Project: Observing the Moon’s phases
The Moon’s phases depend on the relative positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon. As the Moon goes round Earth, its sunlit half is seen from Earth at different angles. At new moon the Moon is between the Sun and Earth and its unlit side faces us. Then the lit part grows: at first quarter half of the disc looks lit; at full moon Earth is between the Sun and Moon and the whole disc looks lit. Then the lit part shrinks to the last quarter and a new moon begins again. In the northern hemisphere the waxing Moon is lit on the right and the waning Moon on the left. The young (waxing) Moon is seen in the evening in the west, the old (waning) Moon in the morning in the east. To observe, look at the Moon at the same time each day for a month, draw its shape and note where on the horizon it was seen. In everyday speech the thin crescent of the new moon is called “hilol”.
Project: 1) observe the Moon at the same time every day for a month, draw its shape and note the date, phase and which side of the horizon it was seen on; 2) phases model: paint 8 card circles black and white in the order of the phases and glue them with arrows on black A4 card, together with the Sun (a yellow tennis ball) and Earth (a blue-green ball); 3) explain your results to the class. Safety: make evening observations with parents in a safe place; keep paint and glue out of mouths; use scissors carefully.