Fourth Grade just started a unit about the appearance of the Moon at different times during the year. We discussed how moon phases are created by the changing angles and the relative position of the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon as it orbits the Earth. We learned that there are 8 major moon phases, each lasting approximately 7 days. Students participated in an Oreo Moon Phase Lab to help them remember the different moon phases. Their job was to cut the cookies to resemble each of the Moon phase. They labeled each of the phases on construction paper and after I checked their work, they ate their lab creations!
Fifth Grade has been studying the difference between a rotation and a revolution of the Earth. Their grade for this TEK was a research paper they did in small groups. In their research, they found out that a rotation takes 24 hours and causes day and night to happen. The Earth rotates on an axis that runs through the North and South Poles. A revolution is when the Earth orbits the Sun. A revolution takes 365 days and determines the four seasons. Instead of merely reading their reports, students acted out their findings with some being the Sun, others being Earth, and of course narrators explaining the process.It was a fun learning experience for all!