ePals Ideas: Comparing Moon Phases
Name: Kris Baker
Grade Level: 6-8
Content Area: Science
Introduction
Depending on whether you live in the northern hemisphere or southern hemisphere the Moon can appear different in the evening sky. Exploring this concept would be the perfect opportunity for students to collaborate with each other from different parts of the world. Ideally, a student in the northern hemisphere could share what their Moon looks like with a student in the Southern Hemisphere. This activity could be accomplished by individuals, groups, or as a class. Communication and collaboration can occur through email, ePals, skype™, blogs, forums, or any acceptable social network.
Activity
This particular activity will be designed for individual students to collaborate with another student via ePals. Prior to beginning this activity the classroom teacher will identify and contact another teacher from the opposite side of the world. The two teachers will share the month long plan to have their students participate in exchanging information about themselves and the phases of the Moon. Once the plan has been established the students may begin.
1. The first step for this activity would be for students to make an initial contact with each other. This is a good opportunity for the students to get to know one another. Students should be given a list of questions that they could ask about the other student, i.e. name, age, where they live, if they have siblings, what they like to do, what the weather is like, have they visited other countries, the time of day it is in their location, what season they are experiencing, etc.
2. All of the students should begin tracking the phases of the Moon. The students should be given an approximate time of the evening that they should view the Moon, obviously with some variance. The teacher should also observe and record the same information as a backup plan. Each morning the class will share their observations and document the phase on a large (poster) calendar.
3. Students and teachers take pictures of the Moon twice a week, on Monday night and Thursday night. All students should learn how to upload a picture, save them to a file, and attach them to emails. The students who didn’t get to take a picture can use one from another student or the teachers.
4. On Tuesday and Friday the students will email and share their pictures with their ePal. They should also describe the time they observed the Moon, where it was in the sky, and the weather. Sometimes the weather prevents us from seeing the Moon and if that happens, then they can share that information.
5. Each time the students email their friend they should be given a specific question to ask. The question should be related to the Moon or astronomy and could be predetermined by the class or teacher. For example, which direction does the Moon appear to be moving? Where does the Sun or Moon rise?
6. The communication should continue for at least one month for the students to observe a full cycle. At the end of the month there will be a class discussion about their observations and the concepts.
7. The class will make a short video to be sent to the cooperating class. The video will include students saying hello, explaining their findings as well as how the Moon appears different, and thanking them for participating. The video will be uploaded and sent.
This activity addresses the following Educational Technology EALR’s;
1.2 Collaborate: Use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
This activity includes communication with others via ePals to learn about the phases of the Moon and how it can appear different.
2.1 Practice Safety: Practice safe, legal, and ethical behavior in the use of information and technology.
This activity will include a brief overview of using email and pictures in a safe and ethical manner. Students will also be required to get permission from parents before they can be videotaped and sharing the video with others. They will briefly learn the legal ramifications associated with videotaping.
2.2 Operate Systems: Understand technology systems and use hardware and networks to support learning.
Students will be uploading pictures to the computer and using networks to communicate with others. In this process they will be learning how to operate systems.
2.3 Select and Use Applications: Use productivity tools and common applications effectively and constructively.
Students will be using a number of applications throughout this activity. When students upload their pictures they might want to edit them which would require them to use a photo application. They will also be using ePals, like email, to send messages which also require the use of an application.
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