Polly

SLM 521

Dropin #5 – June 20,2009

Comparing the Moon to Earth

NASA spacecraft is headed back to the moon! This week, for the first time in over a decade, two unmanned space missions were launched for the moon. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), will help determine where astronauts could land in the future. NASA’s goal is to build a lunar outpost or a place where astronauts could live and study on the moon.

The thought of people actually living on the moon is an exciting one.

Would you be willing to go?

It certainly would be a thrilling ride, but what are the conditions on the moon really like? How much do you know about the moon? We all enjoy admiring it in the sky, but how well do you know our neighbor, the moon?

For this assignment, you will be gathering information about the moon and the Earth. I have provided websites for you to explore below. You do not have to visit all the sites or read all of the information.

Some of the information is very scientific and a little hard to understand. The idea is for you to learn enough characteristics of the moon and Earth, so that you can make a good comparison. Pay attention to characteristics that you could compare like size, gravity, atmosphere, temperature, water, rotation, revolution (orbiting), physical geography, life presence, etc.! As you visit the websites, take notes of characteristics in three columns –

1) characteristics that are only true for the moon,

2) characteristics that are only true for Earth, and

3) characteristics that they both have in common.

Here are some great websites:

Kids.NinePlanets.org – read along and click on highlighted words to learn about Earth and the moon

Enchanted Learning - moon facts – great moon facts

Enchanted Learning - Earth facts – great Earth facts

Star Child - Choose Level 1 or Level 2 and the topic (moon or Planets/Earth)

Kids' Astronomy – To visit Earth just click on the planet image and then learn about the moon too

Fun Gravity information - enter your weight and scroll down to see your weight on the moon

Spacetech's Orrery – scientific vital stats

Compaison Chart stroll down to see comparison chart of the moon and Earth

NASA's Comparison Chart – very scientific Moon vs. Earth comparison

Now you are ready to enter your information in a Venn diagram.

Use a print out of the Venn diagram below.

List at least 3 things in the middle that are the same for the Earth and the moon.

List at least 5 characteristics that are different for each.

When everyone has finished, we will discuss and compile a Venn diagram of our class findings.

Venn diagram

Comparison of the Moon to Earth

MOON EARTH

If you finish filling out your Venn diagram – check out these cool websites!

Watch the NASA video of liftoff! – LRO, LCROSS head for moon!

Earth and moon viewer - cool satellite pics