The Appearance of the Moon 4.E.3B.1 Analyze and interpret data from observations to describe patterns in the (1) location, (2) movement, and (3) appearance of the Moon throughout the year.
Where does the light given off by the moon come from?
Why doesn’t the Moon always look the same? The positions of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are related to each other. Because of this, the Moon appears to change shape. The amount of reflected light from the Moon that is seen from Earth determines its phase.
The entire half/side of the Moon facing Earth is dark New Moon
Crescent Moon Less than a quarter moon A small section of the half/side of the Moon facing Earth is lit. There are TWO crescent moon phases in the cycle. Crescent Moon
Quarter Moon Half of the side of the Moon facing Earth is lit and the other half is dark. The Moon appears as a half circle There are TWO quarter-moon phases in the cycle
Gibbous Moon Almost the entire side of the Moon facing Earth is lit and a small part is dark. The Moon appears as a half circle There are TWO gibbous moon phases in the cycle
The entire half/side of the Moon facing Earth is lit and the Moon appears as a full circle Full Moon
Why do we keep saying the half side of the Moon? Because the Moon is a sphere (a 3D circle) and we can only see half of the sphere from planet Earth! The Moon is like a ball, not like a circle on a paper. Why do we keep saying the half side of the Moon?
The change in the Moon’s phases from new moon to new moon takes about four weeks (29 ½ days).
Let’s Draw the different Phases of the Moon!! Make sure that you FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!!
Illustrating the Moon Phases Write your name on all EIGHT of your circles. Color them to show the different phases of the moon (New Moon, Full Moon, Cresent Moon, Quarter Moon). You will have EIGHT circles to illustrate the phases of the moon- you will not get any extra!! Cut out the circles. Glue the Moon Phases to your giant paper. Label and write a description of each type of moon on the front of the paper. Make sure to include the sun on your portrait too! Illustrating the Moon Phases