Monday 7 February 2011

Moon activities

We are continuing our space unit and last week we studied the Earth and our moon. As my daughter pointed out we already know quite a bit about Earth so we concentrated our studies on the moon.

I found some interesting art projects to do. First I tried to get the kids to keep a record of the moon phrases. I thought it would be a great idea to go outside every night and look for the moon and try to identify the phrase the moon was in. This didn't work because in the winter time in the UK, the night sky is cloudy. So for the past 2 weeks we tried to record the moon phrase without much luck:(. So I needed to come up with a different plan to help the children identify and learn the moon phrases so I found this activity in the MOON lap book of Hands of a child and it work much better. I would still like to record a month of moon phrases but this may have to wait till spring or summer.

First I cut out 5 circles for each child (I used sturdy paper plates) and then let the kids paint each circle a different phrase of the moon. Little Man wanted his moon to be yellow while Princess wanted hers to be white.



Next the children punched a hole at the top of each moon








Then we tied string to the moon








and attached them to a coat hanger. We labeled each moon phrase on the back.

I think I need to look for a longer stick or something to help spread out the hanging moons but this will work for now:). I am pleased to report the kids do know the different moon phrases after this activity and couldn't wait to show Daddy :)





Next up we have been learning about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and the first moon walk. I found a diorama of the moon here. This was pretty easy and since it was our first time trying a diorama it was great. I think next time the kids and I want to try to be a bit more creative with it and make more of the diorama pieces ourselves, maybe with clay. However this was a good first effort and it required teamwork as I only had one box and they had to work together to create it.

First we created the background. My daughter pointed out you can't see all the planets from the moon so the back ground was incorrect:).







Next they positioned all the pieces in the box. This took some effort as each had their own specific ideas where things should go. I am thinking we need to do more team work activities in the future.





Our finished diorama. Not bad for a first effort and my kids enjoyed it that they want to do another which I consider a success:).







Please join us at the No Ordinary Blog hop for the month of February! The one with the most link ups wins a blogger award and a spotlight of their blog.

19 comments:

  1. What an awesome project! Looks great!

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  2. Awesome Anna-Marie and looks like so much fun! Each project turned out super! :) Thanks for sharing and clicked a vote for you today!

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  3. Looks wonderful!!!!! Looks like a lot of fun too!! We are learning about space right now as well!!

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  4. Looks like it was a fun project.

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  5. Hi Robin
    Thanks the kids worked hard on their projects:)

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  6. Thanks Tracy Kayla and Melissa from Day 2 Day living we are enjoying our space unit and each project is fun to do:)

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  7. Fun activity! Makes learning fun!

    We did the Apologia Astronomy last year and did balloons all around the room to represent the sizes and locations of each planet.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! :)

    christiswritingthewaves.blogspot.com

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  8. Your children did a wonderful job. Looks like a great project my son would like to do. Thank you for the link so we can try it out. Have a blessed day and as always I voted for you. =)

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  9. Hi Lynda,
    Hope your son likes the project it was simple and easy to do. I have heard of diorama's before but this is our first one. We want to do another one maybe for our next unit study on the ocean.

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  10. Love that idea - is one I will be borrowing when we do our space month:)

    There is a really fun activity for moon phases using an oreo (you can get them from Sainsburys in th UK)split in half and scrape off the cream to represent each phase. You can download the worksheet here
    http://analyzer.depaul.edu/paperplate/Oreo%20Moon%20Phases.htm

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  11. Hi Zelda, Thanks for following and Thank you for a great resource, my kids will love it. I can buy oreos on base so we are covered. Do you live in the UK?

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  12. I miss dioramas. We used to create them more often when I taught in upper elementary--now that I'm in high school, not so much. I think kids wanting to do another one definitely means the activity was a success! Blessings!

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  13. Good Morning....how are you? Ah the ol' coat hanger mobile...love them! Stopping over today from HHH...but I would have been here anyway...lol 8)

    Melissa
    http://just-starting-out.blogspot.com/2011/02/doggie-valentine-craft.html

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  14. Hi Renee Ann
    I am definitely thinking about how we will do the next one. I think the kids will really enjoy making their own pieces.

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  15. Hi Melissa,
    Thanks for stopping by, I wasn't quite prepared for the mobile as it was a last minute adjustment but believe it or not it was our first coat hanger mobile:) I am sure there will be others in our future:)

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  16. Looks like fun! I'm new to your blog and now following you. Stop by and say hello!
    ~Mary
    http://homegrownlearners.com

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  17. Oh this looks like so much fun. What a great project. I am new to your blog and new to the blogging world. Thanks for checking out my site, and now I have found yours. I look forward to learning about your great homeschooling adventures.

    Kim
    http://thehappyheartsacademy.blogspot.com

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  18. HI Kim
    Thanks for following. YOur blog looks great so far looking forward to reading more:)

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  19. Hi Anna-Marie!
    Hope you are having a great Tuesday! Stopping in to say Hi! and clicked a vote for you!

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