Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Earth Science Lesson Plan 4th
Earth Science Lesson Plan 4th
Earth Science Lesson Plan 4th
University of Richmond
Earth Science Lesson Plan
Introduction
◊ VA Standards of Learning
◊ Science 4.7 - The student will investigate and understand the relationships among the Earth,
◊ a) the motions of the Earth, moon, and sun (revolution and rotation);
Learning Objectives
Students will:
◊ Introduction/Anticipatory Set
◊ Powerpoint Review Session – Show Powerpoint, ask questions to the students about
each phase. 8 Phases of the moon, New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing
◊ Lesson Development –
◊ Explain that the students will now create their own moon phases
◊ Ask first partner to stand with their nose facing the light bulb
◊ Explain they are at “noon”, they are the planets and their nose is their hometown
head and that they are going to go through the phases of the moon similar to the real
moon
◊ Demonstrate how the Earth rotates counterclockwise, holding a moon out so the
◊ Call out each phase of the moon, watching each student carefully for accuracy of moon
phase
◊ a. new moon - moon is between the sun and the earth and they see the shadowed side
of the moon.
◊ b. waxing crescent - rotating from a new moon toward a first quarter, backwards "c"
◊ c. first quarter - right half of the side of the moon facing earth is lit. The right shoulder is
◊ e. full moon - earth is between the moon and the sun, the entire lit side of the moon is
visible on earth, (students' backs are to the sun and moons are lifted up to be lit).
◊ f. waning gibbous - rotating from a full moon to a last quarter, less and less of the moon
◊ g. last quarter - left half of the side of the moon facing the earth is lit, left shoulder is
◊ h. waning crescent - rotating from a last quarter to a new moon, a "c" shape of light is
◊ Closure –
◊ Explain to the students that they will draw the moon phases into their science notebooks
◊ Have the students shadow the moon phases into each circle
Emily Harvey 3
University of Richmond
◊ Explain to the students to label each phase to the side of the circle.
Homework
◊ The students will complete a writing prompt in their science notebooks: Today you
were a planet. If you had a moon, what would you name it? What would it look like?
Assessment
◊ Formative – View each student as they follow the lunar lollipops’ phases’, correct
positioning of the “moon” when necessary. View writing prompts in science notebooks
for completion.
◊ Summative – Grade moon phase notebook entries. Look for accurate shadowing of the
Resources
Lunar Lollipops (2000.) Retrieved Feb 18, 2010 from Windows to the Universe Web site:
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/lunar_edu.html
Appended Materials
Content Organizer
SOL and Curriculum Framework Essential Understandings and Essential Questions
Science 4.7 - The student will investigate and understand the relationships among the Earth, moon, and
sun. Key concepts include a) the motions of the Earth, moon, and sun (revolution and rotation); b) the
English 4.7 The student will write effective narratives and explanations.
a) Focus on one aspect of a topic.
English 4.8 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and
sentence structure.
Activities Read book, move Pair students with Pair with students
through the phases challenge students with difficulty so
of the moon with to receive that students may
“lunar lollipop” assistance in the assist the position
moon activity of other student’s
positioning moon