VIDEOS AND SONGS ABOUT ASTRONOMY, WITH SCRIPTS (SOURCE: YOUTUBE)

Before children watch the videos (downloaded from youtube at the addresses listed below), the teacher has to prepare them about what they’re going to see. He/she must provide children with the minimum lexis they need in order to understand the main points about the videos. For getting the children familiar with the lexis they need experience new words through visual aids: flashcards, power points, games, concrete experiments, drawings, etc..

Videos from youtube

1. Video about the moon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aFGNGEcDOk

Here follows the script:

Ever wondered why the moon changes its shape?

There are a few basic facts we must understand first.

The moon is a satellite that revolves around the Earth while the earth rotates around the sun.

It takes 29.5 days or about 4 weeks for one full lunar revolution. This causes what we call lunar phases. The moon has 8 phases. They are determined by the position of the moon in relation to the sun and the earth.

As the moon reaches certain positions in its orbit, the portion of the white side that is visible to us changes.

The sun, earth and moon act as three points in space. For each phase the sun and moon form different angle with the earth as its vertex.

Watch how the moon’s appearance changes as it revolves 360° around the Earth.

New Moon. Even though we can’t see the moon, it’s still there. It doesn’t seem to appear because the shadow side is facing the Earth.

As the moon revolves on its orbit, we begin to see more and more of the white side of the moon.

At 45° we see a waxing crescent moon. The term waxing means growing. Crescent moons look like croissants

Croissants.

The moon continues to travel and when it reaches 90°, or at a right angle, it becomes the first quarter moon; it is also known as a half moon.

Then at 135° we see what is called a waxing gibbous moon. Gibbous is defined as swollen on one side like a swollen face.

Eventually it grows to be a full moon. This is when it reaches 180°. Sometimes two full moons can occur in one month. This rarity is what we call a blue moon. It is not really blue.

Now the moon is making its way back.

At 235° the moon becomes a waning gibbous moon. Waning means shrinking. Moving to its position at 270°, we see the last quarter moon; the other half moon.

When the moon reaches 315°, we see the last phase before another new moon; the waning crescent moon.

Remember: wax: on, wane: off.

So the next time you are out on a clear night, see if you can identify the current moon phase. Try keeping track of the phases by drawing pictures every night of what the moon looked like. After about a month see how well you followed the entire moon phase cycle

2. Phases of the moon (rap)

Here is a song about the moon: it’s not easy but it is beautiful! Of course they dance, too! Some of the children are rappers so they’re familiar with movements or steps concerning rap or hip-hop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXK63GpwUqs

PHASES OF THE MOOON

Refrain:

(Children): Phases of the moon

(Vocalist): New Moon - Waxing Crescent - First Quarter- Waxing Gibbous

(Children): Phases of the moon

(Vocalist): Full Moon - Waning Gibbous - Last Quarter - Waning crescent (2 times)

Vocalist: When the Moon is in the same direction of the Sun

it’s called the New Moon New Moon

When you don’t see no light coming from the moon

it is a dark Moon called the New Moon

A Crescent Moon is in the next stage

when the Moon is lit a quarter of the way,

less than half but more than zero ooooow

This is called a Crescent Moon True

Now a quarter Moon’s a half Moon, you see

a half moon’s a quarter Moon, quarter Moon’s half Moon

they call a half moon a quarter Moon word

because it made a quarter of its turn around the Earth

you see half of the Moon lit up and I know what you’re thinking but

it’s a half moon called a quarter moon

a half Moon’s a quarter Moon, quarter Moon’s half Moon

Refrain

Now the Gibbous Moon is a little more full

but not all the way full, the lit up part is between a full Moon and a half Moon called the Gibbous Moon

now the Full Moon shine so bright

you see the full moon light up the night

half way through a circle circle you’ll see the full moon light up the night

Refrain

Phases of the moon (4 times)

3. The tale of the Sun and of the Moon (song - lyrics and chords)

A song about the sun and the moon. It’s a legend that explains why Sun and Moon never meet in the sky, though their friendship. You can find also a power point (karaoke) through which you can sing and watch the pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoWFJ690U6E&feature=related

The Sun was in his bathing suit.

The Moon in her pyjamas.

They played all day until the two

were called in by their mamas.

The Sun went home and climbed in bed.

His mama sang a tune.

And soon the Sun was fast asleep

and dreaming of the Moon.

The Moon decided not to go. Instead she stayed outside.

She danced and played and laughed and sang, til she was sleepy-eyed.

When morning came, the Sun arose

and went outside to play.

But could not find his friend, the Moon,

who slept inside all day.

So now these two are best of friends

apart by dark and light.

The Sun turns in at evenfall.

The Moon comes out at night.

The shining Moon sees no sunlight.

The Sun sees no moonbeams.

But when they both are fast asleep,

They’re in each other’s dreams

(see the page two if you need guitar chords)

THE TALE OF THE SUN AND THE MOON

© 2003 Words by Kenn Nesbitt, Music by Eric Herman Endres

(chords reflect position only - recording was played with capo on the 2nd fret)

D D/C# D/B D/A G A

The Sun was in his bathing suit. The Moon in her pajamas.

D D/C# D/B D/A G A D

They played all day until the two were called in by their mamas.

4. Video about the seasons (astronomy)

The video gives the scientific explanation that justifies the existence of the seasons on the Earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHTA7S_JGk

Script:

The axis of the Earth is an imaginary line on which the Earth rotates. It links up the two Poles. Both the axis and the Earth are tilted at an angle of 23,5 degrees during a revolution. The tilting of the axis results in direct sunlight falling on different places during different seasons. This causes variations in the duration of days, nights and seasons.

Relationship between the location of the overhead sun and the seasons

Similarly, the revolution of the Earth and the tilting of the axis result in different angles of the sun during different periods.

When the Sun is directly overhead we call this “the overhead sun”. At this time the Earth surface and the midday Sun form a 90 degrees angle. Different locations of the overhead sun results in the variations of the amount of solar radiation received in different areas and in different periods.

Spring Equinox

On the 21st or the 22nd March the overhead Sun is over the Equator. The Equator receives the largest amount of solar radiation. At this time the northern hemisphere is in the spring Equinox while the Southern hemisphere is in the Autumn equinox. The angle of the sun decreases towards the Poles. On this day the two hemispheres receive a similar amount of solar radiation and the length of day and night is the same at all places on the Earth. After this day it is spring in the northern hemisphere where the day is longer than the night. In the southern hemisphere it becomes autumn when the day is shorter than the night .

Summer solstice

On the 21st or 22nd June the overhead sun is over the Tropic of Cancer It receives the largest amount of solar radiation. At this time the northern hemisphere is in the Solstice, while the southern hemisphere is in the winter solstice. The angle of the sun decreases towards the Poles. On this day the length of daytime in the northern hemisphere is the longest of the year while that OF THE southern hemisphere is the shortest in the year. Besides there are 24 hours of daylight in the Arctic circle and 24 hours of darkness at the Antarctic circle.

Autumn equinox

on the 22 or 23 of September the overhead sun is over the equator again. The equator receives the largest amount of solar radiation. On this day the northern hemisphere is the autumn Equinox, while the Southern Hemisphere is in the Spring Equinox. The angle of the sun decreases towards the poles. On this day the two hemispheres receive the same amount of solar radiation and the length of day and night is the same at all places on the Earth. After this day it is autumn in the northern hemisphere where the day is shorter of the night. In the southern hemisphere it becomes spring when the day is longer than the night

Winter solstice

On the 21st or 22nd of December the overhead sun is over the Tropic of Capricorn. It receives the largest amount of solar radiation. On this day the northern hemisphere is in the Winter solstice while the Southern hemisphere is in the winter Solstice the angle of the Sun decreases towards the Poles. On this day the length of daytime in the northern hemisphere is the shortest in the year, while that of the southern hemisphere is the longest in the year. There are 24 hours of darkness at the Arctic Circle and 24 hours of daylight at the

5. Videos about our solar system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS88G5WBcfQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6yHKE9dg0g

created by Anna Dattilo

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