Lunar Phases Project

Lunar Phases Project 
kgp15228@hotmail.com

Explanation
For this project you are to work individually. You will develop a website that other 7th and 8th grade students will use to learn about what causes the lunar phases and other facts about the Earth-Moon system. The information you are expected to include on each web page is found under the Expectations section on this page. These expectations will be updated before each lesson and these updates will be reviewed prior to working on the new web pages.

On the introductory page you will include a quiz about the lunar phases. This same quiz will be included on the last page of the website. The vistors are expected to take the quiz while visiting each of these pages. By doing so the guest will be able to see what they have learned and you can see how effective your website is.

When you are creating these pages pay attention to any topics that you find confusing or difficult to understand because your guests will likely find this same information hard to comprehend. Make sure to provide good examples and explanations for all the topics and these difficult topics especially.

Also, make sure to use complete sentences and correct grammar.

Expectations
During the creation of your website you are expected to come up with at least one question for each webpage that you develop. For example, if you develop two web pages during a lesson you will need to come up with two questions. These question are to be about the information contained on the newly created web pages. Email these questions and their answers to me at kgp15228@hotmail.com. You will be given 5 minutes at the end of each lesson to create and submit these questions if you have not already done so by that time.

During each of the next six lessons you are expected to develop a webpage according to the criteria listed below. At the beginning of each lesson we will review this criteria and answer any questions that you have regarding it or about the project.

Web page 2: Earth (Lesson 1)
Helpful Links 
Google search for facts about the Earth for kids
The Nine Planets

Your title for the page
Image of Earth
Paragraph with four or more facts describing the Earth including its distance from the Sun, age, and diameter (in kilometers and miles). An A web page will provide examples illustrating at least two of these characteristics. For example, how many Hershey Bars laid end-to-end would it take to reach the Sun from the Earth?

Web page 3: Moon (Lesson 1) 

Helpful Links
Google search for facts about the Moon for kids
SCI-KIDS: Earth's partner, the Moon, had a shocking beginning

Your title for the page
Image of the Moon

Paragraph with four or more facts describing the Moon including its distance from the Earth, age, and diameter (in kilometers and miles). An A web page will provide examples illustrating at least two of these characteristics. For example, how many Hershey Bars laid end-to-end would it take to reach the Moon from the Earth (using the same examples for both pages helps the guest compare the differences in the size of the Earth and Moon and the distance between the Moon and Earth and the Sun and the Earth)?

Web page 4: The Earth-Moon System (Lesson 2)

Helpful Links
http://library.thinkquest.org/29033/begin/EarthSunMoon.htm

Your title for the page

An animation or slideshow showing the Moon orbiting the Earth containing the following the Earth (A+ pages will have the Earth and Moon in proportion), the Moon, the direction the Moon revolves around the Earth, and a note informing your guests that the Earth and Moon (unless you made them in proportion) and the distance between them are not in proportion.

A paragraph explaining what is shown in the animation. Your explanation should include the direction the Moon revolves around the Earth, the terms Earth, Moon, orbit and revolve, the average distance between the Earth and Moon, the sizes of the Earth and Moon and how far away in Earth diameters is the Moon from the Earth. A+ pages will have the distance the Moon would be from the Earth if the distance between these two objects is in proportion to their images in your animations.

Web page 5: Near and Far Sides of the Moon (Lesson 3)

Your title for the page
An image that highlights the portion of the Moon that faces the Earth.

A note explaining the position of the viewer of the image relative to the Earth and Moon in the image. The note should also explain that the Earth and Moon (unless you made them in proportion) and the distance between them are not in proportion.

A paragraph explaining why the portion of the Moon that faces the Earth is not necessarily the portion of the Moon that is visible from Earth. The explanation should include that a source of light is needed in order for the portion of the Moon facing the Earth in order to be visible and include an example from everyday life. For instance, in a very dark room you cannot see the ceiling, walls, or floor.

Web page 6: Illuminated and non-illuminated sides of the Moon (Lesson 3)
An image that highlights the portion of the Moon that faces the Sun.

A paragraph explaining why the portion of the Moon that is illuminated is not necessarily the portion of the Moon that is visible from Earth and include an example from everyday life. For instance, you cannot see the back of someone’s head if that person is facing you regardless of how well the room is lit.

Web page 7: Lunar Phases of the Moon (Lesson 5)

Helpful links

Google search for definitions of terms related to the lunar phases

Your title for the page

An image or images showing the Moon relative to Earth during the eight lunar phases and how the Moon appears when viewed from outer space above the North or South Pole as well as from Earth during these phases.
A note explaining the position of the viewer of the image relative to the Earth and Moon in the image. The note should also explain that the Earth and Moon (unless you made them in proportion) and the distance between them are not in proportion.

Definitions for wax, wane, crescent, gibbous, new, full, and half as these terms relate to the lunar phases

Write an explanation for the lunar phases.

Web page 8: Conclusion (Lesson 6)

Web page 9: Quiz (Lesson 6)

Web page 1: Introduction (Lesson 6)

Check Sheets

Lunar Phases Project

Web page 4: The Earth-Moon system

Name_______________________

_____________ Title for the page

An animation or slideshow showing the Moon orbiting the Earth containing the following:
_____________The Earth (A+ pages will have the Earth and Moon in proportion)
_____________The Moon
_____________The direction the Moon revolves around the Earth
_____________A note informing your guests that the Earth and Moon (unless you made them in proportion) and the distance between them are not in proportion.

Write a paragraph explaining what is shown in the animation. In your explanation include the following:
_____________The direction the Moon revolves around the Earth
_____________The terms Earth, Moon, orbit and revolve
_____________The average distance between the Earth and Moon
_____________The sizes of the Earth and Moon
_____________How far away in Earth diameters is the Moon from the Earth.
_____________A+ pages will have the distance the Moon would be from the Earth if the distance between these two objects is in proportion to their images in your animations.

Lunar Phases Project

Web page 5: Near and Far Sides of the Moon

Name_______________________

_____________ Title for the page

An image showing the position of the Moon relative to Earth during the eight lunar phases. The image should contain the following:
_____________The Earth (A+ pages will have the Earth and Moon in proportion)
_____________The Moon at the eight different positions
_____________A way to tell the near and far sides of the Moon apart

A note informing your guests of the following:
_____________The position of the viewer of the image relative to the Earth and Moon in the image
_____________That the Earth and Moon (unless you made them in proportion) and the distance between them are not in proportion.

Write a paragraph explaining what is shown in the image. In your explanation include the following:
_____________Your definitions for near and far sides of the Moon
_____________Your explanation for why the part of the Moon that faces the Earth is not always completely visible.
_____________An example that illustrates your explanation. For instance, if you are in a dark room with a flashlight the only portion of the room that is visible is the portion that you shine the flashlight on.

Lunar Phases Project

Web page 6: Illuminated and non-illuminated sides of the Moon

Name_______________________

_____________ Title for the page

An image showing the position of the Moon relative to Earth during the eight lunar phases. The image should contain the following:
_____________The Earth (A+ pages will have the Earth and Moon in proportion)
_____________The Moon at the eight different positions
_____________A way to tell the illuminated and non-illuminated sides of the Moon apart
_____________The direction of the Sunlight

A note informing your guests of the following:
_____________The position of the viewer of the image relative to the Earth and Moon in the image
_____________ That the Earth and Moon (unless you made them in proportion) and the distance between them are not in proportion.

Write a paragraph explaining what is shown in the image. In your explanation include the following:
_____________Your definitions for illuminated and non-illuminated sides of the Moon
_____________Your explanation for why the part of the Moon that is illuminated is not always completely visible from Earth.
_____________An example that illustrates your explanation. For instance, even if you are in a well lit room you cannot see the back of a vampire’s head if the vampire is facing you (the vampire example is for those students who would say you could see the back of a person’s head even if they were facing you by looking at their reflection in a mirror).

Lunar Phases Project
Web page 7: Phases of the Moon (Images and Definitions)

Name_______________________

_____________ Title for the page

An image or images showing the Moon relative to Earth during the eight lunar phases and how the Moon appears when viewed from outer space above the North or South Pole as well as from Earth during these phases. The image or images should contain the following:

_____________The Earth (A+ pages will have the Earth and Moon in proportion)

_____________The Moon at the eight different positions associated with the lunar phases as it appears from outer space above the North or South Pole
_____________The direction the Moon is orbiting the Earth

A key with the different colors and/or patterns for the four sides of the Moon as viewed from outer space