Phases of the Moon Lesson

10/14/16 Drama Lesson Plan

Phases of the Moon

6^th Grade, Mrs. Geer’s class

Objective: Students will be able to describe characteristics of phases of the moon correctly by participating in a moon myth narrative mime and modeling the phases of the moon with their bodies.

Drama Work/Content Introduction: Narrative mime on moon phase myth 12 min

1.       Entire class sits in a semi-circle, and teacher narrates the Indian myth of Ganesha and how the phases of the moon came to be. As the story is told, students come up when it is their part to act out a role and they use their bodies to communicate how their character feels in the story.

STORY: Once, Ganesha (elephant head), patron of sciences and arts, god of intellect and wisdom after an exceptionally heavy dinner served to him by worshippers (2 servers for dinner), decided to go on a round. He mounted his vehicle, the mouse, and set off. It was late at night (3 night sound-makers). On the way, he passed villagers. In the light of the moon, they (2) were telling stories to each other. The children were sneaking outside to gather a few more jujube fruits for late-night snacks (3). And, for those who were returning late from a day’s work, the light of the moon was lighting their path (3). Suddenly, a snake came in their path, and the mouse panicked. Ganesha fell off, and his stomach ruptured (cue sound)! Everyone in the village saw and was surprised. Nonplussed, Ganesha simply picked up the snake and tied it around his waist like a belt!

This scene was witnessed by the moon, Chandra, who found it extremely funny and laughed aloud! Ganesha, who, till then hadn’t been bothered, was extremely angry that the moon had laughed at him. He cursed Chandra that he would lose his luster at once! The moon began to slower start on one side and get darker. It was getting harder and harder to see. Chandra realized his folly and apologized, but he kept waning. The stars (2) tried to shine extra bright to help the humans see, but to no avail. Humans who went out at night began to become lost in the darkness (3). There were no more stories told. And the hungry children (3) had to stay inside rather than sneak out for more jujube fruits. The worshippers (2) were upset at losing the moon, and were less willing to give as many offerings and gifts to their god Ganesha. And as the moon continued to wane, putting earth in jeopardy, Ganesha relented.

Lifting the moon, Ganesha placed it on his forehead, and the contact made the moon regain his luster slowly. This began the process of waxing and waning, which continues till today, reminding us not to laugh at others. This incident also gave Ganesha the name –Bhalachandra – the one with the moon on his forehead!

Content Instruction: 15 min

We will now explore whether or not the moon actually gains and loses light during a month.

1.       All lights in the room are turned off and windows are covered except for one bright lamp in the middle of the room (the sun).

2.       The teacher demonstrates what the moon does as it rotates around the earth during a month by placing a styrofoam ball (moon) on a pencil, and rotating in place. The teacher is the earth, and the ball is the moon. It will be clear to students that half of the moon is always lit and half is always dark. Therefore, the basis of the myth is false. So then, why does the moon appear to change during the month?

3.       Each child grabs a white styrofoam ball and pokes a pencil into the bottom of it. They arrange themselves in a circle around the room, with a piece of paper and a pencil.

4.       The teacher leads the children through the parts of the rotation to demonstrate new moon (moon in between child and lamp), waxing cresent, quarter moon (90 degree turn to the left), waxing gibbous, half moon (children in between moon and lamp), waning gibbous, ¾ moon, and waning crescent, ending at new moon again. At each phase, children draw a sketch of what the moon looks like, and the label for the phase.

Drama Review Game: Guess the phase 12 min

1.       8 students are seated at the front of the room facing their peers with a phase of the moon written on the board behind them.

2.       The class has to give each person, in turn, hints about what phase they are. If the person guesses their phase correctly, they can sit down.

Standards-

Theater: 6.T.P.4 Communicate meaning using the body through space, shape, energy, and gesture.

Science 6.1. Explain patterns of changes in the appearance of the moon as it orbits Earth.

1. Describe changes in the appearance of the moon during a month. 
2. Identify the pattern of change in the moon's appearance.

Science 6.2

c. Model the movement and relative positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun.