1. Moon
4th Grade Science

2. The Moon reflects light from the Sun.
Let’s try the “Misunderstood Moonlight” activity.

3. Just like Earth, half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun.

4. Remember… Does the Moon produce its own light?

5. The Moon reflects light from the Sun.
No…the Moon does NOT produce its own light.
The Moon reflects light from the Sun.

6. Because of the position of the Sun, the Moon and Earth, the Moon appears to change shape.

7. The amount of reflected light from the Moon that is seen from Earth determines the phase.

8. The changing shapes of the Moon are called phases.

9. There are 4 main phases: ~New moon ~Quarter moon ~Full moon ~Crescent moon

10. The entire half side of the moon facing Earth is dark.
New Moon
The entire half side of the moon facing Earth is dark.

11. Quarter Moon (Half Moon)
Half of the side of the Moon facing Earth is lighted and the other half is dark
The Moon appears as a half circle.
There are 2 quarter moon phases in the cycle.

12. Full Moon
The entire half of the Moon facing Earth is lighted. The Moon appears as full circle.

13. Crescent Moon
A small section (less than a quarter moon) of the half/side of the Moon facing Earth is lighted.

14. The change in the Moon’s phases from new moon to new moon takes about four weeks, 29 ½ days.

15. Remember… Does the Moon produce its own light?

16. The Moon reflects light from the Sun.
No…the Moon does NOT produce its own light.
The Moon reflects light from the Sun.