Phases of the Moon

New Moon Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

The Moon is dark to We see a small We see half of We see 3/4 of

us because the Moon piece of the Moon. the Moon. the Moon. It
is between the Sun looks bigger.
and the Earth.

Full Moon Waning Gibbous Last Quarter Waning Crescent

We see the whole We see 3/4 of the We see half of We see a small
Moon because the Moon. It looks the Moon. It piece of the
Earth is between the smaller. looks smaller. Moon.
Sun and the Moon.

Key Notes:

• The bright part of the Moon is a reflection of the Sun’s rays.

o Think of the Sun as a light bulb and the Moon as a mirror,
reflecting light from the bulb.

• Only one side of the Moon faces the Earth at all times.

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006

 What do you know about our Moon?

Draw and label the 8 phases of the Moon. Put them in the correct

order starting with the New Moon.

Word Bank

Waxing Gibbous Waning Crescent New Moon

Waxing Crescent Full Moon Last Quarter

First Quarter Waning Gibbous

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006

 Answer Key

Phases of the Moon

New Moon Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

The Moon is dark to us We see a small We see half of We see 3/4 of the
because the Moon is piece of the Moon. the Moon. Moon. It looks
between the Sun and bigger.
the Earth.

Full Moon Waning Gibbous Last Quarter Waning Crescent

We see the whole Moon We see 3/4 of the We see half of We see a small piece
because the Earth is Moon. It looks the Moon. looks of the Moon.
between the Sun and smaller. smaller.
the Moon.

Key Notes:

• The bright part of the Moon is a reflection of the Sun’s rays.

o Think of the Sun as a light bulb and the Moon as a mirror, reflecting
light from the bulb.

• Only one side of the Moon faces the Earth at all times.

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006

 Answer Key
What do you know about our Moon?

Answers may vary.

Draw and label the 8 phases of the Moon. Put them in the correct
order starting with the New Moon.

New Moon Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

Full Moon Waning Gibbous Last Quarter Waning

Crescent

Word Bank

Waxing Gibbous Waning Crescent New Moon

Waxing Crescent Full Moon Last Quarter

First Quarter Waning Gibbous

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006