WGU 5E Lesson Plan: Elementary Science Methods, Understanding the
Moon Cycle for 4th Grade Science.
WGU 5E Lesson Plan Template
General Information
Lesson Title: Moon Cycle
Subject(s): Science
Grade/Level/Setting: 4th grade science class
Prerequisite Skills/Prior Knowledge:
What do your students already know or what do they need to know about the selected topic to successfully
participate in the lesson?
Students should have a basic understanding of how the Moon orbits the Earth and how the light
from the Sun affects weather and life on earth. Students should have a basic understanding of how
light travels and interacts with objects. Ie. Reflects, refracts, and absorbs.
Standards and Objective
State/National Academic Standard(s):
Standard 3. Earth and Space Science-
Students can use the full range of science and engineering practices to make sense of natural
phenomena and solve problems that require understanding the universe and Earth's place in it.
1. Motion is predictable in both solar systems and galaxies.
-Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar
phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons. (MS-ESS1-1)
Learning Objective:
Identify what students will accomplish by the end of the lesson. It needs to align with the state or national standard
for the lesson and needs to be measurable (condition, behavior, and criterion).
By the end of the lesson students will be able to recognize and name the phases of the Moon and
notice that the light of the Sun affects how the Moon appears from the surface of the Earth while the
Earth is in orbit.
Materials Technology
, What materials will the teacher and the students need to How will you use technology to enhance teaching and
complete the lesson? learning? (Optional: Use the SAMR model to explain the
technology integration strategies you plan to use.)
● Smart board
● Oreos
● Paper Towels
● Hand Sanitizer
● Science journal Smart Board- Moon Phase Video
● Moon phases worksheet https://www.khanacademy.org/science/middle-s
● Moon phases summative assessment
chool-earth-and-space-science/x87d03b443efbea
0a:the-earth-sun-moon-system/x87d03b443efbea
0a:the-moon-and-its-motions/v/phases-of-the-m
oon
Language Demands
Specific ways academic language (vocabulary, functions, discourse, syntax) is used by students to participate in
learning tasks through reading, writing, listening, or speaking to demonstrate their understanding.
Language Function:
The content and language focus of the learning task represented by the active verbs within the learning outcome;
common language functions may include predicting, summarizing, questioning, or interpreting (Choose one.)
Students will be able to verbally explain how the orbit of the Earth and the Moon affect how we see
the moon using academic vocabulary. Students will be able to look at a photo or model and explain
which moon phase is shown
Vocabulary:
Words and phrases that are used within disciplines including: (1) words and phrases with subject-specific meanings
that differ from meanings used in everyday life (e.g., table); (2) general academic vocabulary used across
disciplines (e.g., compare, analyze, evaluate); and (3) subject-specific words defined for use in the discipline
Moon Phase, first quarter, second quarter, new moon, full moon, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous,
orbit, axis, observe.
Discourse or Syntax:
Discourse includes the structures of written and oral language as well as how members of the discipline talk, write,
and participate in knowledge construction. Syntax refers to the set of conventions for organizing symbols, words,
and phrases together into structures (e.g., sentences, graphs, tables).
Students will discuss and compare the different phases of the Moon and make predictions about which
phase will be the next one we will see.
Planned Language Supports:
The scaffolds, representations, and pedagogical strategies teachers intentionally provide to help learners
understand and use the concepts of language they need to learn within disciplines.
Anchor charts displaying the vocabulary, word wall with a visual with each of the coordinating
moon phases, vocabulary in both English as well as the native languages as my ELLs. Teacher will
model the experiment and provide a guide sheet for the experiment.
Instructional Strategies and Learning Tasks
Moon Cycle for 4th Grade Science.
WGU 5E Lesson Plan Template
General Information
Lesson Title: Moon Cycle
Subject(s): Science
Grade/Level/Setting: 4th grade science class
Prerequisite Skills/Prior Knowledge:
What do your students already know or what do they need to know about the selected topic to successfully
participate in the lesson?
Students should have a basic understanding of how the Moon orbits the Earth and how the light
from the Sun affects weather and life on earth. Students should have a basic understanding of how
light travels and interacts with objects. Ie. Reflects, refracts, and absorbs.
Standards and Objective
State/National Academic Standard(s):
Standard 3. Earth and Space Science-
Students can use the full range of science and engineering practices to make sense of natural
phenomena and solve problems that require understanding the universe and Earth's place in it.
1. Motion is predictable in both solar systems and galaxies.
-Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar
phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons. (MS-ESS1-1)
Learning Objective:
Identify what students will accomplish by the end of the lesson. It needs to align with the state or national standard
for the lesson and needs to be measurable (condition, behavior, and criterion).
By the end of the lesson students will be able to recognize and name the phases of the Moon and
notice that the light of the Sun affects how the Moon appears from the surface of the Earth while the
Earth is in orbit.
Materials Technology
, What materials will the teacher and the students need to How will you use technology to enhance teaching and
complete the lesson? learning? (Optional: Use the SAMR model to explain the
technology integration strategies you plan to use.)
● Smart board
● Oreos
● Paper Towels
● Hand Sanitizer
● Science journal Smart Board- Moon Phase Video
● Moon phases worksheet https://www.khanacademy.org/science/middle-s
● Moon phases summative assessment
chool-earth-and-space-science/x87d03b443efbea
0a:the-earth-sun-moon-system/x87d03b443efbea
0a:the-moon-and-its-motions/v/phases-of-the-m
oon
Language Demands
Specific ways academic language (vocabulary, functions, discourse, syntax) is used by students to participate in
learning tasks through reading, writing, listening, or speaking to demonstrate their understanding.
Language Function:
The content and language focus of the learning task represented by the active verbs within the learning outcome;
common language functions may include predicting, summarizing, questioning, or interpreting (Choose one.)
Students will be able to verbally explain how the orbit of the Earth and the Moon affect how we see
the moon using academic vocabulary. Students will be able to look at a photo or model and explain
which moon phase is shown
Vocabulary:
Words and phrases that are used within disciplines including: (1) words and phrases with subject-specific meanings
that differ from meanings used in everyday life (e.g., table); (2) general academic vocabulary used across
disciplines (e.g., compare, analyze, evaluate); and (3) subject-specific words defined for use in the discipline
Moon Phase, first quarter, second quarter, new moon, full moon, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous,
orbit, axis, observe.
Discourse or Syntax:
Discourse includes the structures of written and oral language as well as how members of the discipline talk, write,
and participate in knowledge construction. Syntax refers to the set of conventions for organizing symbols, words,
and phrases together into structures (e.g., sentences, graphs, tables).
Students will discuss and compare the different phases of the Moon and make predictions about which
phase will be the next one we will see.
Planned Language Supports:
The scaffolds, representations, and pedagogical strategies teachers intentionally provide to help learners
understand and use the concepts of language they need to learn within disciplines.
Anchor charts displaying the vocabulary, word wall with a visual with each of the coordinating
moon phases, vocabulary in both English as well as the native languages as my ELLs. Teacher will
model the experiment and provide a guide sheet for the experiment.
Instructional Strategies and Learning Tasks
