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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes

The Moon's changing shape follows a pattern

Space

CCSS NGSS.1-ESS1-1England: KS2 Y5 Earth and space

Objective and success criteria

Students will: The Moon's changing shape follows a pattern.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: The Sun, Moon and stars

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Torch and ball for a Sun-Earth-Moon model, Space images, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The Sun, Moon and stars). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Why can't we see stars in the daytime? (The Sun's light is so bright it hides them / The stars go away in the day / Clouds always cover them / Stars only exist at night) → The Sun's light is so bright it hides themPrompt: Stars are still there during the day.
  2. Sun, Moon and stars: which statement is true? (You can only see the Moon at night. / Stars are still in the sky during the day. / The Sun goes round the Earth. / The Moon makes its own light.) → Stars are still in the sky during the day.Prompt: Which objects make their own light?
  3. Sun, Moon and stars: which statement is NOT true? (The Moon reflects light from the Sun. / You can only see the Moon at night. / The Sun appears to move across the sky during the day. / The Sun is a star.) → You can only see the Moon at night.Prompt: Does the Sun really move round us?

Hook · 3 min

  • Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
  • Share the objective: The Moon's changing shape follows a pattern. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Why does the Moon shine?
  • Step 1: The Moon reflects light from the Sun.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Sunlight bounces off it.
  • Answer: Sunlight bounces off it.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Why does the Moon seem to change shape? (Bits of the Moon break off and grow back. / The Moon is shrinking for ever. / Clouds cover parts of it every night. / We see different amounts of its sunlit side as it travels around Earth.) → We see different amounts of its sunlit side as it travels around Earth.Prompt: The Moon is always a ball. What changes is how much of its lit half faces us.
  2. True or false? The Moon makes its own light. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Is the Moon a light source? How long is its pattern?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Tonight the Moon is full. In about two weeks, what will you see? (another full moon / a square moon / a new moon, which is hard to see / two moons) → a new moon, which is hard to seePrompt: A full cycle takes about a month. Two weeks is half of that.
  2. True or false? You can sometimes see the Moon during the day. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Is the Moon a light source? How long is its pattern?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: The Sun, Moon and stars.
  • Use concrete materials: torch and ball for a sun-earth-moon model.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-1.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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The Moon's changing shape follows a pattern

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Tonight the Moon is full. In about two weeks, what will you see?

    • A. a square moon
    • B. another full moon
    • C. a new moon, which is hard to see
    • D. two moons

  2. Question 2

    True or false? You can sometimes see the Moon during the day.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    About how long does it take the Moon to go from full moon to the next full moon?

    • A. one week
    • B. about a month
    • C. one day
    • D. one year

  4. Question 4

    True or false? A full moon happens every night.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Why does the Moon seem to change shape?

    • A. We see different amounts of its sunlit side as it travels around Earth.
    • B. Bits of the Moon break off and grow back.
    • C. The Moon is shrinking for ever.
    • D. Clouds cover parts of it every night.

  6. Question 6

    True or false? The Moon makes its own light.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: The Moon's changing shape follows a pattern

  1. 1. C. a new moon, which is hard to see

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. B. about a month

  4. 4. B. False

  5. 5. A. We see different amounts of its sunlit side as it travels around Earth.

  6. 6. B. False

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