Phases of the Phases of the MoonMoon

By Cindy HernandezBy Cindy Hernandez

Science LessonScience Lesson

Grade 4Grade 4

Why does the moon Why does the moon keep changing its keep changing its

shape ?shape ? The bright part of the moon is the The bright part of the moon is the

part that the sun is shining on. This part that the sun is shining on. This is like daytime on earth. The dark is like daytime on earth. The dark part is in shadow, like night on part is in shadow, like night on earth. earth.

As the moon moves around in its As the moon moves around in its orbit, the sun shines on different orbit, the sun shines on different parts of the moon. parts of the moon.

FACTSFACTSThe moon orbits the The moon orbits the EarthEarth

It takes the Moon 28 It takes the Moon 28 days to orbit the Earthdays to orbit the Earth

GLOSSARYGLOSSARY OrbitOrbit - - The path of the Moon around The path of the Moon around

the Earththe Earth RotateRotate - - The Earth spins around, The Earth spins around,

like a top, about its axis once each like a top, about its axis once each dayday

WaningWaning - - ShrinkingShrinking WaxingWaxing - - GrowingGrowing GibbousGibbous - - Swollen on one sideSwollen on one side  

DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS New moonNew moon is when the moon and is when the moon and

the sun are on the same side of the sun are on the same side of Earth. The moon is between the sun Earth. The moon is between the sun and the Earth. We see the side which and the Earth. We see the side which is not lit, so the moon is dark.is not lit, so the moon is dark.

Gibbous moonGibbous moon is between a full is between a full moon and a half moon, or between a moon and a half moon, or between a half moon and a full moon. half moon and a full moon.

DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS Quarter moonQuarter moon is when the moon is when the moon

has completed one quarter of an has completed one quarter of an orbit around the Earth from either the orbit around the Earth from either the full or new moon. One quarter of the full or new moon. One quarter of the moon's surface is visible from Earth. moon's surface is visible from Earth. Sometimes called half moon. Sometimes called half moon.

Full moonFull moon is when the Earth is is when the Earth is between the sun and the moon.between the sun and the moon.

MOON PHASESMOON PHASES

REFERENCESREFERENCES

Woodlands’s Junior School – Woodlands’s Junior School – The Phases of the Moon The Phases of the Moon