Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Phases of the Moon

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 4th

Content Standard Addressed: S4E2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to model the effects of
the position and motion of the Earth and the moon in relation to the sun as observed from the Earth. a.
Develop a model to support an explanation of why the length of day and night change throughout the year. b.
Develop a model based on observations to describe the repeating pattern of the phases of the moon (new,
crescent, quarter, gibbous, and full). c. Construct an explanation of how the Earth’s orbit, with its consistent
tilt, affects seasonal changes.

Technology Standard Addressed: 4. Innovative Designer: Students use a variety of technologies within a
design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.

Selected Technology Tool: Read Write Think Timeline Tool

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☒ Evaluating ☒ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☒ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

To address UDL and extend/support the learning experiences for all students, I have provided multiple ways
for students to have choice within this lesson. Students are able to design the timeline in whatever way they
find visually appealing. The only thing they have to include within the timeline is the 8 phases of the moon.
The students can include links, whichever images they like, and use any additional resources they made need
to complete this timeline. By doing this, each student has the same opportunity to learn. If students do not
like a particular source, they can move on and find another one that will better fit their needs. There are
limitless possibilities in this tool which gives students the opportunity to have a choice within their learning.

Lesson idea implementation:

After the standard and project is introduced, the teacher will release the control to the students. Students will
have individual computers (if available) and they will be given one class period to complete their timelines.
The teacher will put the required pieces of information on the board and share the links with the class.
Students will be required to create a timeline displaying the eight phases of the moon. They should try to be
as detailed as possible. They may include images, links, and any details they may find important during their
research.
Once students complete their timelines, they will save them as PDFs and send them to their teacher. The
teacher will look over each student’s timeline to ensure that the correct information has been provided by
the students. Once all students show proficiency in this standard, the teacher can move on to the next
standard. To extend students learning, the teacher will ask volunteers to present their timelines to the class.

Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
The teacher will ask the class (who are not presenting) to answer scaffolding questions such as “where is the
moon during this phase?” “why is the moon completely dark?” To conclude the class, the teacher will ask
students to do a ticket out the door that includes one fact they learned during this lesson.

Reflective Practice: After designing this lesson idea, how do you feel the activities you created could impact
student learning? You may have designed this idea as an introductory activity to a unit of study. With that in
mind, what could be done to further extend the lesson? Are there other technology tools that could further
enhance this project?
After this lesson, students should have a memorable experience that will aid in their remembering of the
content that was covered. This lesson would be an introduction into the other standards that deal with space.
To further the lesson, students may use other tools such as BrainPop to discover other things in the universe
such as stars. Students might create dioramas that show the phases of the moon in comparison to the suns
position.

Spring 2018_SJB