orbits the Sun and takes 365.25 days to complete one revolution, or rotation, around the sun. Because a calendar year lasts 365 days, we add "Leap Day" every four years on February 29th in order to get the calendar back on track. Every fourth year with February 29th is known as a Leap Year.
The Earth is split up into two halves, known as hemispheres. The Northern and Southern Hemisphere meet at the equator, an imaginary line of latitude that is halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole. The Earth rotates on a tilted axis and takes 24 hours to make a full rotation, making the day. The Earth’s axial tilt changes between 22.1° and 24.5°, and scientists believe that Earth was hit by a very large object, changing the planet’s rotational axis. This tilt causes the Earth’s seasons. During the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere, the tilt is pointing towards the Sun. This means that the Sun’s light is spread over a smaller area, so the energy density is higher. While this happens, the Southern Hemisphere is pointing away from the Sun, so the Sun’s energy is spread over a larger area, causing cooler average temperatures, thus resulting in winter.
Our planet has one moon, which is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system; it orbits the Earth every 28 days. The Moon is tidally locked to the Earth, meaning that the same side of the Moon always faces the us. It orbits the Earth but it does not rotate the way the Earth does. The Moon's relative position to the Sun and Earth changes the way it looks at night. These changes, known as the phases of the moon, are illustrated by how much of the illuminated surface of the Moon we can see from Earth.
The exploration of the Moon began in 1959 when the space probe Luna 2 was launched by the Soviet Union. The probe crashed onto the surface of the Moon, carrying out some experiments on its journey there. The first probe to land on the Moon (as opposed to crash landing) was the Luna 9 Lander, and because of this, it was able to transmit pictures back to Earth upon landing. However, the most famous Lunar mission was Apollo 11, when the Lunar Module landed on the Moon in 1969 and Neil Armstrong became the first human to land on the surface of another astronomical body. Armstrong was accompanied by Buzz Aldrin to the surface, while Michael Collins piloted the command module the orbited the Moon. They brought back over 21 kg of samples from the lunar surface. In total, 12 Astronauts have walked on the surface on the Moon, with the last mission returning in December 1972.
The Next Generation Science Standards push the importance of getting students to develop and use models to understand phenomena. Scientists will make models of a system to aid their understanding of a system or part of a system. Models are used in Science to make predictions and communicate ideas or data to other people. There are a range of activities here that focus on that particular skill. Students will easily be about to create their own models of the Earth and the Moon to explain the Moon’s phases and the Earth’s seasons. This gives you a great opportunity to discuss the limitations of using models, giving students the opportunity to evaluate and refine them.
How Tos about The Earth and Moon
Make a simple moon phases calendar with your class
Introduce students to the idea of tracking the moon over a month. Explain how the moon appears different each night and that these changes follow a pattern called phases.
Set up a daily moon observation routine
Ask students to look for the moon every evening and note what they see. Encourage them to use drawings or simple descriptions if the moon is visible.
Create a class chart to record observations
Design a large calendar or chart in your classroom. Let each student add their nightly moon drawing or note to the day’s box so everyone can see patterns forming over time.
Discuss patterns and connect them to moon phases
Review the completed calendar as a class. Point out how the moon’s shape changes and use the chart to talk about new, full, and crescent moons.
Encourage students to share moon facts and questions
Invite students to write down or share interesting moon facts or questions they had during the month. Use these to spark curiosity and future lessons about the Earth and Moon.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Earth and Moon
What are the phases of the Moon and why do they change?
The phases of the Moon refer to the different shapes of the Moon visible from Earth as it orbits our planet. They change because the Moon’s position relative to the Earth and Sun alters how much of its illuminated side we can see.
How does the Moon’s orbit affect life on Earth?
The Moon’s orbit affects life on Earth by causing tides, changing the amount of moonlight, and influencing some animal behaviors. Its gravitational pull helps stabilize Earth’s axial tilt, which impacts our seasons.
What is the difference between orbit, rotation, and revolution?
Orbit is the path an object takes around another, rotation is an object spinning on its axis, and revolution is one complete orbit around another object. For example, Earth rotates daily and revolves around the Sun yearly.
Why does the Moon always show the same face to Earth?
The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, meaning its rotation period matches its orbit period. This causes the same side of the Moon to always face Earth.
What are some easy classroom activities to teach the Earth and Moon?
Teachers can use models, diagrams, or hands-on activities to explain the Moon’s phases, seasons, or the Earth-Moon-Sun relationship. Simple activities include using balls and lamps to show orbits and creating Moon phase charts.
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