K12 Reader
Why Does the Moon Orbit Earth?
Have you ever looked up at the moon and wondered why it looks different every night? Learn about the moon's orbit and the lunar cycle with a reading comprehension exercise. Using context clues, kids find the definitions of unfamiliar...
Curated OER
Have you seen the man on the moon?
Students study about the phases of the moon and create a picture of the night sky. They use Super print or Kid Pix to create the picture. Students also decide if the picture they have chosen is good for seeing moon and stars or not.
Curated OER
The Moon's Phases
In this science worksheet, students visit a specified Web site which allows them to discover the phase of the moon on any date in history. Students record the moon phase for the day of their birth, the first moon landing in 1969 and on...
University of Colorado
Phases of Charon
Charon, the largest of Pluto's moons, was discovered in 1978. Lesson is a walk through of how to solve for the phases of Charon. It uses two different points on Pluto and takes into account the tilt of the pole, the rotational axis, and...
Curated OER
Is the Moon out tonight?
Learners talk or read about the way the moon travels across the sky. They then look at the picture of where the moon is and draw where it will be in the picture, later in the evening. Note: The learning exercise is intended for third or...
Journey Through the Universe
Going through a Phase
Ignore the full moon, it's just a phase. Young scholars observe and record the moon during a full cycle before learning to predict future phases. Then the instructor leads a discussion on the other solar system objects that...
Scholastic
Lesson Three: The Earth, Movement in Space
If you feel like you're standing still, you're wrong! The Earth is constantly rotating and orbiting under our feet. Demonstrate the Earth's movement within the solar system with a collaborative activity. With a candle or lamp in the...
Curated OER
A Moon with a View
Third graders explore the rotation of Earth and the moon. For this solar system lesson, 3rd graders participate in an Earth and moon simulation in which part of the class "becomes" the sun, while other children represent the moon by...
Curated OER
Exploring the Moon
First graders complete an experiment illustrating why the moon appears to change over time using a flashlight and ball. Students discuss the shape of the moon and identify it as a sphere. Students write a short informational piece after...
Curated OER
Moon Exploration
Third graders investigate the phases of the moon. Using handheld computers, they describe the four phases of the waxing and waning moon, record their moon observations for a one month time period, create an illustration using Sketchy,...
Curated OER
Moon Phases, Day/Night
Fifth graders observe a demonstration that shows how the alignment of the sun, moon, earth relate to the phases of the moon that occur each month. They describe the moon's phases after experimenting in a small group setting and recording...
Curated OER
The Solar System and Beyond
Survey the solar system by viewing this PowerPoint. Amateur astronomers discover that gravity is responsible for Earth's orbit around the sun and the moon's orbit around Earth. They explore the moon's phases and Earth's seasons. This...
North American Montessori Center
Sun and Moon Autumnal Equinox Activities
Two hands-on activities celebrate the sun and moon autumnal equinox. First, scholars create a cairn using a shoebox, flashlight, and drawing tools to view the sun's progression. Second, learners take to the kitchen to bake mooncakes...
Curated OER
Phases of the Moon
Young scholars use a simple physical model of the Earth, sun, and moon to understand why the moon changes phases from the perspective of Earthly observers. They hold up balls representing the moon in a room with a single light source to...
Curated OER
Moon Phases
Second graders understand that the visibility of the moon changes and that is called the moon phases. In this phases of the moon lesson, 2nd graders form a circle and create the phases. Students name the phase that matches their position...
Curated OER
Moon Phases - Finally Making Sense of Them
Young scholars investigate the different phases of the moon. In this lunar cycle lesson, students create models of the sun, earth and moon and investigate why we observe the moon the way we do. Young scholars observe a...
Curated OER
The Sun and Moon
Students understand basic concepts about Earth, the Sun and the Moon,
such as relative movement and the phases of the moon. Through discussion, looking at pictures, listening to Native American stories, observing, and building models,...
Curated OER
Moon Record
In this science worksheet, learners record what shape the moon is for 15 days. The worksheet also includes a parent letter regarding the assignment.
Curated OER
Birthday Moon
In this science worksheet, students describe and draw what the moon looks like in four phases. Students also research about what the phase of the moon was like on the day and year they were born. Students ask their classmates and...
Space Awareness
Sun, Earth and Moon Model
The moon orbits Earth while the Earth is rotating, and the Earth revolves around the sun. This can be a tricky concept for young astronomers. Implement an activity that helps distinguish between the movements of Earth's systems around...
Curated OER
Moon Phases
Sixth graders investigate the phases of the moon. In this moon phase lesson, 6th graders discover that the moon changes in a cycle as it orbits Earth. Students label pictures of moon phases and keep a moon phase journal. Students...
Curated OER
Moon Phases
Five multiple choice questions are provided in the handout about the phases of the moon. A digaram is included to help astronomy learners answer the questions. The diagram is meant to represent the appearance of the moon from the...
Curated OER
Moon Phases
In this moon phase worksheet, learners are given a "moon pop" and they make a diagram of the moon's phases using the "moon pop" as a guide. They answer questions about the phases of the moon and solar and lunar eclipses.
Curated OER
Astronomy and Me: Moons Over New Haven
Third graders study the features of different moons orbiting the planets. In this astronomy instructional activity, 3rd graders explore the different phases of the moon using an interactive online website. They compare and contrast the...