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Journey to the Moon Essential Question: What are the characteristics of the moon? Goal: Students will know the size and shape of the moon and its distance from Earth. Objective: Students will be able to write a letter to an astronaut reporting the size of the moon compared to the earth and the distance of the moon from earth. Materials: 1/ student Scale Earth and Moon. Buzz words work book. Poster. Glue stick. Pencils. Paper.

Alignment with P.A.S.S. Language Arts Standard 1: Vocabulary - The student will develop and expand knowledge of words and word meanings to increase their vocabulary. 1. Words in Context a. Use knowledge of word parts and word relationships, as well as context clues (the meaning of the text around a word), to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to understand the precise meaning of grade-level-appropriate words. Standard 2: Modes and Forms of Writing. Communicate through a variety of written forms, for various purposes, and to a specific audience or person. 4. Write personal, persuasive, formal letters, thank-you notes, and invitations, including the date, greeting, body, closing, and signature. Math Standard 3: Geometry - The student will apply geometric properties and relationships. 1. Compare and contrast the basic characteristics of circle and polygons (triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons). Standard 5: Data Analysis - The student will use data analysis, statistics and probability to interpret data in a variety of contexts. 2. a. Compare and translate displays of data and justify the selection of the type of table of graph (e.g., charts, tables, bar graphs, pictographs, line graphs, circle graphs, Venn diagrams). 3. *b. Formulate questions, design investigations, consider samples, and collect, organize, and analyze data using observation, measurement, surveys, or experiments (e.g., how far can 5th graders throw a softball based on where it first hits the ground?).

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Science Standard 3: Structure of Earth and the Solar System - Interaction between air, water, rocks/soil, and all living things. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives: 3. Earth is the third planet from the Sun in a system that includes the moon, the Sun, and seven other planets. a. Most objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motion (e.g., phases of the moon). b. Objects in the Solar System have individual characteristics (e.g., distance from Sun, number of moons, temperature of object). Background Information: The surface of the moon has no large bodies of water. The moon also lacks the plant and animal life that is found on Earth. Like Earth, the moon has mountains as well as plains that stretch for miles. The surface of the moon is also covered with large depressions in the ground called craters. Virtually all of the moons craters were formed billions of years ago when objects moving through space hit the moon. The moon has more craters than Earth because it has no atmosphere to protect it from asteroids. The moon is Earths only natural satellite. A satellite is an object that travels around another object. The moon is so close to earth that you can easily see the light and dark places on its surface. The light places are mostly mountains and hills the dark places are flat lands. The moon is made of rock. The same side of the moon always faces Earth. Before people had traveled to space no one had ever seen the far side of the moon. People weigh much less on the moon that they do on Earth. The moons gravity is 1/6th that of earths. Gravity causes objects to have weight. In places where there is less gravity, you weigh less and you can jump higher. To find out what you would weigh on the moon, divide your weight by six. The moon has no air and is completely silent. The sky on the moon is always black, stars shine all the time. The moon doesnt have air, water, clouds, rain or snow. At night the temperature can drop hundreds of degrees below zero. Without air or water, a cloud can never appear in its black sky and a raindrop will never fall. The moon appears to be the same size as the sun but it is really much smaller. It looks as big as the sun because it is much closer to us than the sun. Two thirds of the moons surface is made up of highlands that are rugged like mountains. Some people thought they could see the face of a man on the moon. Others thought that the moon was made of green cheese or that strange creatures lived on it. If you measured the moon across its center you would find that it is 2,160 miles across, 4 times smaller than the earth. Engagement: Urgent Message from Buzz LightyearDear Kids, Im in a crunch and I need your help. There is only a little time until I take off for my latest mission to the moon. Before I take off I need you to help me find out two things: How big is the moon compared to Earth? And how far away is the moon from Earth? Please hurry!! Your friend, Buzz Lightyear

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We will create a K-W-L chart about what we know about the size of the moon and what we will need to know to fulfill our mission.

Exploration: The teacher will begin by introducing difficult vocabulary or buzz words of the day Buzz words of the day (Vocabulary)- diameter and scale drawing Students will record the definitions of these words and draw the following images in their BUZZ word journal The teacher will use these images below to discuss what the diameter of a circle is and what a scale drawing is Students will be asked to discuss where else they have seen scale drawings before and why scale drawings are important. (Scale drawings are used in maps and scale drawings are important because it allows people to understand the measurements of HUGE objects by looking a small picture) The diameter of a circle:

The diameter of a circle is longest distance across a circle. (The diameter cuts through the center of the circle. This is what makes it the longest distance.)

Scale Drawing

A drawing that shows a real object with accurate sizes except they have all been reduced or enlarged by a certain amount (called the scale). Students will use scale pictures of the Earth and Moon to create a scale model and answer the following questions: What is bigger, the earth or the moon?

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How many times does the moon fit inside the earth? Write this as a multiplication problem. The moon is how many times smaller than earth? The moons diameter is 2,160 miles across. What is earths diameter? (Write this across the diameter of earth)

27 moons fit in between the earth and the moon. Trace the 27 earths it takes to get to the moon. Paste where should the moon be on your poster.

Knowing the earths diameter and that there are 27 earths in between the earth and the moon, how far away is the moon in miles? Write this distance on your scale drawing.

Application: The students will be asked to use the data from their research to write a letter to Buzz. The teacher will bring up the sample letter Buzz had written them earlier and discuss the important features of the letter. Students will also need to seal their letter in an addressed envelope. In the letter students will need to address the following questions: Is the earth or moon bigger? What are the earth and moon shaped like? What are the earth and moons diameter? How many moons fit inside earth? How many times bigger is the earth than the moon? How far away is the moon from the earth? Students will need to address their letter to: Buzz Lightyear 2 Infinity and Beyond Blast Off, OK 12367 Closure:

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We will meet together as a class and discuss our answers. We will fill in the L section of the K-W-L chart. We will discuss the answers to Buzzs questions.

Evaluation: Students will be evaluated on their ability to complete the fill in the blank letter to Buzz. Understandings: Check List The earth is bigger than the moon The earth is 4x bigger than the moon The moons shaped like a sphere The moons diameter The earths diameter The distance from the earth to the moon Concepts that need to be readdressed (List)

Differentiation: This lesson could be made easier by not calculating the exact distance but just using the moons and earths as our measurement tool. An ADHD student could be given supplemental directions or allowed to move from his seat to a more private area. A high learner could be asked to calculate the distance from the earth to the sun. A physically handicap student could work with a partner. A lower learner could have the worksheet adapted for their level or be provided a word bank for the fill in the blank activity. An English language learner could be given a worksheet in both their native language and in English or difficult words in English could be defined for them in a supplement. Here is a sample fill in the blank letter you could use for differentiation Dear Buzz, The earth is bigger than the moon. The moon and earth are shaped like a sphere. The moons diameter is 2160 miles across. The earths diameter is 8640 miles across. Four moons fit inside the earth. So, the earth is 4 times bigger than the moon. The moon is 27 (number of) earths away from earth. The moon is 238,857 miles away. Sincerely,

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Dear Kids, Im in a crunch and I need your help. There is only a little time until I take off for my latest mission to the moon. Before I take off I need you to help me find out two things: How big is the moon compared to Earth? And how far away is the moon from Earth? Please hurry!! Your friend, Buzz Lightyear

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Lets help Buzz!!

Directions: cut out the following picture of the moon and earth. Answer the following questions and help Buzz out before take off!!

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To infinity..AND BEYOND!!
What is bigger, the earth or the moon?

How many times does the moon fit inside the earth? Write this as a multiplication problem.

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The moon is how many times smaller than earth?

The moons diameter is 2,160 miles across. What is earths diameter? (Write this across the diameter of earth)

27 earths fit in between the earth and the moon. Trace the 27 earths it takes to get to the moon. Paste where should the moon be on your poster.

Knowing the earths diameter and that there are 27 earths in between the earth and the moon, how far away is the moon in miles? Write this distance on your scale drawing.

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Buzz Words of the day

Word #1: Diameter Definition:

Drawing:

Word #2: Scale Drawing Definition

Drawing: