1. Cycle: any series of events which repeats itself in the same order over and over again

2. Sequence: the order in which things come or happen

3. Rotation: the motion of turning on an axis

4. Axis: a straight line around which a body spins or rotates

5. Lunar Phases: the different shapes of the moon

6. New moon:  the phase of the moon when none of its sunlit half is visible from Earth

7. Crescent: the phase of the moon when light begins to shine on the moon, creating a small sliver (looks like a banana)

8. Half Moon: the phase of the moon when half of the part that is light is facing Earth

9. Full Moon:  the entire half of the moon facing Earth is lit

10. Tides:  rise and fall of the ocean waters that is caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun

11. High Tides:  when the rise of the water is at its highest

12. Low Tides:  when the fall of the water is at its lowest

What are some common cycles of change we can observe on Earth?

Cycles of day and night, the seasons, and phases of the moon can be observed and described.

 

What causes day and night?

The sequence of day and night is caused by the rotation of the Earth on its axis.  One complete rotation occurs every 24 hours.  The part of the Earth toward the sun has day, while the part not facing the sun has night.

 

Lunar Phases:

· Entire half of the moon facing Earth is dark during the New Moon phase. 

· Half Moon phase, half of the part of the moon facing Earth is lighted

· Full Moon phase, the entire half of the moon facing Earth is lit. 

· No light illuminates the moon and the cycle returns to a New Moon. 

 

What is the moon’s relationship to tides?

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.  This pull causes the water to draw up on the side of the Earth facing the moon and on the opposite side.  The areas between those two points experience low tide.  As the Earth rotates, locations on the Earth experience different tides.

 

How are the cycles of day and night, seasons, and the phases of the moon patterns?

Patterns are things that repeat over time and can be predicted.  Day and night can be predicted due to the fact the Earth is constantly rotating on its axis.  Seasons can be predicted due to the fact the Earth is always going around the sun.  The phases of the moon can be predicted because it is a cycle that repeats.