Micro Lesson #2 - Assessing Prior Knowledge

I would ask students to work with a partner to draw a certain phase of the moon and explain where the sun, moon, and earth would be positioned to create that phase.  Each partnership could then come up to the board and tape up their drawing.  I could then see if students have experience with this or if it is a new concept.  We could keep the drawings up until the end of the lesson and then fill in any missing phases as a class.

After discovering what prior knowledge students have, I would be able to know how much time to spend on the hands-on practice part of the lesson.  If it is new to them, I would be sure to allow enough time for each student to be able to replicate and document each phase of the moon.