Causes of Lower Secondary School Students’ Struggling with “The Waxing and Waning of the Moon”, and Considering Ways of Teaching It: Promoting Students’ Comprehension

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the knowledge and skills necessary for lower secondary school students to study “the waxing and waning of the moon” by clarifying the causes of their struggling while studying this topic.

We found that the following information need to be fully emphasized:

1) Comprehension of the moon’s period of revolution and the moon’s rotating direction.

2) Estimation of the time of the observation based on the position of the sun.

3) Rotation of the horizon from the observer’s perspective along with the rotation of the Earth.

Acquiring this knowledge and these skills will promote the students’ comprehension of the waxing and waning of the moon.