How we see the Moon from Earth

You can explain how we see the Moon from Earth.

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Year 5

How we see the Moon from Earth

You can explain how we see the Moon from Earth.

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Share activities with pupils

Slide deck

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Lesson details

Key learning points

The Moon is more than 2,000 miles away from the Earth, yet we can see it without binoculars and telescopes
The Moon is a dusty ball of rock, it does not produce its own light
Light is reflected when it hits a surface and bounces off in a different direction
We see the Moon because it reflects light from the Sun

Common misconception

Pupils often think that the Moon produces its own light, or that the Moon only comes out at night

Explore common reflectors of light, to enable pupils to observe how some objects, including the Moon, appear to shine as they reflect light

Keywords

Moon - Our Moon is an object that travels around planet Earth
Sun - The Sun is a star and the centre of our solar system
Light source - Something that is a light source produces its own light
Reflect - To reflect light is when light hits a surface and bounces off in another direction

This lesson links to lesson 12. Dim the lights in the classroom when shining light from a torch onto a ball covered in paper. Pupils will be able to observe the surface of the ball reflecting ight from the torch.

Teacher tip

Equipment

Reflective objects/materials, ball, paper, torch

Content guidance

Equipment requiring safe usage.
Exploration of objects encouraged.

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).