Earth-Moon Institute for Teachers
Agenda of June 2008 Institute
At the Lunar and Planetary Institute
9am – 4pm, June 9-13th, 2008
Advanced work: Moon logs and journal of student’s thoughts about the Moon (preconceived ideas / misconceptions); goals and expectations
Each day ended with assessment of participants’ concerns, anonymous comment cards
Monday: Earth-Moon statistics and phases
- Introductions, Opening assessments activity: groups model phases using a variety of balls and flashlights, written descriptions/ hypotheses that will be posted
- Size/ scale of Earth and Solar System: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/resources/s_system/s_system.shtml
- Moon size, scale, orbit, characteristics: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/powerpoints/earth_moon_statistics.ppt
- Uncovering misconceptions discussion
- Gravity topic and Activities: http://btc.montana.edu/ceres/html/Weight/weight1.htm
- Lunar phases and orbit topic and Activities: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/pre_service_edu/MoonPhases.shtml
- Oreos, sequencing paper plates, modeling with golf balls, reinforcing with positioning paper plates
- Tides and activities
- Addressing misconceptions discussion
Tuesday: Earth analogs
- Opening assessment: diagram rock cycle on Earth and Moon in a drawing, with labels
- Rock types & volcanism topic and Activities: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/pre_service_edu/VolcanismActivities.shtml
- Plate tectonics: http://www.geophysics.rice.edu/plateboundary/
- Sedimentary rocks
- Rock Cycle on Earth
- Spectral data: http://m3.cofc.edu/educators.html
- Optional Mission Control tour and viewing of Apollo 13
Wednesday: Formation and Evolution of the Moon
- Assessment: observations of the Moon’s surface/ what does it mean?
- Formation talk, video, evidence—powerpoint on lunar geologic history
- Inquiry-based activity on Moon mineralogy and history:http://m3.cofc.edu/educators.html
- Tour of Johnson Space Center’s Lunar Labs
- Lunar geography—landing sites
- Optional Evening observing session
Thursday: Putting It Together
- Opening assessment: draw/write cartoon panels with past/current/future lunar exploration
- Cratering Activities: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/shaping_the_planets/activity_glance2.shtml
- Apollo 15 mapping activity
- Scoop on Moon Dirt: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/moon/moon_dirt.shtml
- Rock cycle on the Moon (reflect on prior days)
- LRO activity: Mission Moon: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/moon/mission.shtml
Friday: History and Future of Lunar exploration
- Revisit lunar phases and orbital parameters—examine data; lunar eclipses
- Lunar exploration history, intent, goals, future exploration and politics
- Activity: Ice in the Shadows: http://btc.montana.edu/messenger/library/pdf/ice_shadows.pdf
- Activity: Ice in the Solar System: http://btc.montana.edu/messenger/library/pdf/ice_worlds.pdf
- Ongoing lunar missions: LRO and Chandrayaan-1