Instructions Written for PC Use

MOON MODELING

USING POWER POINT

Instructions written for PC use

1.  Open Power Point.

2.  Begin with a Blank Presentation (a clean slide).

a) From the “New Presentation” menu (located on the right-hand side), click

“Blank Presentation.”

b) Select a Blank slide by clicking on the third slide in the left hand column.

3.  Next, you want to draw perfect circles to create the moon and the Earth.

To create a perfect circle:

A) On the Drawing toolbar (located at the bottom of your screen), click the OVAL.

B)  Click on the slide and drag your mouse. As you drag, you will see an outline of

your circle. Stop dragging when you are satisfied with your circle.

C)  In order to make sure it’s a perfect circle, we need to measure it.

1. Click on the “View” menu at the top of your screen.

2. Click on “Grid and Guides.”

3. Make sure the following item is checked off and click “OK.”

D) You should see two perpendicular lines. These lines will help you measure your circle. Click once on your circle and drag it so that the perpendicular lines are aligned with the white markers on your circle (see image below for clarification).

E) Now, click and hold on the horizontal line. Drag the line to the top of your circle. Make a note of the distance. Drag the line to the bottom of your circle. Is it the same distance?

If adjustments need to be made so that the distances are equal, click and

drag the center white marker (denoted by above) on the side you need to

adjust to the correct measurement.

What part of the circle did you just measure?

F)  Repeat step E for the vertical line. All four measurements should be equal.

G)  To make another circle, just click “Copy” and “Paste” from the top toolbar. Place the two circles apart.

H)  To label the circles, click on one of the circles and go to the Edit menu. Choose “Text Object.” Type “Earth.” Label the other circle “Moon.”

One more thing before you move onto adding the effects…you need to represent yourself on the Earth and the front of the moon. You can do this by placing a shape on each circle:

I)  In the Drawing toolbar at the bottom of your screen, choose Autoshapes.

J) Click “Stars and Banners” and choose a five pointed star ( ). Create a small star on the slide by clicking where you want to insert the star (on the Earth) and dragging.

K) Copy and paste the star and place one on the moon opposite the star on the Earth. It should look like this:

L)  Next, we need to group each star and to its circle so that both images become one. Click on outside of the Earth and its star and drag the mouse so that a dotted-line box encompasses the Earth and its star (you!). Right click on the object (make sure you don’t click on the text - a menu should pop-up) and select “Grouping” and “Group.” Repeat this step for the Moon and its star.

Now, it’s time to animate the two circles in order to model the movements of the moon and the Earth. What two types of movements are involved?

To ROTATE an object:

1. Click on the Earth.

2. Click the “Slide Show” menu from the top toolbar. Choose “Custom Animation.” A Custom Animation menu should pop up on the right-hand side.

3. In the Custom Animation menu, click on the “Add Effect” menu. Choose “Emphasis,” then “Spin.” This will rotate the object. But, wait, is there something wrong with the spin?

4. To modify…from the Custom Animation menu, select from the Amount option “Counterclockwise.” (Why?) Also, adjust the Speed by choosing “Very Slow” from the Speed option. Lastly, from the Start option, select “With Previous.” (Click “Play” – located at the bottom of the menu – to preview.)

Now, make the moon rotate (you can disregard Rotate Step 1).

To REVOLVE an object:

1.  Click on the Moon.

2.  In the Custom Animation menu, click on the “Add Effect” menu. Choose “Motion Paths” and “Circle.” (Your motion path should appear on your slide as a dotted-line circle.)

3.  Next, move the motion path by placing your cursor on the motion path. (You will be able to move the path once your arrow turns into a set of perpendicular line.) Once it does, click and drag the motion path so it goes through the center of the moon. Move your cursor to the green circle above the green arrow located at the top of your motion path. (Your cursor should change to an arrow going in a circular path.) Click, hold and drag the arrow so that it’s on top of the Moon. This creates the starting point. Adjust the shape of the path by moving the corner white markers so the path circles the Earth.

4.  To modify…from the Custom Animation menu, choose “With Previous” from the Start option. Choose “Reverse Path” from the Path option. (Why?) Choose “Very Slow” from the Speed option.

Your screen should look something like this:

Select “Slide Show” and see what you’ve created. Is it correct? Is there something that doesn’t fit with your understanding of the movements between the Earth and Moon? If so, how do you think modifications can be made?

Lastly, you can add a sun and change the colors of your objects.

To add a sun:

1.  From the Draw menu at the bottom of your screen, choose “Autoshapes.” Choose “Basic Shapes” and click on the sun. Insert the sun by clicking in the spot you desire it to be and dragging.

To change the color of an object:

1. Double click on the object and choose the color you desire from the Color option. Click ok.

That’s all, folks! J