This 3-page 4th grade science journal runs for 14 nights. Page 1 has an instruction box for watching the Moon safely with an adult, a word bank of the eight phase names, and 14 small boxes. Each box has a date line, a time line, a circle to shade and a line for the phase. Page 2 asks four questions about what students saw, including how many days pass from first quarter to full moon. Page 3 gives sample answers.
“Observe and record the changing shape of the Moon over several nights.”
The 14-day log has students shade the Moon and name its phase each night.
“Describe a pattern in the shape and rising time of the Moon.”
Questions 1, 3 and 4 ask about waxing or waning, rising time and the pattern over 14 days.
A boxed note tells students to go outside with an adult and stay in a safe, well-lit spot. If clouds hide the Moon, they write Cloudy on the phase line.
Fourteen boxes in two rows. Students fill in the date and time, shade the circle so the bright part matches the Moon, and name the phase from the word bank.
Four written questions. They ask if the Moon was waxing or waning at the start, how many days pass from first quarter to full moon, whether the Moon rose at the same time each night, and what pattern the shapes made.
Sample answers for the log and the four questions, with about 7 days given for question 2.
Start near a new moon
Check a moon calendar and hand the journal out a few days before a new moon. Students then record the whole waxing half within the 14 nights.
Plan for clouds
Tell students on day one that Cloudy is a real entry. A few gaps are normal and still leave a pattern to describe.
Compare on day 14
Pair students up to compare logs before they write question 4. Different start dates give different shapes, which makes a good talking point.
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