The Moon's Orbit

ScienceSpace ExplorationAges 7–9

Know that the Moon orbits Earth approximately once a month, that it does not make its own light but reflects sunlight, and that its changing appearance (phases) is caused by how much of the sunlit side we can see from Earth

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Teaching Table

Set out your lesson

Explain lunar phases as a changing view of reflected sunlight.

Activity

Inferred, not a taxonomy edge: learner can access the supplied prompt with agreed support and can explain or mark a response. If earlier skills are unfamiliar, use the prerequisite topic for teaching; an authored prerequisite is not proof this learner is ready.

Sequence

Keep the two adult-only cards off the learner screen. Have a pencil and scrap paper if useful; oral pointing/typing/AAC can replace handwriting unless spelling or composition is the target. No printing, cutting, account or purchase is required.
Open Show first, read the explanation together, and pause to check the central idea. Then do Guided Try together.
For Try, close earlier models and the adult keys unless the task explicitly supplies a reference. Record any hints, read-aloud help or model reopening; do not call supported work independent.
Use only the active learner card. Keep the private key closed until an attempt is recorded. Stop or take a break on request; practical claims stay not observed unless actually done.

No Printer

Use on screen; read aloud or recreate a tactile model only with declared support. No printer or purchased kit.

Privacy

Never display adult keys or dictation spellings with a learner task; no family financial, identity or conflict disclosure.

Use the complete materials on screen or print only the current sheet. Keep adult guidance out of learner view. Retain an earlier model only when the current step supplies it as context.

Teaching limits and safe use

These are finite task opportunities, not proof of mastery. Record what was attempted and what support was used.

Schematic reasoning, not real nightly observations; the diagram omits tilt and scale, explicitly stated.
These bounded examples do not establish independent performance in other situations. Record the support used.

Never display adult keys or dictation spellings with a learner task; no family financial, identity or conflict disclosure.

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Explain lunar phases as a changing view of reflected sunlight.

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Learning resources

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Check understanding

State that the Moon orbits Earth roughly once every 28-30 days
Explain that the Moon reflects sunlight rather than producing its own light
Describe how Moon phases happen: we see different amounts of the lit-up side as the Moon orbits Earth

“Can your child explain why the Moon seems to change shape — that it’s always round but we only see the part lit up by the Sun?”

Curriculum record

Type: Conceptual
Subject: Science
Domain: Space Exploration
Age range: Ages 7–9