Our Looney Lunar Phases

"Doing" always helps ideas and principles stick to that "gray matter" inside their little craniums. So in our homeschool, it's always nice to find an activity that doesn't require a long list of materials and isn't just "twaddle," as Charlotte Mason would say. 


In science, we are studying Astronomy. Hard to take field trips when the objects of our studies are thousands of miles above our heads, except to a planetarium. So observation has to play a large role in our learning. That and simple activities like the one we did Monday. 

All it takes is a dark room, a flash light, and a styrofoam ball skewered on a small dowel. Each of the kids took a turn "being earth" and watching the moon appear to morph into different shapes. Keeping their feet inside one tile, they were to turn slowly around while holding their satellite a little above their head at arm's length. "The Sun" was another child at the other end of the utility room pointing a flashlight at the Earth. As the "earth" spun on it's axis the light from the "sun" shone on different parts of the moon's face causing it to wax and wane. 

Of course, Rebekah looks as if she's dreaming up some fairy tale as she "rotates." :) 


Sure we can look at pictures of the different phases of the moon, but acting out the principles involved helps us to avoid "Teflon Brain Syndrome." And we all know how dangerous that can be! :)