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Moon Phases Worksheets

18 free PDFsUS Letter PDFsAnswer key includedNo login

The eight phases of the moon in order, why they happen, waxing and waning, a 30-night moon journal, a hands-on cookie model, and simpler pages for 1st grade.

Download the moon phases worksheets

Phases of the moon

A phase chart, why the moon has phases (labeled and blank), and vocabulary.

  • Preview of the printable “Moon phases Chart: the 8 phases of the moon” worksheet: naming the eight phases of the moon in orderView larger

    Moon phases Chart: the 8 phases of the moon

    Naming the eight phases of the moon in order

    1 page51 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Why does the moon have Phases? diagram for kids” worksheet: using a model to explain the phases of the moonView larger

    Why does the moon have Phases? diagram for kids

    Using a model to explain the phases of the moon

    1 page44 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Moon phases diagram to label (Blank, with word Bank)” worksheet: using a model to explain the phases of the moonView all 2 pages

    Moon phases diagram to label (Blank, with word Bank)

    Using a model to explain the phases of the moon

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages57 KB

Order and name the phases

Cut and paste the phases in order or number them, name each phase, sort waxing and waning, and color by phase name.

Observe and model

A 30-night moon journal, a moon phase calendar and a sandwich cookie model.

  • Preview of the printable “Moon Journal: 30 nights of moon observation” worksheet: observing and recording the moon's phases each nightView larger

    Moon Journal: 30 nights of moon observation

    Observing and recording the moon's phases each night

    1 page46 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Moon phase calendar Worksheet: predict the phases” worksheet: using the pattern of moon phases to make predictionsView all 2 pages

    Moon phase calendar Worksheet: predict the phases

    Using the pattern of moon phases to make predictions

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages51 KB

Read and review

A reading passage and a quiz.

  • Preview of the printable “Moon phases reading passage for kids” worksheet: explaining why the moon appears to change shapeView all 2 pages

    Moon phases reading passage for kids

    Explaining why the moon appears to change shape

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages49 KB

1st grade: moon shapes and phases

Simpler pages for younger children: a phase chart, put the phases in order (cut and paste or number) and a moon journal.

Print at 100% (actual size) for the cleanest tracing lines.

About these moon phases worksheets

The moon does not make its own light. The sun always lights half of it, and as the moon travels around Earth about every 29½ days, we see more or less of that lit half. That makes the phases: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter and waning crescent.

These moon phases worksheets include a phase chart, a diagram of the moon's orbit that explains why phases happen (labeled and blank), a cut and paste page with a no-cut twin, a name-the-phase page, a waxing or waning sort, color by phase name, a moon journal, a moon phase calendar, a hands-on sandwich cookie model, vocabulary, a reading passage and a quiz. Simpler 1st grade pages are included too.

Every page is black and white, prints on US Letter or A4, and every page with right answers has an answer key on page 2.

Standards

  • NGSS 1-ESS1-1Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.4Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
  • NGSS 5-ESS1-2Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.

How to use them

  1. Start a moon journal the same week you begin, on any date; the pattern shows within a month.
  2. Use the chart, then the orbit diagram to explain why phases happen.
  3. Make the cookie moon phases as a hands-on model (check for food allergies).
  4. Use the cut and paste page or its no-cut twin to check the order.

Teaching tips

  • Every picture shows the moon as seen from the Northern Hemisphere: a waxing moon is lit on the right, a waning moon on the left.
  • Earth's shadow does not cause the phases; it falls on the moon only during a lunar eclipse.
  • Third quarter is also called last quarter.
  • The moon is often visible in the daytime, especially near the quarter phases.

Questions teachers and parents ask

What are the 8 phases of the moon in order?

New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third (last) quarter and waning crescent, then new moon again.

Why does the moon have phases?

The sun lights half of the moon. As the moon orbits Earth, we see different amounts of that lit half.

How long does a full cycle of moon phases take?

About 29½ days from one new moon to the next.

Which grade are these moon phases worksheets for?

The orbit diagram, calendar and reading suit 4th and 5th grade; the chart, ordering pages and journal also work for 1st to 3rd grade, and there are simpler 1st grade pages too.