When we think of the night, the moon is one of the first images that come to mind. The moon has always inspired wonder, and having people walk on its surface was one of the humanities crowning achievements. The crescent moon is an iconic symbol, and the full moon is so clear and brilliant that it has inspired story after story. However, the moon is not static. The moon goes through different phases of how it appears in the sky based on the amount of moon illuminated by the Sun. It takes thirty days for this process to repeat, which has been a consistent time marker for humans throughout history.

The moon's phases are responsible for the tides; many believe it affects our behavior (especially around full moons). Therefore, terminology like waxing and waning will be emphasized, as well as crescent and gibbous. The students won't just see pictures of moon phases in this game; they will also see them in a three-dimensional representation. Impressionistically, this makes the game worthwhile for teaching about the moon's phases. More importantly, the game is fun, and the more it is played, the better the students will see and understand how the moon goes through waxing and waning phases. While this lesson requires more material preparation than many other lessons, it is worth it.

Materials: 

·      A large playing area (preferably a gym or asphalt)

·      Hula Hoops

·      Hula Hoop holders to keep them upright

·      Handmade cutouts that resemble the phases of the moon

o two thin crescents (to make the waxing and waning crescents)

o two thick crescents (should block at least 2/3rds of the hoop to represent the waxing and waning gibbous)

o two cutouts that block half of the hula hoop for the 1^st and 3^rd quarter moons

o   Tape to hold the cutouts on the hula-hoop

·      Scooters (enough for the majority of the class to use all at once)

·      Tennis balls (enough for one per person)

·      Hand scoops (at least one per person)

Minimum Number of Students Needed: This game could be played by only three students but is more fun with an entire class.

Age: Lower elementary