QUARTER 4 – EARTH AND SPACE

Chapter 3 – THE MOON

Lesson ____: Phases of the Moon
DAY 1
Activity 1- “Calendar Month”
I. Objective

1. Relate the cyclical pattern to the length of a month.

What you need:

Calendar of the current year that shows dates of the phases of the moon, manila
paper, pentel pen

What to do:
1. Choose a month from the current calendar year that shows the dates of the phases
of the moon.
2. Work with a partner and count the number of day/s it takes the moon to go through
its different phases.
3. Fill up the table below.

Movement of the Moon Number of Days

New moon to first quarter
First quarter to new moon
Full moon to last quarter
Last quarter to new moon
TOTAL

4. Compare your answer with the other group.

Guide Questions:
1. How many days does it take from new moon to first quarter moon?
From first quarter moon to Full moon? Fom full moon to last quarter?
2. Does each phase has the same number of days?
3. When you compare your answer with the other group, do you have the same
answer?
4. Why do you think you have the same or different answers?
5. What is the total cyclical pattern of the month you choose?
Remember These:

If the moon started its orbit from a spot exactly between Earth
and the sun, it would return to almost the same spot in 29 ½
days. If the moon started its orbit around the Earth from a spot
in line with a certain star, it will return to that same spot in about
27 ½ days.
When the moon is between the sun and the Earth, we
cannot see the lighted side of moon. This is called New Moon. A
day after the new moon, we see a thin slice of light at the edge
of the moon. This is called crescent moon. About a week after
the new moon, we see half of the lighted side of the moon, this
is called first quarter moon. As the first quarter moon increases in size, it is called gibbous
moon. About a week after the first quarter moon, the earth is between the moon and the sun.
We see the whole lighted side of the moon which is called full moon. The full moon decreases in
size until it is again a gibbous moon. About a week after the full moon, we again see half of its
lighted part. This is called the last quarter moon. After this, the lighted part becomes smaller
until we see a crescent. Soon the moon becomes invisible, after which new moon appears
again.
QUARTER 4 – EARTH AND SPACE
Chapter 3 – THE MOON
Lesson ____: Phases of the Moon
DAY 2
Activity 2- “Calendar for the Year”
I. Objectives
1. Relate the cyclical pattern to the length of a month
2.Explain the 2 ways of moon’s revolution around the earth.
What you need:
Calendar of the current year that shows dates of the phases of the moon each
month, manila paper, pentel pen

What to do:
1.Get your calendar of the year that shows the dates of the phases of the moon.
2.Work with your group and count the number of day/s it takes the moon to go through its
different phases each month
3.Fill up the table below.

Movement
of the January February March April May June
Moon
New moon
to first
quarter
First
quarter to
full moon
Full moon
to last
quarter
Last
quarter to
new moon
TOTAL

2. Report your answer.

Guide Questions:
1. How many days are the cyclical pattern of the moon in January? February? March?
2. What months have the same number of days?
3. How many days do these have?
4. How about the other months how many days do they have?
5. What are the two ways of the moon’s cyclical pattern?
6. Differentiate the two ways?

Remember These:
Scientist measure the time the moon completes one revolution around the Earth in two
ways- One is in relation to the sun and the other in relation to a star.
If the moon started its orbit from a spot exactly between Earth and the sun, it would
return to almost the same spot in 29 ½ days. During this period, the moon has changed from
one new moon phase to the next new moon phase. This period is called a synodic month.
If the moon started its orbit around the Earth from a spot in line with a certain star, it will
return to that same spot in about 27 ½ days. This is called a sidereal month.
The term “month” came from the length of time it takes the moon (one month) to
complete one revolution around Earth.
QUARTER 4 – EARTH AND SPACE
Chapter 3 – THE MOON
Lesson ____: Phases of the Moon
DAY 3
Activity 3- “Show the Moon Patterns”
I. Objectives
1. Demonstrate the cyclical pattern of the moon
2. Tell how long each phase of the moon takes to go to another phase.

What you need:

Globe, ball and flashlight
What to do:
1. Get a globe, a ball and flashlight.
2. Work with your group. Tell that the ball represents the moon, globe represents the Earth
and flashlight represents the sun.
3. Demonstrate how the moon revolves around the Earth and rotates once on its axis.
4. Take note of the lighted part of the ball as it turned around the globe while the flashlight
shines on it.
5. Tell how many days it takes for each phase to go another phase.
6. Answer the questions that follows.

Guide Questions:
1. What do the 3 materials represent?
2. Enumerate the different phases of the moon?
3. Draw each phase and at the bottom write the number of days of the transition of each
phase?
Remember These:
The Moon appears to move completely around the celestial sphere once in about 27.3
days as observed from the Earth. This is called a sidereal month, and reflects the corresponding
orbital period of 27.3 days The moon takes 29.5 days to return to the same point on the celestial
sphere as referenced to the Sun because of the motion of the Earth around the Sun; this is
called a synodic month (Lunar phases as observed from the Earth are correlated with the
synodic month). There are effects that cause small fluctuations around this value that we will not
discuss. Since the Moon must move Eastward among the constellations enough to go
completely around the sky (360 degrees) in 27.3 days, it must move Eastward by 13.2 degrees
each day (in contrast, remember that the Sun only appears to move Eastward by about 1
degree per day). Thus, with respect to the background constellations the Moon will be about
13.2 degrees further East each day. Since the celestial sphere appears to turn 1 degree about
every 4 minutes, the Moon crosses our celestial meridian about 13.2 x 4 = 52.8 minutes later
each day.

QUARTER 4 – EARTH AND SPACE

Chapter 3 – THE MOON
Lesson ____: Phases of the Moon
DAY 4
Activity 4- “How True Is It”
I. Objective
.1. Debug local myths and folklore about phases of the moon.

What you need:

Pentel pen, pencil, color, manila paper, bond paper, Myths about the moon

What to do:
1. Read and study myth/folklore story assigned in your group.
2. Try to act it out in front of the class.
3. You will be given 10 minutes to practice and 2 minutes to act it out in front of the
class.
4. Answer the questions that follows.
5. Write your answer on the manila paper and report it in the class.
Guide Questions:
1. What is the title of the story assigned to you?
2. Do you believe in that story?
3. Why yes? Why no?
4. Is there proof that this tale is true?
5. According to our previous lessons is it true?
6. Why do we have to know this kind of story even it’s not true?
Remember These:
Philippine folklore is a treasure trove of strange mythical creatures that have stood the
test of time. Just mention the names aswang, encanto, kapre, tikbalang or tiyanak and you'll get
most Filipinos—especially the young ones. Many years ago Filipino people create stories about
the origin of moon, its phases, stars and sun that enriched our literature. Those who do not
study or research believe these stories but for us who have studied and do our own research do
not. It is important to know stories like these because it is part of our culture but it doesn’t
necessarily mean we will follow and believe those stories.