The Moon

Activity 7.2: Observing the Moon

Work safely in groups. Study this picture. Talk about it.

Activity 7.3: Observing and drawing the moon

Work safely in pairs. Talk about times that you have observed the moon. Was it during the day or at night?

What other cutting tools can you use?

Activity 7.4: Finding out more about the moon

What have you found out? Record your findings. Share this information with others.

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The moon is a body which rotates round the earth. It shines at night and helps people to see. Sometimes we see it during the day.

Activity 7.5: Observing and drawing the shapes of the moon

Compare your drawings with those of other learners. Talk about all the observations you have recorded about the moon. Compare your shapes with what is shown in this picture.

1. Draw the shapes of the moon in your note book.
2. With the guidance of your parents or guardian, observe the moon at night. Draw the different shapes you will observe in your notebook. Show your drawings to other learners and your friends.

Activity 7.6(a): Finding out more about the moon

What have you found out? How many phases of the moon have you identified? What are the names of the different phases? Write them down. Complete this activity.

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• The moon is seen in different shapes at different times.
• These shapes are called the phases of the moon.
• The phases of the moon are the different views of the moon that we see from the Earth for a period of one month.
• Each phase repeats itself every one month.
• Since the moon is rotating, the phases look different at different times.
• As the moon rotates round the Earth, the part of the moon that faces the sun receives light from the sun.
• The different shapes of the lit parts of the moon are what we see from Earth. These are the phases of the moon.

1. Study the picture above. It shows the different phases of the moon.
2. The Earth is at the center and the moon is rotating round the Earth (see the dotted circle).
3. The Sun lights half of the moon and the Earth from the right side.
4. The phase of the moon is shown next to the position of the moon as it rotates round Earth.
5. The moon is shown at eight (8) key stages during its rotation round the Earth.
6. Did you know that it is the Sun that lights up the moon? The moon does not produce its own light. The surface of the moon reflects the rays from the Sun.
7. These are the phases of the moon: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter (also known as the Third Quarter), Waning Crescent and Dark Moon.
8.  The rotation is what makes us see the moon and its phases.
9. One important thing to notice is that at any one time, a part of the moon is reflecting the rays from the Sun.

Activity 7.6(b): Mounting different phases of the moon

Baraka and his group members mounted their labels of the phases of the moon as shown below. They used these locally available materials:

• a cardboard box
• a pair of scissors
• glue and labelled phases of the moon that they drew on paper and cut them out.

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As the New moon begins its rotation, we see more of the moon. This is called waxing. After the moon gets to its Full phase, we start to see less of the moon. This is called waning. There are 8 phases of the moon.

1. New Moon: The moon is located between the Sun and the Earth.
2. Waxing Crescent: We see a tiny part of the moon.
3. First Quarter: We see half of the moon that is lit. People across the world see different halves of the moon depending on one’s location.
4. Waxing Gibbous Moon: Waxing means growing larger. Gibbous refers to the shape. Waxing gibbous means “growing shape”.
5. Full Moon: Occurs when the Sun and the moon are on opposite sides of the Earth.
6. Waning Gibbous Moon: Waning means decreasing. Waning gibbous moon means that the shape is decreasing.
7. Third Quarter Moon: This phase is the exact opposite of the first quarter moon. It is also referred to as the Last Quarter Moon.
8. Waning Crescent Moon: This is the final phase of the moon.

Activity 7.7: Observing and drawing the shapes of the moon*

* Important information: During religious events, people across the world site the moon at different times.

Try this simple activity. Use a ball to represent the moon. Do this outside on a sunny morning. Stand with your back to the Sun. Hold out the 'Moon' in front of you. Your head represents the Earth. Your nose represents where you are standing on Earth. Stretch out and turn to the right. Turning once represents a day passing. Which "phase" of the moon do you see?

Keep moving the 'Moon' to your right, each time identifying its shape, as it receives light from the sun and gets blocked by the Earth (your head). Record the number of times you turn. Each turn represents a day passing. Discuss your observation with other learners at school.

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