Curated OER
Lunar Lollipops
Students work with a partner, Styrofoam ball and light source to simulate the positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun at various stages during the phases of the Moon. They describe why the Moon is visible from Earth and complete a worksheet.
Curated OER
Eight Lunar Phases, Lunar Rotation and Revolutionary Periods
Eighth graders create a slide show to show their knowledge of the eight lunar phases and lunar rotation and revolutionary periods.
Curated OER
Birthday Moons
Young scholars examine the lunar phases by locating and graphing the Moon phase of their own birthdays. They listen to and discuss lunar myths and create their own Birthday Moon Stories.
Curated OER
Phases of the Moon
Students read "The Moon Seems to Change" and conduct an experiment with oranges to demonstrate the phases of the moon. They write about the experiment and describe each phase of the moon.
Curated OER
It's Just a Phase
Sixth graders are introduced to the correct terminology for the phases of the moon and arrange picture cards in the correct order. They use flashlights and Styrofoam balls to illustrate the phases of the moon. They write science journal...
Curated OER
Phases of the Moon
Sixth graders observe the changes in the moon's appearance over a two week period of time from their homes. They record and illustrate their observations and also complete daytime moon viewings as a class.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Measuring the Moon
Sometimes a full moon can be so bright, you can walk around in the dark without a flashlight. How much brighter is a full moon than the other phases of the moon? How is the brightness of the moon measured?
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Solar and Lunar Eclipse Model
Experience the simulation of both solar and lunar eclipses to understand why these eclipses do not occur monthly.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Phases of the Moon
An interactive activity where students observe the different phases of the moon. Activity is part of a instructional activity that includes background information, instructions, and quiz.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Astronomy
Eight hands-on lessons module in which students explore the characteristics of planet Earth, its moons, the sun, the solar system, planets, and the difference between science fact and science fiction.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Lunar Learning
Why does the Moon not always look the same to us? Sometimes it is a big, bright, circle, but, other times, it is only a tiny sliver, if we can see it at all. The different shapes and sizes of the slivers of the Moon are referred to as...
Cornell University
Cornell University: Astronomy: The Phases of the Moon
This site from Cornell University provides great information on the different phases of the moon. As the Moon moves in its orbit around the Sun, our view of the side illuminated by the Sun changes. Furthermore, the rising and setting...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Bill Nye: Baseball Moon
Bill Nye explains the phases of the moon with an experiment using a baseball, a lamp on a table, a dark room, and a stool or chair that swivels. As the person moves around, the changes in reflected light show the phases of the moon. The...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Moon Observations
Create a model of the moon to illustrate the various phases of the moon.
University of Utah
University of Utah: Aspire: Lunar Phases
Two-part activity teaches about the phases of the moon.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Lunar Phases
In this astronomy classroom activity, learners will investigate how shadows create the phases of the moon. Students will record the phases of the moon.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Using Oreo Cookies to Discover the Moon Phases
Students will understand the phases of the moon by scraping away the frosting from the inside of Oreo cookies, and placing them in moon phase order.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Moon Phases: Making a Lunar Flipbook
After investigating the lunar phases as part of the Foss Kit on the Sun and the Moon, an additional activity would be to make a moon flip book to illustrate the different phases. Students will cut out pre-printed pictures of the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Moon in Motion: Monitoring the Moon's Phases
Using a moon calendar data-gathering tool, students discover the patterns of the lunar phases through observations and other exploration activities.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Going Through a Phase: The Changing Patterns of Our Moons Appearance
Students learn about lunar phases by investigating and observing the changing shapes of the moon as sunlight is reflected away from the moon.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Moon Phases Box
This activity is designed to allow students to observe and recognize the phases of the moon. They will develop a better understanding of the relationship between the position of the earth, moon and sun and how that affects the area of...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Cycles of the Sun and Moon
Students download sunrise and sunset data along with moon phase data, and graph these data sets together in a spreadsheet in order to visualize the cycles of the seasons and the moon.