EARTH
SCIENCE ![]()
FOR THIRD GRADERS
| Introduction |
You have been chosen as the new astronomer for our school. To prepare for your new job you will need to discover how objects in the sky move in regular and predictable patterns. Good luck on your mission!
Complete the follows tasks using the webquest and the supplies at the supply station. When you have finished your tasks you will present a slide show showing how objects in the sky move in regular and predictable patterns.
Task One
| Learn the way in which the Moon's appearance changes during the four week lunar cycle. |
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Use the following site to discover your birthday moon phase. Use the study sheet to answer the questions about the moon. PHASES OF THE MOON |
Other tasks to follow
Task Two
| Patterns of
stars stay the same, although they appear to move across the sky nightly,
and different stars can be seen in different seasons. |
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Task Three
| Find out how
telescopes magnify the appearance of some distant objects in the sky,
including the Moon and the planets. The number of stars that can be seen
through telescopes is dramatically greater than the number that can be seen
by the unaided eye. |
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Task Four
| Earth
is one of several planets that orbit the Sun and that the Moon orbits Earth. |
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Task Five
| The position of
the Sun in the sky changes during the course of the day and from season to
season. |
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1. Use the study sheet to gather information about the moon phases.
2. Go to the moon phases site and find your birthday moon. Moon Phases
3. Get a index card from the webquest supply station and draw a picture of your own birthday moon for this year. Make sure you put your name, birth date, and identify your lunar phase on your card. You will use this card for the class birthday moon graph.
4. Put your card on the class Moon Graph.
5.
Familiarize
yourself with the four phases and then the eight phases of the Moon. Cut out the different phases from the
Cut n' Paste
Worksheet #1 and paste them to your
phases
of the moon worksheet. Use the picture
from the phases of the moon to help you. Please
add: Where the sun is located
The Moon's orbit around the Earth
Darken the side of the Earth that is away from the
Sun
6. Visit the Lunar Challenge Page and see if you can complete the Lunar Cycle Challenge.
6. When the moon tasks are done you will continue to Task Two.
7. Make a slide show from the information you learned in the five tasks above. You need to demonstrate how objects in the sky move in regular and predictable patterns. You need to have a minimum of 5 slides.
Great site for animated phases
You will be evaluated on your study sheet, phases of the moon and your slide show.
Now that you have finished your slide show on how objects in the sky move in regular and predictable patterns, you will present your slide show to an audience at the science fair.