CSI (Cool Science Investigations)

CSI (Cool Science Investigations) The Moon & Earth Friday, February 13th

Station 1 The Earth- Types of Soil- AKA “Cheerios” (20 minutes) Objective: Students will review the types of soils and discover which soil how the particles of the soil affect the retention of water.

TEKS: 5.3c represent natural world w/ models & identify their limitations 5.7a classify matter by physical properties (magnetism/physical state/ ability to conduct/insulate heat, electricity, & sound) 5.11a identify/observe actions that require time for changes to be measured (growth/erosion/weathering/flow)

Supplies: 3 cups with 7 holes punched at the bottom, 3 cups with a fill line, 3 syringes, Cheerios, container of water, student reflection sheets

Lesson: Students will be divided into 3 groups. Captains will have the hands on with the activity as the other group members cheer for their teammates.

The cup with whole Cheerios represents sand… Sandy Soil from the Sahara Desert- doesn’t retain water The cup with ground up Cheerios represents silt… Silt Soil from the Mississippi River Valley- retains enough The cup with finely crushed Cheerios represents clay… Clay Soil from Irving, Texas- retains all water

Original work by S. Cole, 2007 Original work by J. Greene, 2006 Modified 2009 by J. Putman Modified 2009 by A. Clark Have students split up into 3 groups. Choose two team captains. These will conduct the experiment and the others will cheer for their captains. One captain will hold the Cheerio cup over the fill cup and the other captain will use the syringe to add water to the Cheerio Cup.

Make sure students are filling in this information on their reflection sheet.

Finally:  Review the size of the soil particles makes a difference with water retention.  Questions for discussion: o Which soil retained the most water? o Which soil was most permeable (porous/allowed water to flow)? o Which soil would be best for plants?

Original work by S. Cole, 2007 Original work by J. Greene, 2006 Modified 2009 by J. Putman Modified 2009 by A. Clark CSI (Cool Science Investigations) The Moon & Earth Friday, February 13th

STATION 2 Characteristics of the Moon- AKA “Oreos” (20 Minutes)

Objective: Students will review and learn the reason for the phases of the moon and the effects that the moon has on the Earth as well as identify how the earth and moon are similar and different.

TEKS: 5.12c identify physical characteristics of Earth to moon 5.12d identify gravity as force that keeps planets in orbit around Sun & moon in orbit around Earth 5.6a identify events & describe regular changes (daily/weekly/lunar/seasonal) 5.3c represent natural world w/ models & identify their limitations

Lesson: Ask students to take a sheet of paper and write down one way that the earth and the moon are the same and collect. We will review this at the end of the lesson.

Ask students if they know what causes the moon to look different in the sky each night. What do we call this? (Phases of the moon)

Visit the website that animates for the students the phases of the moon. Make sure that they understand that the moon does not produce any of its own light. We see the moon because of the reflection of the Sun’s light.

Original work by S. Cole, 2007 Original work by J. Greene, 2006 Modified 2009 by J. Putman Modified 2009 by A. Clark http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/

Discuss the different names of the “Phases of the moon”. Have students put the PHASE pictures in order and write these names on their reflection sheet. Tell students they will now create the phases of the moon with Oreo cookies. Take 6 cookies and give each one to a student. Tell each student which phase of the moon they are to create. After the phases have been created, have the group arrange the cookies on the paper plate in the Lunar Cycle and label.

Questions: What keeps the moon in orbit around the earth? (The Earth’s gravity)

Would you weigh more or less on the moon? (Less)

Does the moon or the earth have more gravity? (The Earth, because it is larger.)

What does the moon’s orbit cause on Earth? (The tides, two times per day)

LAST: Allow students to lick the white filling of the Oreo. They will notice that the filling is slowing wearing down… like what happens to rocks as they weather. Students can take a bite and chew up the Oreo… still weathering. The Oreo moves down your throat… welcome erosion! Finally, the Oreo will be deposited in the stomach.

Original work by S. Cole, 2007 Original work by J. Greene, 2006 Modified 2009 by J. Putman Modified 2009 by A. Clark CSI (Cool Science Investigations) The Moon & Earth Friday, February 13th

Station & Whole Group Preparation IMPORTANT NOTE: Our whole group time will be at the end of today’s CSI in the regular science classrooms.

Student reflection sheets will be passed out before the beginning of each session so that students will be ready to move into their designated groups. Each student will have a number on top of their sheet which will be their assigned group.

Station A (Earth) – All supplies will be ready to make a demonstration of different types of soil.

Station B (Moon) – All supplies will be ready to make a demonstration of different phases of the moon, and then a quick connection to weathering, erosion, and deposition.

Whole Group Review of the Solar System (20 minutes)

Use the Jeopardy PowerPoint to review facts about the solar system. I will email the PowerPoint to all of the teachers to use as a review for this content.

Original work by S. Cole, 2007 Original work by J. Greene, 2006 Modified 2009 by J. Putman Modified 2009 by A. Clark CSI (Cool Science Investigations) The Moon 1 2 3

New Moon Waxing Crescent First Quarter (or Half) Moon 4 5 6

Waxing Gibbous Full Moon Waning Gibbous

Sandy Soils Silt Soils Clay Soils

Something memorable of today’s CSI was…

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Original work by S. Cole, 2007 Original work by J. Greene, 2006 Modified 2009 by J. Putman Modified 2009 by A. Clark