Development of a Teaching Material to “Examine the Movement and Shape of the Moon” Using Models of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth

Abstract

In order to understand the phenomenon of the “phases of the moon,” it is necessary to alternate between a terrestrial and a space-based viewpoint. Fostering the development of these abilities among students is not easy. The aim of this paper is to develop a teaching material to examine the movement, phases, and shape of the moon. This material consists of three models of the sun, moon, and Earth. In elementary school, children are supposed to learn about the ‘phases of the moon’ from the terrestrial point of view. Utilizing this material, we can encourage students to think of the phases of the moon more flexibly, from both the Earth and space perspectives. By developing it as a flat teaching material, it became possible for children themselves to create and manipulate the models, fostering their enthusiasm and ability to take alternative perspectives. It is suggested that, by utilizing this teaching material, educators will be better able to support children’s learning about the movement, phases, and shape of the moon.