Chart of the Phases of the Moon Storyboard

Modeling allows us to make our own sense of what and why something is happening. Conceptual models are shared and explicit representations or analogies of phenomena and are used by scientists to help them understand the world around us. Models are used in all areas of science and offer external versions of mental concepts. Models are not a perfect representation; they are a simplified version of a system that highlights certain areas while ignoring others.

Roughly 4.5 billion years ago, Earth began to form as a result of matter clumping together due to gravitational attraction. Over time, these clumps of matter started crashing into each other, forming larger bodies that eventually would lead to planets and moons. Our Moon is a one of these celestial bodies. It is Earth’s only permanent natural satellite and orbits around the Earth once every 28 days. The following activities will introduce students to the phases of the moon and how the orbit of the Moon affects life on Earth!