Comm & Tech Assignment #4

Title of Activity: Phases of the Moon
Reference section:
John, H. & Waterchief, L. (2008) Wonderville- Phases of the Moon. Retrieved September 20, 2008 from http://www.wonderville.ca/v1/activities/phases/phases.html

Grade 6
Subject: Science

Description of Activity:
Students will go to the website to help them understand the 8 phases of the moon. There is an activity in which students are asked to move the mouse to manipulate the moon to the right position for a given phase. The students are required to visualize the sun rays from the angle of the earth. They get instant feedback to their work.

General Learning Outcome: Observe, describe and interpret the movement of objects in the sky; and identify pattern and order in these movements.
Specific Learner Outcome: Recognize that the moon’s phases are regular and predictable and describe the cycle of its phases.

ICT Outcomes:
C1 2.1 -access and retrieve appropriate information from the Internet by using a specific search path or from given uniform resource locations (URLs)
C.6 - Students will use technology to investigate and/or solve problems.
C.7 - Students will use electronic research techniques to construct personal knowledge and meaning.

Rationale for computer integration:
By experimenting with the activity, students have their knowledge reinforced through a visual, hands-on approach. This is especially useful to the students who are visual, kinaesthetic learners. The students get instant feedback as they manipulate the earth and moon into position with the sun, creating the 8 different phases of the moon. This technological activity supports the teaching in the classroom, as the individual students can go through this lesson at their own pace.