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Plan to observe the Moon – which phase of the Moon is best for observing in the morning from school? What dates will that be in 2024- 2025?
To observe the Moon towards the end of the year in 2025 is October 7th, November 5th and December 4th. This is when there will be a so called “super moon” visible in the sky.
I will preteach the Moon phases in class about the planets and their moons. We will look at how the Moon orbits the earth. We will compare the northern and southern hemisphere with regards the Moon phases, and how the full moon is best to observe half way through the phase at 14 days. We will also look at lunar eclipse and how the sun and moon align, using the YouTube resources Paxi.
As a practical exercise, we will do the experiment ESERO62 where 3 children represent the sun, moon and earth. The sun as a light source will be a child with a torch. During the experiment, we will ask questions such as, why do we not see lunar eclipses every month and investigate. To conclude, the children will keep a moon observation log.
Hi i love the ide of finding alternatives to sundials in the past and other ways they told time fadó fade.
Construct a sundial in your immediate area or plan for your school grounds to see where a sundial could be placed:
My class would absolutely love this lesson. I would start by teaching the history of sundials, the Ancient Egyptians and the Maya in Mexico. We would research these civilisations and related peoples and find out if there were any old sundials found in Ireland, if so, where and what is the oldest.
We would follow up by using a torch indoors. Looking at how shadows can be cast, making some shadow puppets on the walls and changing direction of the light source to show the difference it makes with our hands.
Finally, we would go outside. I would draw a circle (I have the perfect place in mind where there is concrete and we can use chalk). We would make a centre point and using a compass (pre teach north and south and how compass works) find south. We would start by using a simple stick in a flower pot to make the first shadow line and write the time with chalk. We would check the times over the duration of the day and repeat the exercise the following day to compare the lines and times.
Any time the kids get to leave the classroom for an activity is a bonus. The love to be out and active!