Back to Artemis II – Unit 1: Understanding the Mission and the Moon

Artemis ROADS II – Unit 1 Lesson 3: Looking at The Moon

In this lesson: First, students will share their prior knowledge of the Moon phases in their everyday experiences at home or school. Then, they will make direct and/ or indirect observations of the Moon phases and connect the Moon phases to the Sun/ Earth/ Moon relative positions using an orbit simulator, compare/contrast science and cultural explanations, create a group calendar, and predict the Moon phase on their next birthday. Finally, students will document their findings from this lesson.

Lesson Level Question: How do observations of the Moon contribute to explanations in both science and culture?

30 minutes

Engage

Students will share their prior knowledge of the Moon phases in their everyday experiences at home or school.

30 minutes

35 minutes

Explore

Students will make direct and/ or indirect observations of the Moon to track the Moon phases and make predictions.

35 minutes

45 minutes

Explain

Students will use a Sun/Earth/Moon orbit simulation and/or model to explain the Moon phases and its orbit in a calendar month/year.

45 minutes

100 minutes

Elaborate

Students will use math to predict their next birthday Moon phase and investigate how cultures have different types of calendars based on the Moon phases.

100 minutes

30 minutes

Evaluate

Students will compare and contrast science and culture explanations that both contribute to the observations of the Moon.

30 minutes

Evaluate (optional)

Students will create their own place-based or culturally-relevant lunar calendar.

Standards Alignment

Each lesson includes standards alignment information for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).  Many lessons also include information on alignment opportunities for: CCSS Mathematics, CCSS English, WA State Learning Standards in Computer Science, WA State Standards in Social Emotional Learning.

In these documents, you will find an alignment summary, followed by details for each lesson: