Week 6: Earth, Sun, & Moon

1.  What did you do in lab today? 

The first thing that we did in lab today was get to know the class a little bit more, talk about how individual relationships with science, and draw what a scientist looked like to us. We then talked about the phases of the moon, the seasons on earth, and lunar eclipses. We got to work on answering the questions to see what our prior understandings were, and then we got together as a table groups to work out the questions with physical models. After this, the class went into discussion about our findings, learned information about the relationships between the sun, moon, and earth, while also learning some science history about these concepts (which was really cool). 

2. What was the big question? 

I think that the big question of lab this week was what our prior understandings of why we have seasons and the different phases of the moon. We spent a lot of time working with these ideas so that we could all check our understandings.  

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion? 

In Thursday's discussion we learned about the science between the phases of the moon and the seasons. We talked about how the phases of the moon are based off of how the sun is hitting each side of the moon, and that is how we see it here on earth, and went into depth about how and why shadows change during the day. One major thing that I learned on Thursday, which I think I must have "known" but not fully understood, was that the earth is titled that affects the seasons based on what areas of the earth are getting more direct sunlight. 

4. Chapter 5: 

• What did you learn? 

From this chapter, I got a much better understanding of why and how the moon phases and the seasons happen. I think I always thought I had complete understandings of these concepts, but after reading this chapter/lab/lecture I have come to the understanding that I just expected this information as "this is just what happens in space". This chapter helped me to understand fully that the moon has phases due to how much of the moon's face that is facing earth is hit by the sun during its orbit around the earth. I also learned more in-depth about how seasons are due to the tilt of earth and which parts are getting the most direct sunlight at different times. 

• What was most helpful? 

I think that one of the most helpful things for me from this chapter was the imbedded video that explained the phases of the moon based on the NASA diagram. 

• What do you need more information on? 

One thing that I may need more information on is the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. I don't think I remember ever learning about these and my understandings of what exactly they are and why they are so important to the seasons is a little bit fuzzy. 

5. What questions, comments, and/or concerns do you have? 

One question that I had prior to reading this that was answered was if all parts of the earth saw the same phase of the moon at the same time. After reading I got the answer yes, but like why?? That doesn't quite make sense to me.