Week 1: Sun, Earth, and Moon

 

  1. What did you do in lab today?

    1. We talked about the sun, Earth, and the moon, and how the position of all these things impacts seasons and amounts of sunlight. We got to use a globe, a styrofoam ball, a light bulb, and a green laser to answer the questions in today's lab. I think using these hands-on objects is very helpful in digging into these questions and learning in a way that elementary students would learn. We also went over important information we need to know about this class and how to be successful in this class. 

  2. What was the big question?

    1. What is the relationship between the sun, the moon, and the Earth? 

    2. These were 3 of the big questions that we looked into and discussed with our table partners. These were my first thoughts and ideas on these questions. I was unsure of all of the answers to these questions, and I still have some more questions regarding the answers. 

      1. How do the phases of the moon occur?

        1. The Earth’s shadow hides part of the moon during its orbit.

      2. What causes the seasons?

        1. The sun gets farther away from parts of the Earth as it orbits, causing it to get warmer in the summer and colder in the winter.

        2. Earth rotates on its axis 

      3. What causes a lunar eclipse?

        1. I don’t know what causes a lunar eclipse, but the Earth goes between the sun and the moon, causing a shadow. 

  3. What did you learn in Thursday’s discussion?

    1. Pluto is not a planet because it is not on the same plane of the ecliptic as the other planets. 

    2. If you are North of the equator, your shadow faces North. If you are South of the equator, your shadow faces South. 

    3. The Earth orbits around the sun in almost a perfect circle. 

    4. During the equinoxes, every place gets the same amount of day and night 

    5. The Earth is closer to the sun in the winter than it is in the summer. 

    6. Solar eclipse: the moon blocks the sun from the Earth 

    7. I learned why women who live together and are not on birth control sync up on their cycles 

  4. Read chapter 1 of the online textbook:

    1. What did you learn?

      1. I got a more accurate idea and understanding of what causes seasons. Different parts of Earth are tilted toward the sun at different times of the year, causing seasons. I also learn that the longest and shortest day of the year occurs when one of the tropic lines is directly in line with the sun. I learned about the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon is blocked as it passes through Earth’s shadow. 

    2. What was most helpful?

      1. I found the part about eclipses to be the most helpful. I was unaware of the definitions of a solar and a lunar eclipse, but now I know what they both are. The visuals and videos were very helpful in getting the point across and representing these ideas. 

    3. What do you need more information on?

      1. I still would like a little more clarification on how moon phases occur. I know we discussed them in class, but I am not 100% sure how it all works out. 

  5. What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have? 

    1. I do not have any questions, concerns, or comments left after this week's lab and lecture.

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