Phases of the Moon/Web Search & Practice



Lunar Cycle Webquest

Objective: Predict the sequence of events in the lunar cycle

Procedures: Complete each task by typing in the website and following the instructions. Answer all questions thoroughly.

Task #1: Lunar Cycle Challenge:   

Go to the website above.

Read the instructions to complete the lunar cycle challenge.

Complete levels 1-3.

Answer the questions

List two strategies you used to complete the challenges (guessing is not a strategy!).

1. _________________________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________________________

Task #2: Lunar Phase Activity

Illumination Activity:

1. Go to the website above.

2. Click on the shadows until you have them all aligned correctly. Click the forward arrow when you are finished. If you have them all correct it will give you a message.

3. Answer the questions on your webquest.

The moon "shines" by reflecting sunlight. As the moon orbits Earth, sunlight "shines" on different parts of the moon on the side of the moon that we can see. 

We always see the same side of the moon. (Why? Because the moon revolves at the same speed as it rotates. Scientists think that one side is heavier and thus drawn to Earth due to gravity.)

The key to understanding moon phases is: although the sun always shines on the same side of the moon, the moon is not always in the same place while orbiting Earth with respect to the sun. That sounds confusing, so let's work through a little diagram so you can visually see this and figure it out.

1. Sunlight will shine on the side of the Earth (or moon) that faces the _________.

2. We call this _______ on the side of the Earth that faces the sun, and __________ on the side of the Earth that does not face the sun.

Task #3: Matching Moon Phases Activity:

Go to the website above.

In this activity you are trying to figure out what the Moon looks like for a person standing on Earth at different positions in its revolution around the Sun.

Read the instructions and fill in the correct letters on the diagram.

3. The green dashed line divides the moon into two halves - the half we can see from Earth, and the half we don't see. 

4. Look at the moon when it is at position (a). It looks like half of the moon is light and half is dark. 

5. Find and click the picture that shows what the moon looks like in position (a).  If you pick the correct picture and information box will pop up telling you about the phase.  You can close the box and move on to the next phase.

6. Your job is to continue through all the phases, through (h), to determine if you can figure out which moon phase matches with the position on this diagram.

7. As you match the pictures label them below with the correct letter (a-h)

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

[pic]

Task #4: Moon Phases Simulator:

Go to the website above.

This activity puts it all together.  

Complete the chart and answer the questions as you go.

|Phase |Name of Phase |View as seen from Earth |View as seen from above (draw the position of the moon) |

|1 |New Moon | | |

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|4 |Waxing Gibbous | | |

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|6 | | | |

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|7 |Third Quarter | | |

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|8 | | | |

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Questions

1. Is the new moon visible to Earth? Why or why not?

2. Which moon phases are direct opposites of each other in both appearance and position?

3. During which phase does the moon appear to be fully visible?

4. During which sequence of phases does the moon’s visibility increase?

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