As the students circle, the ball's crescent grows from First Quarter to First Gibbous, it becomes obvious to them that the Moon's change is gradual rather than a jump from one phase to the next as pictured on some calendars. Students may also be assessed while having fun with musical moon positions. Chairs are optional. Music should be used. To be sure that students have grasped the pattern of moon phases, refer to a calendar for the current moon phase and have each student, on a blank calendar, draw moon phases accordingly.
Students can check their accuracy each night by watching the moon.
Have students chart the phases from their calendars on the board. Next, fill in all of the other phases. A moon phase chart is an easy way to illustrate the waxing and waning of the moon. Children who follow a phase on the moon chart each morning will not grow up thinking that the moon has only four phases and will be in a better position to understand other gradational processes in nature. May 1982, Vol.