Phases of the Moon and States of Matter
Phases of the Moon and States of Matter
Explore the phases of the Moon and learn about changes of state with these FREE Educational Resources–all aligned to NY State Academic Standards.
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Elementary School
Earth’s Ecology
In this lesson plan, students will identify and describe three states of water and observe and predict how water will change states.
Related NY State Academic Standards: MST4.E.PS3, MST4.E.PS3.1, MST4.E.PS3.2, and more!
Middle School
Telling Time By the Light of the Moon
In this lesson plan, students will:
- understand that local solar time is determined by the position of the sun relative to an observer’s horizon
- identify by name the phases of the moon—waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent, and new
- define elongation as the measurement of angular distance (in degrees) between a line of sight from an observer on Earth to the sun and a line of sight to any other celestial object
- understand that the phase of the moon depends upon the measurement of the eastern or western elongation of the moon from the sun.
Related NY State Academic Standards: MST4.E.PS1, MST4.I.PS1.1e, and MST4.I.PS1.1h
High School
Melting and Freezing of Water
In this lesson plan, students will examine the three states of matter and construct heating and cooling curves of water and lauric acid. This lesson includes a Vernier Lab.
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