This lesson plan teaches 2nd grade students about the phases of the moon through inquiry-based activities over the course of a month. Students will read a poem about the moon, create a KWL chart, make nightly observations of the moon in journals, and discuss their findings. They will learn the vocabulary for moon phases by comparing their observations to diagrams. The teacher will evaluate students' understanding through discussions, journal entries, and completing the KWL chart. The lesson incorporates universal design principles to engage diverse learners.

1. Observing the
Moon
An inquiry-based lesson

2. Lesson Description
 Grade Level: 2nd Grade Science
 Duration: Will take a day to explain, but the lesson will last
about a month to complete
 This is an inquiry based lesson because it engages students in
activities that allow them to come up with their own questions
and conclusions based on their findings.
 Process Skills Achieved
 Observing
 Communicating
 Classifying
 Inferring
 Predicting

3. Objective
 The students will observe and record the change in the
apparent shape of the moon from day to day over several
months and describe the pattern of changes.
 The students will also learn about the rotations and
revolutions of the sun, earth, and moon.

4. Standards Met
 Standard
 Earth and Space Sciences
 Benchmark
 Observe constant and changing patterns of objects in the
day and night sky
 Indicators
 Observe and describe how the moon appears a little different
every day but looks nearly the same again about every four
weeks.

5. Step 1: Read Moon Poem
 Today we are going to read “The Cheese Moon” by Gareth
Lancaster together! When were reading, be sure to think
about what’s REAL in the poem and what’s MAKE
BELIEVE! We will write our thoughts down together after.

6. The Cheese Moon
By Gareth Lancaster

7. Step 2: KWL Chart
 We are now going to make a KWL chart about moons! We
will first make a list of what we Know about moons, and
then a list of things we Want to learn about moons! At the
end of the lesson we will make a list of what we Learned
about moons.

8. KWL chart

9. Step 3: Moon Scientists
 Now that the KWL chart is down were going to do a very
exciting activity! For the next month you are all going to
be MOON SCIENTISTS!
 You will be receiving a journal where you can write down
your observations about what the moon looks like each
night, and any predictions you may have about what it will
look like the next night!
3
March 4th
 Example:
9:05
It’s almost half full

10. This is your journal!

11. Step 4: Discuss Findings (about a
week after first observation)
 Now that you have been observing the moon every night
for about a week and have been discussing your findings
with your friends. We’re going to go over each of your
pictures and talk about the vocabulary names for each of
the phases!
 These pictures and words will be posted in the room so you
can use the new terms in your observation journals!

12. Moon Phases Diagram

13. Evaluation
 The teacher can informally monitor the daily discussions
the students have about their observations from the night
before.
 The student’s journals are also a very helpful tool in
evaluating who has a strong understanding of the moon
phases, and who does not. A student who is using new
vocabulary terms in their observations and is drawing
detailed pictures of the moon is likely to have a strong
understanding of the phases.
 Completing the “L” section of the KWL chart to see what
the students have learned throughout the lesson can also
be a helpful way to evaluate their understanding.

14. Rubric

15. Universal Design
 I think this activity is a great one to use in the classroom because it can be
altered to help all types of learners. First, the poem read at the beginning
of the lesson and the KWL chart that is completed as a class invites the
students to share what they already know about the moon, and what they
are curious about. This would allow all students to activate their prior
knowledge about the moon
 The journal activity would be effective for many types of learners because
it is very free and allows the students to make their own observations
about what they see. They are free to draw a picture of what the moon
looks like ,as well as write about what they see. A struggling student could
draw a picture of the moon that would help them see a pattern of the
moon phases, while a gifted student could write a more detailed
observation and still be able to notice a clear pattern.
 This lesson allows for a lot of free and open discussions about the
observations that are made, so peers could be grouped by who understand
the material and who needs extra assistance. The posted pictures of the
moon phases with their terms would also help a visual learner.