To Educators:

Although everyone is familiar with a few predictable shapes that our moon can take in the sky, there are misconceptions regarding the cause of these phases as well as the names associated with the shapes. For this eBook, fourth grade students will watch a time lapse of the moon phases, then an animation of the moon phases transitioning in order. They will follow up with discussion questions. A homework sheet is attached.

Learning objectives:

• Learn the order of the moon phases from the beginning to the end of the cycle.

• Be able to distinguish moon phases.

• Be able to identify moon phases by their name.

watch this video for a time lapse of moon phases:

Vocabulary for moon phases:

Lunar Phase: one of the cyclically recurring apparent forms of the moon

Gibbous: the figure of the moon that is more than half full, looking swollen on one side
Crescent: the figure of the moon that appears as a curve with pointy ends
Waxing: growing; describes the moon when the illuminated portion is increasing
Waning: shrinking; describes the moon when the illuminated portion is decreasing

Watch this animation of the moon phases:

Discussion Questions:

1. Why are we not always able to see the moon?

2. Why do the moon phases repeat in a cycle?

3. Why does the moon look different on different days?

Homework:

match the moon phase to the moon shape!

(work sheet distributed)