Patterns of Change in the Moon Activities for 4th Grade Science

The Kesler Science 5E Lesson is an engaging space science unit for 4th grade, focused on collecting and analyzing data to identify sequences and predict patterns of change in the Moon’s appearance from Earth. It features editable presentations, worksheets, choice projects, and assessments designed for differentiated, student-led learning with minimal prep. Aligned with the 2021 TEKS 4.9B standard, the lesson explores how the Moon’s appearance changes over time and how to predict its phases.

Following the 5E Model, the lesson begins with engagement activities, including vocabulary in English and Spanish and discussion prompts. Exploration features a differentiated, student-led station lab with activities like experiments, reading passages, online research, videos, card sorts, writing tasks, and drawing exercises. Explanation resources include editable PowerPoints and interactive notebooks in both English and Spanish. Elaboration offers student-choice projects focused on the lunar cycle, while Evaluation provides assessments updated for STAAR 2.0 with modified versions available. This flexible resource is ideal for both in-class and virtual learning environments.

Engage your 4th-grade class with this student-led station lab aligned with the 2021 TEKS 4.9B standard. Designed for in-person or virtual learning, this Earth science lesson helps students explore the changing appearance of the Moon from Earth and practice identifying and predicting lunar phases based on recurring patterns.

The lab features nine interactive stations that allow students to guide their own learning while teachers facilitate. Each station includes all necessary signage, resources, and task cards for independent or small-group work, with minimal additional materials needed for hands-on activities.

Students encounter new concepts through activities like exploring lunar phases, watching videos, reading passages (available in English and Spanish), and conducting research using images, graphs, and facts. They then demonstrate their understanding by organizing information, creating illustrations, writing responses, and completing assessments. A bonus challenge station offers extension activities, including crosswords, games, and mini projects.

This flexible, low-prep resource promotes critical thinking, active learning, and engagement in both classroom and virtual settings.

This Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS Earth and Space standard 4.9B, offering 4th-grade students the opportunity to choose a project that matches their preferred output style. The project page presents six student-led options and a “design your own” project, accompanied by an editable rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment. This resource is also part of the Patterns of Change in the Moon Complete Lesson for TEKS 4.9B.

These flexible, multimodal projects allow students to creatively demonstrate their understanding. Two versions of the project page support differentiation, with modified options for students needing extra support and more challenging tasks for advanced learners. Teachers can adjust the rubric to meet specific grading needs.

The resource includes nine project options, a “design your own” feature, a teacher directions page with support suggestions, and editable rubric pages that assess vocabulary, concepts, presentation, clarity, and accuracy. Projects can be completed using standard classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, with many options also available for digital completion.