Science lessons involving the moon are exciting for children.
People have always looked into the night sky with wonder at the luminous globe that is the moon. Since Neil Armstrong took the first small step that changed the world, fascination with the moon has grown. Children in particular look at the moon with curiosity and a sense of intrigue. Teachers can grab students' attention by choosing from numerous science lessons involving the moon.
Phases of the Moon
Children naturally wonder why the moon changes shape. Creating a month-long moon phases project is a great way to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the moon's revolution around the Earth, the Earth's rotation and the sun as it relates to the moon. Issue a monthly calendar to the students instructing them to draw a picture nightly of the shape of the moon. After two weeks of documentation, encourage them to discuss why the moon changes shape. Use a ball and a lamp with a bare light bulb or a flashlight to demonstrate how the moon is illuminated by the sun as it revolves around the Earth. Students will understand the relationship of the three heavenly bodies by recording the results for themselves.
Gravity
The fact that the moon's gravity is just a sixth of the Earth's suggests many lessons. Students can calculate how much they would weigh on the moon versus how much they weigh on Earth. There are also special shoes, called "Moon Shoes," that simulate how it might feel to walk on the moon. Children can also experiment with gravity, as Galileo did by dropping a feather and a rock at the same time. Use a timer to calculate how long it takes each object to drop from the same height. Encourage students to speculate on the differences in dropping a feather on Earth versus the moon. Videos are available showing Apollo 15 astronauts dropping a feather on the moon.
Tides
The gravitational pull of the moon affects tides on Earth. Let students experiment with how gravity affects tides by giving each student a paper cup with holes punched on either side of the top of the cup. Lace a piece of string between the two holes, tying it on either side, to create a handle. Fill each cup with a small amount of water. Instruct the students to swing the cup by the handle in a circular motion over their heads and back down. Students will note that the water does not spill from the cup. This will lead to an interesting discussion about the gravitational pull of the moon and how it affects the tides.
Geology
Landforms of the moon make a compelling lesson for students. Because the Earth is so geologically active, much of its history has been erased by water and wind erosion and other natural phenomena. Because fewer forces are at work on the moon, it is much like it was when it was created. Much can be learned about Earth's creation by exploring the geography of the moon. To explore crater formation, compare and contrast Earth's mountains, valleys and canyons with lunar landforms. Prepare a tray with fine sand. The surface of the moon is composed of a layer of sand that is almost like dust. Cover the sand with a thin layer of dry powdered tempera paint. Have students drop rocks of varying sizes from different heights into the sand and record the results. This illustrates the impact of meteorites and asteroids on the moon's surface.
Tags: affects tides, dropping feather, around Earth, changes shape, either side, experiment with
