On Your Own
Common Misconceptions about the Moon
The Moon can only be seen at night.
The Moon makes its own light, instead of reflecting sunlight.
The Moon takes one day to orbit the Earth.
The Moon is fairly close to the Earth -- a couple of Earth-diameters away.
The Moon does not rotate.
The same half of the Moon is in darkness all the time.
The Moon has clouds or an atmosphere.


Education Research
Note that research suggests that most students in grades K-4 are not cognatively prepared to understand the abstract reason for lunar phases; rather they should observe the apparent changes in the shape of the Moon and the cyclicity of these changes.

A Private Universe is a powerful collection of video clips of students' astronomical ideas (seasons and moon phases) and how they change (or don't) with classroom instruction. The studies reported here offer ideas for how teachers and curriculum developers can help students achieve the goals outlined in the National Science Education Standards.

Designed for classroom teachers, "Private Universe Project "Teachers Lab", begins with a 5-question conceptual assessment survey of the visitor ’s ideas about lunar phases and seasons.  The information is presented with a discussion of typical responses. Classroom activities are presented and a forum is available for educators to share their questions, ideas, and experiences.


Science Content:
PowerPoint Tutorials: Coming Soon!

Lunar Phases and other Moon information

More on what causes lunar phases

Test your understanding of phases

Mr. Eclipse, Fred Espenak, offers an explanation of lunar eclipses, upcoming dates of eclipses, and viewing tips.

Wikipedia offers a more advanced explanation of lunar eclipses.


Online
Use resources from the NASA/NSTA Web seminars, Mapping the Moon: Simulating LOLA in the Classroom, held this spring. The Web seminars focused on the topics of lunar exploration, mapping, remote sensing, and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and were designed for educators of grades 4-12. PowerPoint presentations and answers to the participants frequently asked questions are available on the website.

Short (one day or less)
Bring lunar samples into your educational setting!
NASA offers training workshops to formal and informal educators so that they can borrow lunar sample sets to share with children and the public. Certification workshops explore information about the Moon, lunar samples, and securing the samples. Contact the Office of Education at the closest center for information about certification and borrowing samples.

Long (one week or more)
Across the five day experience, Space Academy incorporates over 45 hours of activities, speakers, and experiences that are designed to be taken back and implemented in the classroom. Attendees participate in astronaut training simulators, two simulated space shuttle missions and Aviation Challenge water activities.  Graduate credit available.

The Ames Education Associates Program is a unique experiential learning program that provides students or faculty members at U.S. colleges or universities, postdoctoral fellows and active K-12 teachers the opportunity to "experience NASA." Educational Associates participate in and contribute to a project at a NASA facility for a minimum of two months, and a maximum of 12. The program operates year round and positions may start and end at any time.