Students will encounter a puzzling lunar phase prediction scenario, generate focused investigable questions about predicting the Moon’s appearance on a future date, and develop a clear research question with a hypothesis and rationale to guide their week-long investigation.

Students will design a systematic investigation plan to predict the Moon’s phase on a specific future date by aligning their research question with an appropriate methodology, identifying variables and data sources, and creating a detailed, peer-reviewed data collection protocol before gathering evidence.

Students will systematically gather and document high-quality lunar phase data using observation, physical models, and digital planetarium tools, ensuring their records are organized, complete, and aligned to their investigation plan before moving to analysis.

Students will transform their lunar observation data into meaningful evidence by creating visualizations, identifying patterns and anomalies in the Moon’s phase cycle, and interpreting whether their findings support their original prediction question and hypothesis.

Students will finalize evidence-based conclusions about their Moon phase prediction investigations, explicitly acknowledge limitations, generate new investigable questions, and present their full investigation—from question to model-based explanation—to an authentic audience during a culminating showcase.