International Observe the Moon Night

On Saturday, October 12 the Bellevue Public Library participated in International Observe the Moon Night!  We had been worried at the beginning of the week that there would be rain...but we ended up having beautiful, clear skies!  And the Nebraska football schedule also cooperated...with an early game that day!

We had a wonderful turn out of families and children of all ages!  Here are some photos and information about what we did to learn about and celebrate the Moon!!

Homeschool children were invited to participate in our "Moon Fair"--an science fair opportunity to present information to others about the moon.  Here are the students with their Moon projects!

We had several different hands-on activities for the children to do.  They had a "passport-type" handout with all the activities listed, so they wouldn't miss out on anything!

Making an edible moon.  Here's the simple recipe!

1/2 prepackaged Rice Krispie Treat
1 cinnamon red hot
Mini chocolate chips
Equal parts hot chocolate mix and powdered sugar, mixed together in a bowl (for moon dust).

Place the red hot in the center of the treat and wrap the Rice Krispie around it, forming a ball.  Stick several mini chocolate chips around the moon for craters.  Lastly, roll the moon in the Moon Dust.

Children also made the moon phases using Oreo Cookies!  (Similar source here)

Coloring and Activity Sheets!

Moon Presentation by Bill Moak, from University of Nebraska, Omaha

People gathering for presentation

Mrs. B introducing Mr. Moak

Mr. Moak showing what the moon looks like tonight 

We also had two different trivia games.  This one has a question on the front.  The answer is underneath.

Our other trivia game (that I don't have a picture of) was from the Lunar and Planetary Institute.. Moon MythBusters puzzle--put together a Far-Fetched Farside Moon (with myths) and True Blue Moon (with facts).

Mrs. B made a moon and star flannel story board.  She had poems and rhymes about the moon, space and astronauts to go with the pieces ...such as Hey Diddle Diddle and 5 Little Astronauts.

How much would you weigh on the moon?  Take you weight and multiple it by .16.  That's how much you'd weigh on the moon!

A blurry picture of the first quarter moon that was visible for our moon gazing!

Check out Mrs. B's blog for more photos...especially of the presentation and moon gazing!  My duties kept me in the main part of the library with the activities.

Take some time tonight and enjoy the moon with your child!