Lesson 30

Lesson 30: Eclipse of the Moon

Learning Objective

Understanding the Eclipse of the Moon

Syllabus Correlations

· Theme: Investigating the Earth and the Universe

· Learning Area: Eclipses

· Learning Objective: Understanding the Eclipse of the Moon

Learning Outcomes:

Pupils should be able to:

· state what Eclipse of the Moon is.

· state the position of the Moon, the Earth and the Sun during the Eclipse of the Moon.

· explain why Eclipse of the Moon occurs

Concept(s) Introduced:

· what Eclipse of the Moon is and how it happens;

· why Eclipse of the Moon happens.

Skills Covered:

· Observing, classifying, making inferences, interpreting data, making conclusions, comparing and contrasting.

Vocabulary/ New Words:

crescent, Eclipse of the Moon, full Moon, lunar eclipse, new Moon, opaque, partial eclipse, phase, phase of the Moon, rotate

Value(s) Incorporated:

· Having an interest in and curiosity about the environment.

· Being diligent and persevering.

· Realising that science is a means to understand nature.

· Thinking rationally

· Analysing the things around us

Materials Needed:

-

Point(s) to Note:

Explain how and why Eclipse of the Moon occurs.

Teaching Strategies
Set Induction	Show the images of eclipse of the Moon and of the Sun. Ask pupils whether they have seen either eclipse before. Ask pupils whether they know what happens during the eclipse. Teacher explains that an eclipse happens when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a straight line. Component: Introduction
Step 1	Play the content component. Show the picture of the Eclipse of the Moon. Ask pupils what is Eclipse of the Moon and whether they know how it occurs. Teacher explains the positions of the Moon, Earth and Sun during the eclipse, showing the images. Ask pupils whether they have witnessed an Eclipse of the Moon before. Play the content component. Ask pupils why sunlight cannot pass through the Earth. Teacher explains that it is because the Earth is opaque and light travels in straight lines. Introduce that Eclipse of the Moon is also known as lunar eclipse. Explain that the Earth’s shadow covers the Moon’s surface and causes the eclipse. Using the images, teacher illustrates the area where sunlight is cut off fully and partially. This forms a dark and lighter part respectively. Play the content component. Ask pupils when a total Eclipse of the Moon occurs. Teacher explains that it occurs when the whole Moon is in the dark part. Ask pupils whether they know how long a total Eclipse of the Moon lasts. Explain that it takes a few seconds to a few minutes. Ask pupils how a partial Eclipse of the Moon happens. Explain that it happens when the whole or part of the Moon is in the lighter part. Ask pupils whether they know how long a partial Eclipse of the Moon lasts. Explain that it takes a few minutes to a few hours. Ask pupils to compare total and partial Eclipse of the Moon. Play the content component. Ask pupils what the different phases of the Moon are. Ask students to draw the shape of the Moon during the phases. Teacher explains that eclipse of the Moon happens at the full Moon phase. Play the content component. Show the diagram on phases of the Moon. Ask pupils to differentiate between the umbra and penumbra. From the images, ask pupils to identify which areas are the umbra and penumbra. Teacher explains how total and partial eclipse can occur. By referring to the phases of the Moon, ask pupils to identify where the Moon is positioned. Teacher explains by referring the images. Play the content component. Ask pupils how eclipses occur with reference to the properties of light. Teacher highlights that it is light travels in straight lines and cannot pass opaque objects. Component: Content
Step 2	Play the activity component. All pupils are to be involved which is to form Eclipse of the Moon using apparatus. Help pupils to prepare the apparatus. Teacher explains the procedure involved. Ask pupils to record their observations on the phases of the Moon. Discuss the findings. Component: Activity
Step 3	There are five questions in this component covering the learning outcomes. Questions 1 to 3 are objective questions. Q4 is a drag and drop activity. Pupils drag and drop the correct answers for the questions. Q5 consists of true or false questions. Pupils need to identify whether the statements are true or false. Use evaluation sheets to assess the pupils’ understanding of this lesson. Component: Evaluation
Step 4	A case study what can be seen during Eclipse of the Moon. Ask pupils whether they have seen Eclipse of the Moon before. Teacher highlights that there is a glowing red ring around Earth. Ask pupils what causes this red ring. Teacher explains that the sunlight is refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere. Ask pupils whether the Moon looks black or reddish during the eclipse. Teacher explains that the Moon is reddish and why this happens. Component: Extension
Conclusion	Conclude the lesson by playing this component to further reinforce understanding of the lesson. Help pupils to identify what happens during Eclipse of the Moon occurs. Emphasise how the Sun, Earth and Moon are positioned. Component : Summary