Moon Stories

1. Moon Stories Writing New Full Moon Folklore

2. Moon Facts • Earth’s natural satellite • Revolves around earth 28 days • Rotates on axis 28 days • Landscaped with marias, highlands and craters • Moon’s core is almost completely cooled • Moon rises in east and sets in west

3. Phases of the Moon • There are eight phases of the moon • New, waxing crescent, 1st quarter(half moon right side, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last quarter(half moon left side), waning crescent, full. • Phases of moon depend on its position in relation to sun and earth • Moon reflects light from sun. The side facing sun is lit up.

4. Phases of the Moon29.5 days to complete

5. Phases of the Moon Video • http://neok12.com/

6. Moon Folklore • Full Moon Names and Their Meanings • Full moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. The following is from the Farmers’ Almanac. • *Full Wolf Moon – January – Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon or the Moon After Yule. • *Full Snow Moon – February – Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east used this name. Some tribes also referred to it as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult. • *Full Worm Moon – March – As temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear signaling the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of the crows tells of the end of winter. The Full Crust Moon, another name from the Indians, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon and was considered the last full moon of winter. • *Full Pink Moon – April – This name came from the herb moss pink or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names were Full Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and among the coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn. • Full Flower Moon – May – In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon or the Milk Moon. • Full Strawberry Moon – June – This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. It was because of the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries is in June.

7. Moon Folklore • Full Buck Moon – July – July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also called the Full Thunder Moon because of the frequent thunderstorms during this time of year. • Full Sturgeon Moon – August – The fishing tribes are given credit for naming this moon since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes, were readily caught during this month. • Full Corn Moon or Full Harvest Moon – September – This name came from the Native Americans because it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested. But the September moon is most often known as the Full Harvest Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this moon. • Full Hunter’s Moon – October – Native Americans named this moon for obvious reasons. The leaves are falling from trees, the deer are fattened and it’s time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead. Because of the threat of winter looming close the Hunter’s Moon is generally accorded with special honor, historically serving as an important feast day in many Native American tribes. • Full Beaver Moon – November – This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name comes from the fact that the beavers are preparing for winter. • The Full Cold Moon or Full Long Nights Moon – December – During this month the winter is at its coldest and the nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon Before Yule. It is also the Long Night Moon because the moon is above the horizon for a long time because it is opposite a low sun.

8. Modern Folklore • Using the examples from the sheet, modernize and personalize your full moons. • Write names and reasons for the names. You can make it personal to your family traditions, local to your community or city, or regional using the climate or weather conditions in your area. • This will become the folklore for your generation to hand down.

9. Student’s WorkWhat To Expect • Most will write about birthdays. Luke’s Birthday Full Moon. • Some will write about traditions, vacations, holidays, school. Disneyland Full Moon, Eat Too Much Full Moon, School’s Back Full Moon • Outside the Box students will write about local weather, traditions or customs. Picnic Days Full Moon, St.Patrick’s Day Full Moon, Kite Flying Full Moon.