1. The Moon and all its Shapes Lesson 23

2. The moon is Earth’s satellite. The moon circles the Earth
The moon is Earth’s satellite. The moon circles the Earth. The Earth circles the sun.

3. From Earth, the moon looks like it has two sides
From Earth, the moon looks like it has two sides. Those sides are called the far side and the near side.

4. We always see just one side of the moon, the near side of the moon
We always see just one side of the moon, the near side of the moon. The near side has a lot of dark shadows on it.

5. As the moon circles the Earth we only see one side of the moon, the nearside of the Moon.

6. Here is a video that shows the moon circling the Earth
Here is a video that shows the moon circling the Earth. The Earth spins fast. It takes the Earth 1 day (24 hours) to spin.

7. It takes the moon about one month to circle around the Earth.

8. We can only see the far side of the moon from space
We can only see the far side of the moon from space. We can not see the far side from Earth.

9. If you watch the moon every night for a month it looks like the moon changes shape.

10. But the moon never changes shape. It always stays the same.

11. The sun’s light which is reflecting off the moon like a mirror is what is changing.

12. Here are the phases of the moon.

13. It takes the moon one month to travel around the Earth
It takes the moon one month to travel around the Earth. This is what the moon looks like during one month.

14. Two words that are used to describe the changes in moon is waning and waxing.

15. Waxing is when the moon continues to get bigger.

16. Waning is when the moon continues to grow smaller.

17. Break Time

18. Let’s watch a video about the moon’s phases or shapes.

19. Now let’s take out our science notebook and draw the 8 phases of the moon together.

20. New moon

21. During a new moon we can not see the moon
During a new moon we can not see the moon. The Earth is actually blocking the sunlight.

22. Crescent Waxing
(waxing means getting bigger)

23. Half moon waxing
(waxing means getting bigger)

24. Gibbous Waxing
(waxing means getting bigger)

25. Full Moon

26. Gibbous Waning
(waning means getting smaller)

27. Half moon waning
(waning means getting smaller)

28. Crescent waning
(waning means getting smaller)

29. Then the whole cycle starts again
Then the whole cycle starts again. The moon’s phases are a pattern that keep repeating each month.

30. Break Time

31. Once in awhile the Earth will come between the moon and the sun while the moon is full.
This creates a lunar eclipse.

32. Lunar Eclipse

33. This is what a lunar eclipse would look like.

34. Once in awhile the moon will get between the Earth and the sun.
This creates a solar eclipse.

35. This is what a solar eclipse would look like.

36. In our next lesson we will talk about day and night.

37. Keep observing the world around you!