Summary Model why we see the phases of the Moon Science content Earth/Space: Sun, Moon, Solar System, Universe (1, 4, 6) Lessons activity is in The Moon Materials foam ball ~3cm diameter (the 'moon') stand for foam ball, dark e.g. o-ring flashlight (the 'sun') Procedure Place the foam ball on its stand in the centre of a desk. Hold the flashlight about 20cm away, lying flat on the desk and facing the foam ball. Rotate the flashlight around the foam ball, keeping it the same distance away but always pointing towards the ball. Keep your head stationary, so that the reflection of flashlight beam off the foam ball forms the different phases of the Moon. This activity is quite dramatic at showing the phases, but is innacurate in that the 'Moon' is stationary and the 'sun' moves, rather than the Moon rotating and the sun stationary. Grades taught Gr 1 Gr 4 Gr 5
