Grade: 2

Lab #: 1, Sun & Phases of the Moon

(revised 11/2/2014)

Materials:

Material / Source* / Notes
Class Worksheets “Phases of the Moon” / Science Lab Binder / Will need to make enough copies for each student in each class. (approx. 25/class)
Mirror / Lab Kit
Flashlight / Lab Kit
Globe / Lab Kit
Paper Plates (4 per student – 2 large, 2 small) / Parent Donation / Check Lab Kit first – 3 plates for sun & moon activity, 1 plate for Oreo activity
White card stock / Parent Donation / Check Lab Kit first
Hole punch / Lab Kit
Crayons
Brass Fasteners (4 per student) / Lab Kit / 1 per student for Moon Phases activity plus 3 for sun and moon activity
Popsicle Stick (1 per student) / Lab Kit
Oreos (8 per student) / Parent Donation
Scissors / Available in Lab

*Some of the items marked as Parent Donation may be available from the prior year. Check the lab kit before asking parents to donate the items.

Grade: 2

Lab #: 1, Sun & Phases of the Moon

(revised 11/2/2014)

Set up in lab prior to classes arriving:

  • Using cardstock, cut connector strips for sun and moon activity (2 per student – one long, one short)
  • Make copies of worksheet, “Moon Phases”. Roughly 25 per class OR enough for 1 per student.
  • Make copies of, “Moon Phases Song”. Roughly 25 per class OR enough for 1 per student. Download moon phases tune to mobile device if available. Tune can be found at:
  • Pass out worksheet, scissors, glue, and brads

Job(s) for volunteers on the day of the lab:

  • Set up lab based on instructions listed below.
  • Teachers are responsible for introducing and leading the lab with parent volunteers assisting with the activities at each station.
  • Clean up lab.

Grade: 2

Lab #: 1, Sun & Phases of the Moon

(revised 11/2/2014)

Learning Goal for Lab:

Students will understand the rotation of the earth and sun and be able to identify the phases of the moon.

Sun Activity:

  1. Have the students color the large paper plate yellow, one small paper plate earth blue and the other small paper plate moon green.
  2. Fasten the pieces together using brass fasteners.

Phases of the Moon Activity:

  1. Turn off the lights and close the blinds.
  2. Have a volunteer hold a globe, ball, or circle shape in the air.
  3. Turn on the flashlight and point it at the wall. Observe what happens to the light.
  4. Point the flashlight at the mirror. Observe what happens to the light.
  5. Ask students to describe what they saw.

(When the flashlight is pointed at the wall, we just saw the wall. When the flashlight is pointed at the mirror, the light bounced off and we could see other things in the classroom).

Explain that this is called reflected light. The sunlight shines on the moon just like the flashlight shone on the mirror. The sunlight is reflected away from the moon just as the light was reflected off the mirror. Neither the mirror nor the moon produces light. They both reflect light.

  1. Give students copies of the Moon phases wheel. Help students put them together with brads. Discuss the progression of the different phases.

Phases of the Moon Oreo Activity:

  1. Give each student 8 oreos, a regular size paper plate and a wooden popsicle stick.
  2. Using the 8 oreos, have the students create the 8 phases of the moon by scraping the white portion of the oreo filling.

Moon Phases song

If time allows, play and sing with students the moon phases song. Tune can be found at the following link: