© 2018 SAM Labs

Lunar Phases

© 2018 SAM Labs

Label the phases

Can you label the eight phases of the Moon?

Label the phases

What is the relationship between the Earth and Moon?

Mini-lesson

© 2018 SAM Labs

Keywords

Let’s Discuss

1. How is the Moon seen from Earth?

A. When we look up it’s there at night

B. When the Sun reflects off the Moon surface

C. When the Earth rotates the Sun

2. In your workbook or with a partner, record, discuss, or share what will happen when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.

Step 1. Device’ and select from the list.● DC Motor● Button block

Connect the blocks by turning them on, clicking ‘Connect’ and ‘Pair’.

Step 2. From the ‘Button’, ‘Events’ tab, drag on a ‘When Button is Pressed’ block.

Step 3. From the ‘DC Motor’, ‘Actions’ tab, drag on a ‘Set DC Motor motor Speed to’ block. Connect to the ‘When Button is Pressed’ block.● Snap it into place.● Set the speed to 50.

Worked Example

Step 4. From the ‘Button’, ‘Events’ tab, drag on a ‘Wait Until Button is Pressed’ block. Snap it into place underneath the ‘Set DC Motor motor Speed’ block.

Step 5. From the dropdown list on the ‘When Button is Pressed’ block, select ‘released’.

Step 6.● Right Click on the first ‘set DC Motor motor

speed’ block and select ‘Duplicate’● Snap it underneath the ‘When Button is

released’ block.● Set the speed to 0.

Worked Example

Step 7.Attach the wheel to the DC Motor.

Step 8.Test your program.

Worked Example

Challenge 1Look at the pictures and

read the steps that

describe Challenge 1.

What happens first?

Second? Third?

Write the number of the

step to match each

picture. Step 1 has been

completed for you.

Challenge 1

Step 1.

Remove the wheel from the DC Motor and secure a piece of wire to the wheel edge.

Step 2. Decorate the styrofoam ball to look like the Earth.

Step 3.Secure a decorated styrofoam ball to the top of the wheel.

Challenge 1

Step 4.Secure the DC Motor in the Car Controller and use blue tack to secure the Car Controller to the table/surface.

Step 5. Secure the Rollerball to the top of the wire.

Step 6. Test your program.

Checks for Understanding

1. How long does it take for the Moon to orbit the Earth?

A. 29.5 days

B. 29.5 hours

C. 25.9 days

2. What is the input in this program?

A. DC Motor

B. Earth

C. Button

Challenge 1 - Debug it!

Step 1.Adjust the speed to the slowest setting (number) where the DC Motor will continue to work.

Step 2.

Edit the speed of the ‘Set DC Motor motor Speed to’ block to slowest number you found.

Step 3.

Test your program.

Challenge 2

Step 1.

From ‘Devices’, click ‘Add Device’ and select from the list.● RGB Light

Connect the block by turning it on, clicking ‘Connect’ and then ‘Pair’.

Step 2.

● From the ‘General’ tab, drag on a Program Start block. Place next to the system created in Challenge 1.

● From the ‘Loop’ tab, drag on a ‘Repeat Forever’ block. Snap it into the ‘Program Start’ block.

Challenge 2

Step 3.

From the ‘RGB Light’, ‘Actions’ tab, drag on a ‘Set RGB Light LED Color to’ block. Snap it into the ‘Repeat Forever’ block.

● Set color to yellow.

Step 4.

From the ‘General’ tab, drag on a ‘Wait 2 seconds’ block. Snap it into place underneath the ‘Set RGB Light LED Color’ block.

Challenge 2

Step 5.● Right Click on the ‘Set RGB Light Led

color to’ block and select duplicate. Snap under ‘Wait’ block.

● From the ‘Color’ tab, drag on a ‘blend color’ block. Snap on top of the yellow color block.

● Set the top color to Yellow● Set the bottom color to Black

Step 6.Right click and duplicate:● ‘Wait 2 seconds’ block● ‘Set RGB Light LED color to’ block ● ‘Wait 2 seconds’ block

Snap in the same order underneath.● Set ratio to 0.75 in ‘Color blend’ block.

Challenge 2

Step 7.Right click and duplicate:● ‘Set RGB Light LED color to’ block ● ‘Wait 2 seconds’ block

Snap in the same order underneath.● Set ratio to 0.5 in ‘Color blend’ block.

Step 8.Attach the RGB LED block to the side of the yellow Car Chassis and stand it up pointing at the Earth.

Challenge 2

Step 9.Test your system in a dark area.● Press ‘Run’ to start the RGB LED light block● Press the Button block to start the Moon’s orbit of the Earth.

Checks for Understanding

1. What happens when the Moon is in between the

Earth and the Sun?

A. Lunar Eclipse

B. Solar Eclipse

C. Nothing

2. How many phases of the Moon are there?

A. 8

B. 9

C. 10

© 2018 SAM Labs

Exit ticket

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