The phases of the Moon are caused by the motion of the Moon around the Earth relative to the Sun. As the Moon moves around the Earth, parts of it are illuminated and others are in shadows. The Moon takes 28 days to make a full orbit of the Earth, and during this time, the Moon looks different from Earth depending on its position. In this activity, students will create a model to explain each of the phases of the Moon using a grid storyboard.
Note: The moon appears different in the sky depending on the hemisphere. The example storyboard shows both Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but the activity template and instructions only call for one hemisphere.
As an alternate layout, students may want to use the timeline layout to show the sequence of moon phases. After completing this activity, there is a great opportunity for students to evaluate their models. Lead students through pointing out the strengths and limitations of the models by giving them an opportunity to make suggestions for improvements.
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Student Instructions
Create a grid that explains the different phases of the Moon by relating the position of the Moon to the Earth and Sun.
Bring learning outside by having students track the Moon’s appearance over several nights. First-hand observation helps deepen understanding and excitement about lunar phases.
Set up easy-to-use journals with date, time, weather, and drawing spaces so students can quickly record their nightly Moon observations.
Remind students to observe with adult supervision and never look directly at the Sun. Suggest observation times just after sunset for safety and ease.
Ask students to draw the Moon’s shape and write observations about its size, brightness, and position. Label each phase if known.
Hold a class discussion to share journals and compare how the Moon changed each night. Connect observations back to the Moon phases chart for real-world application.
The phases of the Moon are the different shapes the Moon appears to have from Earth, caused by its orbit around our planet and the changing angles of sunlight. As the Moon moves, we see more or less of its sunlit side, resulting in phases like new moon, crescent, quarter, gibbous, and full moon.
Use a grid storyboard or timeline layout where students model each phase by showing the position of the Moon relative to the Earth and Sun, and then illustrate how the Moon looks from Earth. This hands-on approach helps students visualize and understand each phase.
The best way is to have students create a model—such as drawing or using objects—to show the Moon’s position in relation to the Earth and Sun for each phase. Pairing this with diagrams of the Moon’s appearance from Earth cements understanding.
The Moon takes about 28 days to complete a full cycle of phases, from new moon back to new moon, as it orbits the Earth.
The Moon appears differently in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres because observers are viewing it from opposite sides of the Earth. This changes the orientation and waxing/waning direction of the phases seen in the sky.