Natural Cycles (Phases, Seasons, Tides)

The earlier focus on solar system components, solar system scale, and gravity set the stage for this day, which will include many activities on seasons and on phases, and some observations and data activities on tides.

9 amBurning questions, discussion from first workshop

9:30Seasons

Providing PD workshops on Seasons (facilitator’s hat)

  • Workshop objectives
  • Experiences conducting a Seasons workshop
  • Necessary ingredients for a workshop on this topic?
  • Concerns/ teachers needs for this topic?

Putting on the teacher’s hat:

  • Student limitations and preconceptions?
  • Classroom practices for seasons
  • Assessments

Participating as Students:

Remind of prior definitions: rotation and revolution, scale

Activities for Teaching Seasons

  • Data Inquiry Activity: Heating Things Up
    Students graph average high monthly temperatures for different cities to learn how temperatures vary by location and by season.
  • SunWatchers
    Students observe the sunrise and sunset positions of the Sun and its altitude in the sky over a year to connect with the Sun’s apparent motions over a year.
  • Reasons for Seasons
    Students explore a model of the Earth’s daily rotation and annual revolution around the Sun. There are a variety of write-ups for this activity available from different sources; another great sources is the GEMS guide Reasons for the Seasons.
  • Daylight Hours
    Students reinforce their understanding of seasonal dynamics by reading and graphing annual day-length data to determine the relative north or south latitude, and name, of their “mystery city.”

Putting on the teacher’s hat:

  • Concerns about these activities? any need to or ways to differentiate instruction for students?
  • Discussion of modifications, additional activities on these topics
  • Assessments discussion

Putting on the facilitator hat:

  • Issues and challenges with addressing this topic with middle school teachers?
  • Materials needed, time constraints for workshop delivery
  • Any solutions to issues?

NoonLunch

12:30Lunar Phases and Tides

Providing PD workshops on lunar phases (facilitator’s hat)

  • Workshop objectives:
  • Experiences conducting a lunar phases workshop
  • Necessary ingredients for a workshop on this topic?
  • Concerns/ teachers needs for this topic?

Putting on the teacher’s hat:

  • Student limitations and preconceptions?
  • Classroom practices for lunar phases
  • Assessments

Participating as Students:

Remind of prior definitions: rotation and revolution, gravity

Include overview/definition of tides

Activities for Teaching Lunar Phases

  • Moon Observations
    Students record data about Moon phases on a data sheet over the course of one complete Moon cycle (approximately 28 days).
  • Oreo Phases
    Students will recreate the lunar phases using the frosting from Oreo® cookies. Round cream cheese crackers can also be used if cookies are not an option.
  • How Far is the Moon
    Students reinforce their understanding of seasonal dynamics by reading and graphing annual day-length data to determine the relative north or south latitude, and name, of their “mystery city.”
  • Lunar Phases: A Dance with the Sun
    This activity creates a model with the real Moon and Sun in the sky to help participants discover the real reason for the lunar phases.
  • Golf-ball Phases and Embroidery Hoop Eclipses
    In the first half, students explore the dynamics of lunar phases to develop an understanding of the relative positions of our Moon, Earth, and Sun that cause the phases of the Moon as viewed from Earth. Using a golf ball glowing under the ultraviolet light of a “blacklight” makes it easier to see the actual phase of the Moon. In the second half, students adjust their orbits of their moons to gain a deeper understanding of eclipses.
  • Paper Plate Phases
    Students use paper plates with various phases to create a three dimensional model of the lunar phases relative to the Earth and Sun, as both an assessment of their understanding and to continue to build a conceptual model through kinesthetic activities.
  • Dance of the Moon and Oceans (link to )
    In this kinesthetic activity, students model how the Moon's gravitational pull causes the level of the ocean to rise and fall twice a day along most coastlines
  • The Moon’s Relation to Ocean Tides (link to )
    This activity is designed to show students the relationship between ocean tides and the lunar movements.

Putting on the teacher’s hat:

  • Concerns about these activities? any need to or ways to differentiate instruction for students?
  • Discussion of modifications, additional activities on these topics
  • Assessments discussion

Putting on the facilitator hat:

  • Issues and challenges with addressing this topic with middle school teachers?
  • Materials needed, time constraints for workshop delivery
  • Any solutions to issues?

3:30Concluding discussion, survey (end by 4pm)

Resources

  • Seasons Resources
    Websites, activities, and materials that may be useful
  • Moon Phases Resources
    Websites, activities, and materials that may be useful
  • Tides Resources
    Websites, activities, and materials that may be useful
  • Powerpoints
    These were created for use in workshops; feel free to borrow and alter the images and information for your own workshops
  • Seasons
  • Earth-Moon Scale and Orbit
  • Phases and Eclipses