|
|
Astronomy - the Moon
When I was young, I had an intense interest in astronomy. I learned about the other planets in our solar system and about the stars and constellations. When I started into photography (see my photo site for articles about this hobby) I took pictures of the moon and of star trails.
I would assume that every child, sooner or later, notices the stars and the moon and asks questions. The moon, in particular, due to its size, must elicit many questions. We adults probably tend to ignore it. But for children, the wonder is just being awakened. For some kids, its a phase. For others, it may be the beginning of a life long love of astronomy. If you know very little about astronomy, the moon is a very easy place to start.
Here are some ideas to help you explore the moon with your children.
First, learn the moon phases. You can buy or download calendars with the moon phases. Your kitchen calendar may already show these. Numerous websites can also give you that information. This will help you know where the moon might be on any given day. It will also help you explain to your child how the moon changes over the course of the month. Your child will probably enjoy comparing their observations to the calendar.
When you begin, try and catch the full, first quarter, and third quarter moons. Encourage your child to start a sketch book. Every clear day, find the moon and start drawing what you see. You can either use a calendar that has the little squares for each day, or use a large piece of paper to make your own. Make sure your son/daughter does most of the construction, as it encourages various skills.
Once they have seen the effect of time on the phases, introduce binoculars, or a small telescope. Anything will work, and sometimes the lower power telescopes or binoculars are easier to use. If you have young children, stick to binoculars. They can use them without your help. At this point, the best views are crescent moons, since the full and gibbous moons are very bright. Add more details to your drawings.
Now that your child realizes there are specific features on the moon's surface, you're ready for a map of the moon. You can find them online, or at the library. When you begin, use the simplest maps you can find. Start learning the major craters, and compare them to your previous drawings. Using binoculars or a small telescope, look for specific features of the moon. Even young children can easily find the larger craters.
For more information and activities, visit the NASA website for kids.
|
|
