Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 5

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Describe the phases of the Moon.
• Explain how the Earth's tilt causes seasons.
• Identify the four seasons in South Africa.
• Relate Moon phases to what we see from Earth.

Lesson summary

This week, we continue our exploration of Planet Earth and what lies beyond, focusing specifically on the Moon and the seasons. Understanding the Moon and seasons isn't just about learning facts in a classroom; it helps us understand the world around us. Farmers in South Africa rely on understanding seasonal changes to plant and harvest crops. Knowing about moon phases can help predict tides, which affects fishermen and coastal communities. Understanding these concepts allows us to better appreciate our environment and use natural resources sustainably.

Lesson notes

The Moon and its Phases The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It orbits Earth, and as it does so, we see different amounts of its sunlit surface. These different appearances are called the phases of the Moon. The Moon does not produce its own light; it reflects light from the Sun. The phases of the Moon, in order, are: New Moon: The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun. We can't see it because the sunlit side faces away from us. Imagine holding a ball between you and a lamp. The side facing you is dark.

Waxing Crescent: A tiny sliver of the Moon becomes visible. "Waxing" means getting bigger.

First Quarter: We see half of the Moon illuminated. This is sometimes called a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the Moon is lit, but it's not yet full. "Gibbous" means bulging.

Full Moon: The entire side of the Moon facing Earth is lit. This is when the Moon appears brightest.

Waning Gibbous: The lit portion of the Moon starts to decrease. "Waning" means getting smaller.

Third Quarter: (Also sometimes called Last Quarter) Again, half of the Moon is illuminated, but the other half compared to the First Quarter.

Waning Crescent: The sliver of the Moon gets smaller and smaller until it disappears into the New Moon phase again. It takes approximately 29.5 days for the Moon to go through all its phases. This is called a lunar month.

Worked example

If you see a half-moon in the sky, and you know the Moon has been getting brighter each night, which phase is it most likely to be?

Answer: It is likely the First Quarter. Since the moon has been getting brighter (waxing) and we see a half-moon, it must be the First Quarter.

The Seasons

South Africa experiences four seasons: Summer, Autumn (Fall), Winter, and Spring. These seasons are not caused by Earth's distance from the Sun. Instead, they are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis (23.5 degrees).

Imagine the Earth is like a spinning top that is leaning to one side. As the Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the Earth are tilted towards the Sun at different times of the year.

Summer (Approximately December - February in South Africa): The Southern Hemisphere (where South Africa is located) is tilted towards the Sun. We receive more direct sunlight, longer days, and higher temperatures.

Autumn/Fall (Approximately March - May in South Africa): The Southern Hemisphere begins to tilt away from the Sun. The days become shorter, temperatures cool down, and leaves change color (in some parts of South Africa).

Winter (Approximately June - August in South Africa): The Southern Hemisphere is tilted furthest away from the Sun. We receive less direct sunlight, shorter days, and lower temperatures.

Spring (Approximately September - November in South Africa): The Southern Hemisphere begins to tilt back towards the Sun. The days become longer, temperatures rise, and plants start to grow again.