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Plan to observe the Moon:
The best time to observe the moon in the evening is a few days after the first quarter and the best time to observe the moon in the morning is during the last quarter phase.
I would approach this series of lessons by starting at the last quarter phase of the moon. This would allow the children to observe the moon in school as well as at home. I would finish the series of lessons in after the first quarter to give children to observe the different moon phases from home.
I would introduce the topic of Space using the moon using Paxi and Our Moon phases and eclipses.
I would then discuss and investigate with my class the difference between Stars, moons and planets. I would make good use of the Stellarium web app to introduce the idea that every child can be an astronomer.
I would also demonstrate how the moon orbits Earth and how we orbit the sun. This will no doubt lead into a discussion regarding season’s, gravity etc.
To end the topic like I said earlier I will allow them to chart the different phases of the moon and as a class we will use torches to explore shadows and how that causes the different phases of the moon.
I agree with Doireann allowing children to unravel their own scientific thinking is empowering and harnesses children’s natural curiosity. We tend to teach season’s as a change in nature but rarely delve into the science of such a change. Also for children to realise that season’s are different depending on where they are makes them aware of the world around us. We could further thus learning by looking at the environmental impact we are having on seasons.
Constructing a sun-dial would be a nice hands-on activity for children in primary school. The activity could be done at different stages of primary school but would deliver the best educational value in children from 4th-6th. The introduction of sundials as a tool used in ancient times to tell the time would no doubt spark the interest of most children. Allowing children to investigate the history behind sundials, working out the angles, creating an actual sundial, comparing and investigating the difference between then and now would all make for a great STEM learning experience.
There are a lot of resources available but I would be inclined to start with a stimulus such as the you tube video shown in an earlier slide of the Earth rising. I would then follow this with a KWL on what we know about and how it is measured. Following this, I would allow children to investigate the history of how sundials were invented. Over a period of a week, I would facilitate the children in choosing the best materials to construct the sundial and where to place the sundials. My school is quite large and would lend itself to children being able to construct several sundials and to determine the most suitable place for them to work.
Children can then measure angles, compare each others measurements and can be measured at different times of the year. I feel that children would get a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction from this STEM activity.