Collaborative Lesson Plan

Last Thursday, we found out that we would be revising a lesson plan together in groups of 4. I am a member of the Lunar Phase group with Rebecca, Ali, and Priscilla. I chose this lesson, because I am hoping that I can learn more about this topic for my own knowledge! So far in class, I have learned more about misconceptions that I have, especially regarding the lunar phases. Now, I am questioning everything I once knew about them!

WHY does this happen?
WHAT do we see?
WHEN do we see it?
HOW does the moon "light up?"
WHO made these discoveries?

To start out our work as a team, Ali was so great, and she created Google docs for us to work with. I got on there today, and I started by uploading the MTSU Lesson Plan format. Is this the format Dr. Kat wants us to use? I assumed so, so I started adding information to it on our Google Doc. I went ahead and found the TN State Science Standard that was appropriate for our lesson, and then I added some simple, but necessary, information like our names, grade level, blah blah blah...

Then, I went to our web resources doc. This one is really going to come in handy! Not only will we find great resources for students to use, but I need to read all of this for my own knowledge, before I would feel comfortable teaching this lesson! I found three great resources, and you all should check them out! There was a slew of information about lunar phases for kids, but I tried to steer clear of the "dot com" websites, so I only used sites that were more dependable..."dot org," ,"dot net," "dot anything other than com......."

http://www.planetsforkids.org/moon-moon.html

This is a useful resource to use in the classroom to introduce new information, allow students to use as a tool while completing their flip chart, or clear up our own misconceptions! The webpage discusses the creation of the moon and the phases of the moon, and from what I can tell it is aligned with the information we have learned in class.

http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon

This resource displays a monthly calendar, so teachers and students can look at which phase of the moon will be visible each night. I believe this could be a great tool, because students can take their knowledge from school, and bring it home, while anticipating the moon phase each night after a lesson! Additionally, this source has information regarding why there are different phases of the moon, the characteristics of each phase, and when each phase occurs.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/graphics/Moon_movie_small.gif

Above is a time lapse GIF of the phases of the moon.