The Moon and Its Phases (Part 5)

What You'll Learn

The moon orbits Earth about once every 27 days. We see different moon phases (new, crescent, quarter, gibbous, full) because the sun illuminates different portions as it orbits.

Key Words

revolution
galaxy
star

Materials Needed

dark room
paper plate
markers

Safety First

Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.
Adult supervision recommended.
Do not taste any materials.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read and learn: The moon orbits Earth about once every 27 days. We see different moon phases (new, crescent, quarter, gibbous, full) because the sun illuminates different portions as it orbits.

Step 2 — Do

Conduct the experiment by following the instructions.

Step 3 — Observe

Look for patterns in your observations.

Step 4 — Record

Make a graph or chart showing your results.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What causes moon phases?