Moon Phases/Tides

Moon Phase

A WebQuest for 6th Grade (Science)

Designed by

Bridget Pauley

pauleybc@wvstateu.edu

It is known that the moon has many phases.  The moon's phases along with the sun and the earth have an influence on the ocean tides.  The west coast of the United States experiences 2 highs and 2 lows a day.  When the moon, the earth, and the sun are in a line they form a Spring Tide.  During these tides you may observe higher and lower than normal tides.  When the moon, the earth, and sun are at right angles to each other they form a Neap Tides.  During these tides you might not be able to see a great deal of difference in the heights of the high and low tides. What are the moon phases and does it work with the earth and sun to influence the tides? 

The Task

A world famous scientist, Jerry Von Schlutenburg needs help. He is working on the phases on the moon and thinks he has discovered a new phase. Our school has been chosen to help him. I will put students in groups of three, assign roles, go to the computer lab, and get busy helping this scientist discover if there are any new moon phases or not.

• Using a computer/Internet students will have used the Webquest to define, draw, and label the phases of the moon.
• Student will have completed the interactive activity about tides.
• Students will take the information they have gathered from the Hyperlinks on the WebQuest and transform that information onto their activity sheet.

The Process

1. First you'll be assigned to a team of 3 students.
2. Then by drawing a piece of paper from a cup, you will know what your roles will be (task master, recorder, time keeper). All 3 students will take turns helping answer the questions.
3. Students will then access the on-line resources that I have identified as they go through the step by step Process.

Moon phases and definitions. http://www.quia.com/jg/431146list.html is a web site maintained by Quia. This site provides an excellent overview of the subject and includes photos, definitions, and 4different games to help students learn the moon phases. This Webquest is also an introductory activity to the phases of the moon and the affect of the moon on the tides. 

Procedure:  Follow the instructions below to complete the assignment.  BE SURE TO READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE GOING TO ANY LINK.  Record your data on the activity sheet.

PART I:  Definitions and Drawings
1.Use the moon phases and definitions page to find the definition for all the moon phases. Record them on your activity worksheet.  Observe what each phase of the moon is in detail.  Draw the phases on your activity worksheet.  The "Full Moon" and "New Moon" are drawn and labeled for you.

2. Fill in the definitions Spring Tides and Neap Tides on your activity worksheet.

PART II:  Moon Phases Interactivity
3.  First, check the current moon phase (today date) ad to activity worksheet and draw the current moon phase. 

4. Then go to the moon phase’s interactive  web site and experiment with different dates.  Record one of the dates you chose draw and label the moon phase that occurred.

PART III:  Tides
5.  Now that you have mastered the moon's phases you can explore how they affect the ocean tides.  First, select a region to study from the tidal regions page.  Record the region you chose on your activity worksheet. Refer to your activity worksheet for the next step of your instructions. 

6.  Review your definitions.  Label the appropriate sections of the graph with the names of the tides.  Now, draw a picture of the moon phase or phases associated with those tides. The terms we have gone over are new moon, full moon, waning cresent, waning gibbous, first quarter, last(third) quarter, waxing cresent, waxing gibbous, and our words for this lesson Neap tide and Spring tide.

Describe to the learners how their performance will be evaluated. There will be a common grade for group work.

Congratulations.  You have completed your assignment.

If we should require any further assistance from you, we will contact you. 

Students will have learned the phases of the moon and how it affects the tides. Students will be able to describe and tell what the phases of the moon are. Students will be able to tell how the moon affects the tide and about what time of day they occur.

If you are interested in furthering your research on your own here is another link you could check out. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/earth.html

I want to thank everyone who provided resources and help including the internet sites and Mr. Beach-Tech teacher.

URL: http://www.quia.com/jg/431146list.html

URL: http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html
URL: http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml

URL: http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/sites_useastupper.html

URL: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/earth.html

Name                                                             Date                              

PART I:  Definitions and Drawings

 1.  Waxing Crescent -

 2.  Waning Gibbous -

 3.  Waxing Gibbous -

 4.  Waning Crescent –

 5. New Moon –

 6. Full Moon -

 7. First Quarter –

 8. Last Quarter - 

 9.  Neap Tides -

10.  Spring Tides –

11. Draw and label all the moon phases

                FULL MOON                                                           NEW MOON                                 
   
 
    [img_assist|nid=18305|title=full moon|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=100]                              [img_assist|nid=18304|title=new moon|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=100|height=100]
                                                                  

____________________________                         _____________________________                

 ___________________________                           ______________________________             
   

___________________________                            ______________________________

PART II:  Moon Phases Interactive

(Current moon phase)

12. Today’s Day:                                         Moon Phase:

(Choose any date you prefer)

13.  Date:                                                   Moon Phase:
 

PART III:  Tides

14.  Region:
 

15.  Observe the heights of the tides.  The higher the number, the higher the tide.  The lower the number the lower the tide.  Negative numbers indicate really low tides! Are the tides measured in feet or meters? 

16.  Go to "Prediction Options.” Change “Standard time range /Distant Date, starts at, (select a month and date)."  Change "length of time to display" to 3days. Click on "Make a New Prediction."

17.  Observe the heights of the tides.  Notice that now there are more days. 

Record the dates and heights of the 3 highest tides.
 
 
 
 

 Record the dates and heights of the 3 lowest tides.

*Take notice of the dates of any of the high and low tides that occur near one another.

18.  Return to "Prediction Options."  Change "display type" to Graphic Plot.  Change the "pixels" to 640 X 320. Change "Hour format" to am/pm time.
Click on "Make a New Prediction."  When the graph appears print out the graph (if possible).