Blast Off! Vocabulary Instruction Using a Virtual Moon Trip

1. Please add, "Papagayo, The Mischief Maker" by Gerald McDermott to the suggested book list. You can ask your students, "How do you think ancient people explained the changes in the moon?" Plus, it is a cross-culture book. I pulled it out to close the days lesson because one of my students thought the moon looked like a cookie being eaten. I think it would also make a great opener to the lesson. Older students could be challenged to write their own myth about the moon changes.
2. For a hands on activity, we made a diagram of the moon phases using round cookies, rice cakes, cream cheese, green and blue sprinkles and chocolate chips. cookies = moon; rice cake with blue and green sprinkles = earth; cream cheese = reflected light; chocolate chips = craters. The sun was drawn in on the display. Great for small groups.
3. There are several moon phase lights on the market. I bought mine from Scholastic and use it to review the phases of the moon. For my Kindergarten group, I only focus on 8 phases.
Thanks for the great lessons.