CCC Module: Moon Phases

1. Science Grade 8: Moon Phases
Core Content Coaching

2. Purpose
To provide support for grade-level, unit content planning

3. Resources for planning
• Teacher Yearly Resource Document (or Yearly Itinerary)
• CRM 6: Earth, Sun, and Moon
• Blank Pacing Calendar
• 8th
Grade 4th
Six Weeks Lessons: Moon Phases Pacing Guide & Lessons
• Computer with Internet Access

4. Teacher yearly resource document

5. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Jan. 5
Global Winds & Ocean
Currents
6 7 8 9
12
Weather
13 14 15 16
19
Student/Staff Holiday
20
Reason for the Seasons
21 22 23
26
Moon Phases
27 28 29 30
Feb. 2
Tides
3 4 5 6
9
Origins of the Universe
10 11 12
Life Cycle of a Star
13
16
Student Holiday
17
Life Cycle of a Star
18 19 20
4th
Six Weeks Planner (33 days)

6. 8.2D, 8.3B-C8.7: Earth & space. The student knows the effects
resulting from cyclical movements of the Sun,
Earth, & Moon. The student is expected to:
•8.7B: demonstrate & predict the sequence
of events in the lunar cycle.
TEKS & Student expectations
Content TEKS Skills TEKS
1. What are the state standards for this unit?
2. Deconstruct the TEKS: Verb, Noun, and Context
Demonstrate: to prove (something) by showing examples of it : to show
evidence of (something)
Predict: to declare or indicate in advance; especially : foretell on the basis of
observation, experience, or scientific reason
1. What are the state standards for this unit?
2. Deconstruct the TEKS: Verb, Noun, and Context
Demonstrate: to prove (something) by showing examples of it : to show
evidence of (something)
Predict: to declare or indicate in advance; especially : foretell on the basis of
observation, experience, or scientific reason

7. CRM 6: TEKS & Acquisition section

8. Teacher Content support
Space School: Moon-
http://www.sciencechannel.com/video-topics/space-videos/space-school-moon.htm
Phases of the Moon- http://www.history.com/shows/the-universe/videos/phases-of-the-moon
PBS Learning Media: Phases of the Moon-
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.eiu.mphase/phases-of-the-moon/
NSTA Leaning Center- http://learningcenter.nsta.org/
Search Resources & Opportunities: moon phases
ScienceFusion Grade 8 Teacher Edition: Content Refresher: p. 279

9. Vertical alignment
6TH
GRADE
•understand that gravity is the
force that governs the motion of
our solar system
8TH
GRADE
8.7B: demonstrate &
predict the sequence of events
in the lunar cycle.

10. • Gravity is the force that governs the motion of
our solar system.
PRIOR LEARNING

11. 2014 STAAR-Released Question: 8.7B
F 5%
G 10%
H 4%
*J 81%

12. 2014 STAAR-Released Question: 8.7B
*A 71%
B 28%
C 0%
D 0%

13. Based on the data and distractors, what key points should teachers
emphasize during lessons?
• Waning is
DECREASING
illumination.
• Waxing is
INCREASING
illumination.
• A crescent moon
is ¼ of visibility.
• A gibbous moon
is ¾ of visibility.
Activities to emphasize this
point included in the
curriculum:
1.Phases of the Moon Activity
2.Modeling Moon Phases
3.8.7B Lunar Phases for Cornell
Notes
4.DOC Pneumonic Device
5.Moon Phases Cards
6.Earth’s Cycles Pictorial
Activities to emphasize this
point included in the
curriculum:
1.Phases of the Moon Activity
2.Modeling Moon Phases
3.8.7B Lunar Phases for Cornell
Notes
4.DOC Pneumonic Device
5.Moon Phases Cards
6.Earth’s Cycles Pictorial
10%10%

14. Components of a good lesson plan
1. Engage Student Interest
2. Review/Scaffold to TEKS
3. Student-Centered Activities directly relating to the depth and complexity of the TEKS
• Labs, Activities, Videos
1. Organize and Practice Vocabulary
2. Reading & Comprehension Strategies
3. Writing Opportunities & Scaffolds
4. Daily Listening & Speaking Opportunities
5. Differentiation
6. Formative Assessment & Reteach

15. Embedded in lessons:
Engage Student Interest
• Pre-Assessment: Ask the
class to list possible
explanations for the
phenomena of moon phases
and have a scribe write them
on the
board/overhead/whiteboards.

16. Recommended in lessons:
Review / Scaffold to TEKS
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Moon
Phases p. 235
• Think Central Unit 5, Lesson 2:
Moon Phases and Eclipses Digital
Lesson & Virtual Lab

17. • BrainPop Video: Moon Phases
• Study Jams Presentation: The Moon
• Phases of the Moon Activity
• Modeling Moon Phases
• Moon Phases Trivia
• Earth’s Cycles Pictorial
• Moon Phases Cards
Embedded in lessons:
Student-Centered Activities directly relating to the depth and complexity of the
TEKS (investigations, Activities, Videos)

18. Embedded in lessons:
Organize and Practice Vocabulary
• 8.7B Lunar Phases for Cornell Notes
• DOC Pneumonic Device
• Claims & Evidence Chart
• Earth’s Cycles Pictorial

19. Embedded in lessons:
Reading & Comprehension Strategies
• ScienceFusion: Moon Phases & Eclipses p. 234-
239
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Moon Phases p. 235
• Comprehension Strategies
• Shared Reading Recommendation: Have
each student in a pair read a paragraph at a
time and then have the non-reader
summarize the section.
• Active Reading Strategies embedded in
ScienceFusion Reading

20. Embedded in lessons:
Writing Opportunities & Scaffolds
• Pre-Assessment: Ask the class to list possible
explanations for the phenomena of moon phases and
have a scribe write them on the
board/overhead/whiteboards.
• Claims & Evidence Chart
• Journal Entries/Exit Tickets
• How long does it take the Moon to go through
half of its complete cycle change (from new
Moon to full Moon)? What is happening to
cause the phases to change?
• What would happen to the lunar cycle if the
moon absorbed rather than reflected sunlight?
OR What would occur to Earth if the moon
were to stand still? Relay your answer to the
effects on Earth and the sun.
• Scaffolds: Sentence Frames, Word Bank, Talk then
Write, Write/Share/Revise, Think/Share/Write

21. Embedded in lessons:
Daily Listening & Speaking Opportunities
The phases of the
moon include…
The limitations of the moon
model are…

22. • Special Education:
1. Mixed-Ability Partners
2. Science Glossary
3. Word Bank
4. Sentence Frames
5. Closure Activity
6. Fill-in-the-Blank Notes
7. Pneumonic Device
8. Claims & Evidence Chart
9. Pictorial
• English Language Learners:
1. Mixed-Ability Partners
2. Dual Language Science Glossary
3. Word Bank
4. Sentence Frames
5. Closure Activity
6. Pneumonic Device
7. Claims & Evidence Chart
8. Pictorial
Embedded in lessons:
Differentiation

23. • Journal Entries/Exit Tickets
• Modeling Moon Phases Closure
Activity
• Moon Phases Trivia
• Claims & Evidence Chart
• Moon Phases Cards
• Earth’s Cycles Pictorial
• Moon Phases Quiz
Embedded in lessons:
Formative Assessment
Formative Assessment

24. Reteach Options
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Moon Phases
p. 235
• Think Central Unit 5, Lesson 2: Moon
Phases and Eclipses Digital Lesson &
Virtual Lab
• Optional Activities

25. Higher level questions
• “Research shows there’s a link between critical thinking skills and increased student achievement in the
classroom.” (Moore & Stanley, 2010)
• Higher level questions must be planned in order to be implemented effectively in the classroom.
• Levels of Questions
• Knowledge
• Comprehension
• Application
• Analysis
• Synthesis
• Evaluation
• Plan and provide a variety of questions at each level and build student knowledge and critical thinking by providing
Higher Level Questions.

26. Lower Levels of questions

27. Higher Levels of questions

28. Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluate
What are the
eight phases of
the lunar cycle?
During the
waxing phase of
the lunar cycle,
does the moon
travel toward or
away from the
sun?
During the
waning phase of
the lunar cycle,
does the moon
travel toward or
away from the
sun?
Why are the
terms “first and
last quarters”
used and not the
term “half
moon”?
STAAR-Released
Questions Slides
11-12
How does the
motion of the
Sun, Earth, and
Moon affect the
environment?
How does gravity
effect the
organization and
motion of the
solar system?
Compare and
contrast the
phases, full and
new moon.
How would the
moon appear to an
observer on Earth
if the moon did not
rotate?
Predict the moon
phases that follow
the phases
illustrated below.
What information
would you use to
justify your
answer?

29. Recommended Anchors of Support
• 8.7B Lunar Phases for Cornell Notes
• DOC Pneumonic Device
• Claims & Evidence Chart
• Earth’s Cycles Pictorial
• ScienceFusion: Visual Summary p. 242
• ScienceFusion: p. 238-239

30. Anchors of Support
Other Resources
•Interactive Word Wall- Current, working models with student contributions
• Interactive Word Walls Article: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/files/ss1103_45.pdf
• “Word walls can be arranged on cupboard doors or classroom walls, or hung from
the ceiling with wire and string.”
• “Maximum instructional potential and efficiency are achieved when interactive word-
wall construction is aligned with lessons and students are allowed to participate in
the process. As a result, walls are usually built over many days and are finished as
a unit nears completion. Word walls support units and are changed or replaced as
units change.”
• Interactive Word Walls Rubric: Next Slide
• ScienceFusion Textbook, Science Glossaries, Dual Language Science
Glossaries

32. Academic vocabulary
LESSON COMPONENTS PAGE
CURRICULUM ROAD MAP