1. Teacher: Judith Pena and Kendall Mathis Subject: Integrated Science Grade Level: 3rd- 5th
Overall Goal of Lesson: To promote student engagement while learning about the moon
phases. Student engagement will be promoted with the usage of the class dojo app to create a
partnership between students, teachers, and their parents. Students will also work on their
social skills, since they will be working with other students as they go out to look at the moon.
Instructional Objectives: By the end of this lesson students should be able to…
1. Identify the lunar landscape.
2. Compare the physical characteristics of the moon vs. the earth.
3. Identify what causes the day and night cycle, and why the moon is darker/brighter
according to different days.
Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS):
Scientific Investigation and Reasoning TEKS
S112.16
(2C)
(2D)
S112.16
(8C)
(8D)
Student Activities/Parent Activities: This lesson is considered a science experiment,
however it leaves a lot of room for team building exercises. The experiment must be conducted
outside of class, therefore it gives students the opportunity to work on social skills, and to
direct their own learning. It also opens up the door to the usage of the classroom dojo app
where a teacher can take pictures of the students conducting their experiment and send them to
their family members. This would allow the student’s parents to feel included in their
children's learning.
Modifications/ELL Strategies: For students with certain disabilities, the experiment can be
shortened and pictures can be used as documentation rather than whole sentences. The
classroom Dojo app can also be used to document what the student is doing at all times. Since
the app can record video it may also serve as a way to provide student records in an IEP
meeting.
Anticipatory Activity for Lesson: In order to get the students thinking, we will have small
discussions over what they already know about the moon before the experiment starts. A short
quiz will be given in order to test the student’s previous knowledge.
Teacher Input/ LessonActivity: 30 minutes outside, 15 day total
The students will discuss with their table neighbors what they know about the moon. When
discussion time is up the whole class will share their knowledge. A short/simple quiz will be
2. given after the discussion, in order to test what the students already know about the moon, and
compare it to what they will know at the end of the lesson. When the quiz is over the students
will be allowed to go outside, pick a spot, and find the moon. They will draw their
observations on their journals, and record any questions/ideas that they have. After 15 days of
the procedure the students will be expected to present a collage of the moon on days 1-15.
Pictures of the student’s collages will be taken and sent to their parents on the classroom dojo
app.
Modeling: Around 10 minutes
As the instructor I will complete the experiment before the students, and show them the overall
outcome of the collage. I will demonstrate how to draw the pictures, and how to use their
binoculars.
Guided Practice: 10 minutes
I will walk the students outside through the phases of the moon, and how to draw them. When
the students are outside, with educator help they will practice drawing the moon for 15 days,
and will put a collage together of all the phases when the experiment is completed.
Independent Practice: 3 days
This type of practice will take place when the students put their collages together. This is also
one of the stages where the most pictures will be taken for the students’ parents.
LessonClosure: 15 minutes
At the end of the lesson there will be a small quiz to establish student learning. This will be the
exact same quiz given in the beginning of class, and students will be expected to do better than
the first time.
Assessment Methods/Strategies: As an educator I will be able to assess student learning by
their scores on the quizzes and grades on their collage projects. For special education students
their learning can be assessed through a picture portfolio created using the classroom dojo app.
Resources:
This lesson will require the usage of the Observation of the Moon experiment worksheet. This
can be found on the McDonald Observatory website. The students will need…
1.Journal
2.Map Pencils
3. Binoculars
