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Lesson Plan 6
Lesson Plan 6
Content
Australian
Science
Class: 6/7
Time: 1:15
Exploring Eclipses- investigating lunar eclipse
Science
Curriculum
Number of Children: 28
Success
Criteria
Resources
Understand that lunar eclipses are related to the moons position relative
to the sun and Earth.
Introduction
10 minutes
Main Body
45 minutes
Explore eclipses
Activity
Show students the link to the interactive activity and ask them
to read through the first two sections and then to move onto
the activity. Complete worksheet in pairs through using the
interactive model. This interactive model allows student to
view the result of different positions of the moon on the earth
and sun. This worksheet allows children to experiment with the
model while also grasping a deeper understanding on the
eclipses.
http://highered.mheducation.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?
it=swf::640::480::/sites/dl/free/007299181x/220730/eclipse_int
eractive.swf::Eclipse%20Interactive
Extension
Draw an annotated diagram to illustrate the positions of the
Earth, moon and sun during a lunar eclipse.
Conclusion
10 minutes
Catering to
Individual
children. Also wandering around the classroom and assisting students where
Learners
Behaviour
Management
Comments
1). Where is the moon in its orbit when a solar eclipse occurs? Where is the moon in its orbit when
a lunar eclipse occurs?
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2). What is the phase of the moon during a solar eclipse? What is the phase of the moon during a
lunar eclipse?
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3). Set the size of the moon and the size of its orbit to 100%. Set the tilt of orbit slider to zero
degrees, and watch a complete orbit of the moon. Do any eclipses occur? Now set the tilt of orbit
to about 3 degrees, and again watch one complete orbit. Do eclipses occur now?
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4). In real life, the tilt of the moons orbit is about 5 degrees. Should the moon cover the sun as it
moves past?
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5). However, even though the moons orbit is tilted so much, we still occasionally see eclipses.
Can you explain why?
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6). Set the size of the moon to 100%. Reset the orbital tilt to zero degrees and arrange a perfect
solar eclipse. Vary the size of the moon. Would a solar eclipse look dramatically different if the
moon were 20% larger? 20% smaller? Would a lunar eclipse look dramatically different?
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7). Reset the orbital tilt to zero degrees and size of moon to 100%. Increase the orbit size to 140
percent, and watch a solar eclipse. What do you see? Look at the shadow of the moonwhere
does it end?
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8). Reset all parameters to the their default values, and watch both a solar eclipse and a lunar
eclipse. Totality is defined as the time during which one body is completely covered by another,
either the sun by the moon, or the moon by the earths shadow. Which is longer, the totality of a
solar or lunar eclipse? Why?
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