1 of 6

Phases of the Moon

SLIDESMANIA.COM

2 of 6

Why do we see phases of the moon?

Why do we see phases of the moon?
The sun always lights up half the moon, but some of the part that is lit often faces away from us, and we don’t see that part.
The only time we see the whole lit surface is on the night of the full moon.

Phases of the Moon

SLIDESMANIA.COM

3 of 6

Phases of the Moon

Take the foam ball out of the bag
Hold the ball on the table and press the skewer point into it.

The ball is now the moon

Turn on the lamp and put it in the center of the room.

The bulb is the sun.

Your head is the Earth.

As we go through the phases, REMEMBER the only time we see the moon is when it reflects the sun’s light.

Stand about 10 feet away from

the sun and turn your back to it.

Raise the moon in front of you and

above your head until the moon is

fully lit.

What do you see?

Stay in place and rotate a

quarter turn to the left so

that the sun is on your left.

This would be another week

of the moon moving around

the earth

What do you see?

Stay in place and rotate a

quarter turn to the left to

face the sun. This would be

another week of the moon

moving around the earth.

What does the moon look like now?

Stay in place and rotate a

quarter turn to the left so

that the sun is directly to

your right. This would be

another week of the moon

moving around the earth.

What do you see?

SLIDESMANIA.COM

4 of 6

When is the moon closest to the sun (new, full, first quarter or third quarter)?
When is the moon farthest to the sun (new, full, first quarter or third quarter)?

Phases of the Moon

SLIDESMANIA.COM

5 of 6

Phases of

the Moon

Label the full moon, first quarter, third quarter, and the new moon
Waxing
Waning
Gibbous

SLIDESMANIA.COM

6 of 6

How does the moon get its light?
Why can’t we see the moon when it is new?
Why do we see different parts of the moon during the course of a month?

Phases of The Moon

Assessment

SLIDESMANIA.COM