TITLE: Once in a Blue Moon
AUTHOR: Meridene Grant
GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: 1-2, astronomy
OVERVIEW: When a month has two full moons, the second moon
is sometimes referred to as a Blue Moon.
OBJECTIVE: The students will demonstrate an understanding
of moon features by creating an art/writing project about
the moon.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS: white paper (8 1/2" x 11", 2 sheets
per child), circle patterns (about 7" in diameter), white
glue in squeeze bottles, watercolors, brushes, pencils,
scissors, books and pictures about the moon, book - "The
Nightgown of the Sullen Moon"
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
Part 1: Moon Story
Read a picture book about the moon to the class. An
excellent choice for this activity would be the book,
"The Nightgown of the Sullen Moon", in which the moon
is painted in blues, greens, and purples. If this book
is not available, choose another favorite. Explain to
the class that there is a full moon every month. Show
the class a picture of a full moon from the story you
read. Tell the class that occasionally a month will
have two full moons and the second full moon is call a
blue moon. Tell the class that they will be making an
art/writing project about the moon.
Part 2: Watercolor Paintings
To demonstrate the watercoloring of the blue moon, ask
the students to gather around your workspace table.
Place the circle pattern in the center of the white
paper and trace around it with a pencil to make the
outline of the moon. Draw five or seven crater
outlines inside the moon outline. Apply a heavy bead
of white glue on top of the crater outlines. Stop the
demonstration and instruct students to trace their moon
circles and to outline their craters with glue. When
everyone has completed the glue outlining and the glue
is partially set, resume the demonstration.
imit watercolors to shades of green, blue, and purple.
Paint the inside of the craters first with a dark shade
of one of the above colors. Use watered-down solutions
of the other two colors to wash across the face of the
moon so it has a hazy appearance. Let students
complete their paintings in the same manner. When
painting are completely dry, they can be cut out along
the outside line.
Part 3: Writing Moon Facts
Discuss physical features of the moon with the class.
List these ideas on the board as they are presented.
An effective way to do this would be to divide the
class into small groups and assign each group to find
several facts about the moon from resource books. When
all ideas are on the board, direct the students to use
the pattern to trace and cut out another circle of
paper of the same size. Show them how to begin writing
facts about the moon along the edge of the circle,
turning the circle every few words and spiraling toward
the center until they run out of facts or space. Facts
to include:
1. The moon is smaller than the Earth.
2. The moon has no light of its own, but reflects
light from the sun.
3. There is no air or water on the moon.
4. The moon's surface is dusty and brown in color.
5. There are many craters on the moon.
To complete projects, glue written and painted circles back
to back.
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John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org