Name: Directions: Color the moon phase and label it. Then cut out the circles to make a moon spinner!

Name: Directions: Color the moon phase and label it. Then cut out the circles to make a moon spinner!

Moon Phases

Choose from these pictures to fill in the gaps! Choose from these pictures to fill in the gaps!

Identifying the Phases of the Moon II Waxing Crescent when we can see only a sliver of the moon's disk (right-hand side). Full Moon when the moon's disk is light because the Earth is between the sun and the moon Waxing Gibbous when we can see roughly three-quarterright side of the moon is lit). First Quarter can see one-half of the of the moon's disk (the moon's disk (at First Quarter, you see the right half of the moon lit [this one-quarter of the entire moon's surface]). New Moon when the moon's disk is dark (and invisible to us) because the moon is between the sun and the Earth Last/3 rd Quarter can see one-half of the moon's disk (at Last/3 rd Quarter, you see the left half of the moon lit [this one-quarter of the entire moon's surface]). Waning Gibbous when we can see roughly three- quarters of the moon's disk (the left side of the moon is lit) ). Waning Crescent when we can see only a sliver of the moon's disk (left-hand side). Using the table above, write the phase of the moon shown in the picture.

Identifying Phases of the Moon IV For each of the diagrams below, identify the exact phase of each and then order the phases (1 thru 8) in sequence beginning with the New Moon as #1. A B C D Phase: Phase: Phase: Phase: Order: Order: Order: Order: E F G H Phase: Phase: Phase: Phase: Order: Order: Order: Order: Phases: 1. New Moon 2. Waxing Crescent 3. 1 st Quarter 4. Waxing Gibbous 5. Full Moon 6. Waning Gibbous 7. Last Quarter 8. Waning Crescent

Drawing Moon Phases Using the description and matching words, complete worksheet by adding the drawing of that phase of the moon. 1. New Moon Moon is almost directly between the sun and Earth (start of cycle). 2. Waxing Crescent Moon A bit of the sunlit side of the moon shows on the right side. 3. First Quarter Moon The moon is a quarter of its way around Earth. It is in its first quarter phase. 4. Waxing Gibbous Moon The moon is increasing in light between a first quarter moon and a full moon. 5. Full Moon Two weeks have passed since the new moon. We see the entire face of the moon shining. 6. Waning Gibbous Moon The moon is decreasing in light between a full moon and a last quarter moon. 7. Last Quarter Moon The moon is three-quarters of its way around Earth. It is in its last quarter phase. 8. Waning Crescent Moon A bit of the waning sunlit side of the moon shows on the left side.

Identifying the Phases of the Moon II - Key Using the table above, write the phase of the moon shown in the picture. Waning Gibbous Waning Crescent New Moon First Quarter Last/ /3 rd Quarter Full Moon Waxing Crescent Waxing Gibbous Identifyin ng Phases of the Moon III - Key Which image shows First Quarter? 4 Full? 7 Third Quarter? 1 10 Which images are crescents? 1,2, 3, 11,12 Which images are waxing? 1 through 6 Which images are waning? 8 through 12 2 gibbous?? 5,6,8,9

Identifying Phases of the Moon IV - Key Phase: Full Moon Order: 5 Phase: Last/3rd Quarter Order: 7 Phase: Waning Gibbous Order: 6 Phase: Waxing Gibbous Order: 4 Phase: Waxing Crescent Order: 2 Phases: Phase: Waning Crescent Order: 8 Phase: New Moon Order: 1 Phase: First Quarter Order: 3

Matching Moon Phases - Key C or J 1. The Moon is almost directly between the Sun and Earth (start of cycle). C or J 2. The Moon is almost directly between the Sun and Earth (cycles starts again. D 3. A bit of the Sunlit side of the Moon shows, with the Sunlit side being on the right. B 4. Two weeks have passed since the new Moon. We see the entire face of the Moon shining. G 5. The Moon is three-quarters of its way around Earth. E 6. The Moon is a quarter of its way around Earth. F 7. A bit of the Sunlit side of the Moon shows with the light side being on the left. A or I 8. The Moon is between full Moon and last quarter H 9. The Moon is increasing in light between a first quarter Moon and a full Moon. A or I 10. The Moon is decreasing in light between a full Moon and a last quarter Moon.

Ages: K-6 th grade Duration: 25 minutes Materials for each student: 6 Oreo cookies Paper towels A plastic spoon and/or a plastic knife for each student or group of students Student Handout Oreo Cookie Moon Phases OVERVIEW Students will recreate the lunar phases using the frosting from Oreo cookies. Round cream cheese crackers can also be used if cookies are not an option. OBJECTIVE The students will: Accurately model the shape of the Moon s phases using Oreo cookies. Place the phases in order. BEFORE YOU START: This activity is not meant to model why the Moon has phases, only to assist in connecting the names and shapes, and to help the students remember the order. Attempts to model the three-dimensional nature of Moon phases with these two dimensions may lead to confusion. ACTIVITY 1. Invite the students to describe what the Moon looks like, and how it changes shapes. 2. Explain to the students that they will be using Oreo cookies to draw the phases and to put them into order. Demonstrate how to twist and open a cookie so that the frosting is all on one side. Which side looks like the Full Moon? Which side looks like the New Moon? 3. Pass out 6 cookies, a paper towel, a plastic spoon or knife, and a copy of the student handout to each student.. Each cookie should be able to make two Moon phases, but some will break, and some of the frosting will go missing. 4. Invite the students to twist their cookies open and scrape the Oreo cookies to illustrate Moon phases, and ask them to arrange cookies on the poster in order. 5. Check on the students progress and invite them to clean up by eating their work! EXTENSIONS 1. Classrooms that enjoy singing might want to try Phrases for Phases or When the light is on the right (sung to the tune of If you re happy and you know it ): When the light is on the right it s getting bright (snap, snap) When the light is on the right it s getting bright (snap, snap) When the light is on the right, Then the Moon is getting bright When the light is on the right it s getting bright (snap, snap) 2. Conduct a Moon phases observing activity, in which the students record their Moon observations.

Oreo Phases Student Handout 1 2 3 New Moon Completely (or almost completely) dark. Waxing Crescent A sliver of light on the right. First Quarter (or Half) Moon The right half of the Moon is light. 4 5 6 Waxing Gibbous Over half of the right side of the Moon is light. Full Moon The entire Moon is bright. Waning Gibbous Over half of the left side of the Moon is light. 7 8 Third Quarter (also Half) Moon The left half of the Moon is now light. Waning Crescent A sliver of light now appears on the left side.