Phases of the Moon

The Phases of the Moon

From any location on the Earth, the Moon appears to be a circular disk which, at any specific time, is illuminated to some degree by direct sunlight. Like the Earth, the Moon is a sphere which is always half illuminated by the Sun, but as the Moon orbits the Earth we get to see more or less of the illuminated half. During each lunar orbit (a lunar month), we see the Moon's appearance change from not visibly illuminated through partially illuminated to fully illuminated, then back through partially illuminated to not illuminated again. Although this cycle is a continuous process, there are eight distinct, traditionally recognized stages, called phases. The phases designate both the degree to which the Moon is illuminated and the geometric appearance of the illuminated part. These phases of the Moon, in the sequence of their occurrence (starting from New Moon), are listed below.

New Moon - The Moon's unilluminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon is not visible (except during a solar eclipse).

Waxing Crescent - The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

First Quarter - One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

Waxing Gibbous - The Moon appears to be more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

Full Moon - The Moon's illuminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct sunlight.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon appears to be more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Last Quarter - One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Waning Crescent - The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Here are some games that help solidify the phases:

Phases of the Moon Drop

Phases Memory

Moon Phases Word Search

Moon Phases Matching

Moon Phases Concentration

Lunar Cycle Challenge

The Moon StudyJams

Shadows

Shadows

Shadows occur when an object blocks light from a source. An object that does not let light through is called opaque.

When the Sun is high in the sky (late spring, summer, early fall, noontime) the shadows are short.
When the Sun is at an intermediate height in the sky (spring, fall, early or late in the day) the shadows are of intermediate length.
When the Sun is low in the sky (late fall, winter, early spring, or very early or very late in the day) the shadows are the longest.
We can also learn about how the Sun moves in the sky by observing shadows.

Shadows work like a sun dial. The Sun rises in the East. This means that if you are facing North, the Sun will be on your right and your shadow will be on your left, sort of in the direction of 9 AM.
The Sun crosses the sky through the South and toward the West. As you face North, your shadow will progress through the 10 and 11 AM hours, be pointing northerly at Noon and move through the 1 and 2 PM hours during the afternoon.
The Sun is in the West in the afternoon. If you are facing North, your shadow will be on your right side, more or less in the 3 PM position.
The above motions of your shadow occur in the Northern Hemisphere because the Sun travels from the East, through the South and to the West in the Northern Hemisphere.

Here are some interactive sites about shadows:

Sun, Light, and Shadow Game

The Sun and Shadows

Shadows

Seasons

Seasons

The Earth's seasons are not caused by the differences in the distance from the Sun throughout the year. The seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth's axis. This tilting is what gives us the four seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter. Since the axis is tilted, different parts of the globe are oriented towards the Sun at different times of the year.

Summer is warmer than winter (in each hemisphere) because the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a more direct angle during summer than during winter and also because the days are much longer than the nights during the summer. During the winter, the Sun's rays hit the Earth at an extreme angle, and the days are very short. These effects are due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.

Here are some interactive sites on seasons:

Who Wants to be a Millionaire with Seasons

Season Simulator

Why do we have seasons?

The Science of the Seasons

Input/Output Tables

Input-Output Tables

Input and output tables are diagrams used to teach the basic concepts of functions. They are based on the rule of the function. When the table is filled in, it produces the pairs of coordinates that are necessary to construct the graph. The input is the value of x that is applied to the function. The output is the f(x), or the answer that is received as a result of putting x into the function.

Here is a link to a clear explanation with examples.

Input/Output Table Lesson

Here are some games for additional practice:

Function Tables

Function Machine

Stop that Creature Game

Find the Rule

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Weather Instruments

Weather Instruments

There are many types of instruments used to measure and collect weather data. Some of the instruments we are learning about include thermometers, wind vanes, anemometer, barometer, rain gauge, and weather maps.

A THERMOMETER measures the air temperature. Most thermometers are closed glass tubes containing liquids such as alcohol or mercury. When air around the tube heats the liquid, the liquid expands and moves up the tube. A scale then shows what the actual temperature is.

A BAROMETER measures air pressure. It tells you whether or not the pressure is rising or falling. A rising barometer means sunny and dry conditions, while a falling barometer means stormy and wet conditions.

A RAIN GAUGE measures the amount of rain that has fallen over a specific time period.

A WIND VANE is an instrument that determines the direction from which the wind is blowing.

A WIND SOCK is a conical textile tube, which resembles a giant sock, designed to indicate wind direction and relative wind speed.

An ANEMOMETER measures wind speed. The cups catch the wind, turning a dial attached to the instrument. The dial shows the wind speed.

A HYGROMETER measures the water vapor content of air or the humidity.

A WEATHER BALLOON measures weather conditions higher up in the atmosphere.

WEATHER SATELLITES are used to photograph and track large-scale air movements. Then meteorologists compile and analyze the data with the help of computers.

WEATHER MAPS indicate atmospheric conditions above a large portion of the Earth’s surface. Meteorologists use weather maps to forecast the weather.

Here are some games related to this concept:

Study Jams Weather Instruments

The Weather Game

Weather Report

Wildest Weather