Free Lunar Phases
Interactive Organizer
Created by Gay Miller
© Gay Miller Page 1
Lunar Phases
MS-ESS1-1. Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe
the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and
seasons.
This is a sample from
Earth’s Place in the Universe
Interactive Organizers
The pattern and directions
for creating the Lunar
Phases organizer may be
found on page 4 with the
answer key on page 5.
Notice that each flap lifts
up so students can
visualize how the moon
would look from the angle
of Earth.
© Gay Miller Page 2
Lunar Phases
Full Moon
Day 15
Waning Gibbous
Days 16-21 Waxing Gibbous
Days 9-14
1st Quarter
rd
3 Quarter Days 7-8
Day 22
Waning Crescent Waxing Crescent
Days 23-28 Days 2-6
New Moon
Days 1 & 29
s u n l i g h t
Lunar Phases
© Gay Miller Page 3 MS-ESS1-1
Instructions:
1) On each of the eight tabs, write the moon phase above the circle shape and the days this phase
takes place in the lunar cycle under the circle shape. Using a black crayon, shade each circle so that it
accurately shows the amount of the moon visible from Earth during its phase.
2) Cut out the organizer and glue the middle portion only onto your organizer notebook so that the tabs
may be lifted up to view the moon. On your organizer notebook page, draw the sun and write a title for
your page.
© Gay Miller Page 4
Full Moon
Day 15
Waning Gibbous Waxing Gibbous
Days 16-21 Days 9-14
3rd Quarter
1st Quarter
Days 7-8
Day 22
Waning Crescent Waxing Crescent
Days 23-28 Days 2-6
New Moon
Days 1 & 29
On this answer key words could not be typed onto the tabs without losing clarity. Encourage
students to write answers on the tabs as in the photo example, as it will encourage them to view
the moon phases at the correct angle.
© Gay Miller Page 5
Lunar Phases Check for Understanding
1. How long does it take for the moon to make one complete orbit around the Earth?
______________________________________________________________________
2. What is a lunar month?
______________________________________________________________________
3. How long is a lunar month? ________________________________________________
4. Explain why there is a difference between the time it takes for the moon to orbit Earth and
the length of the lunar month.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. How many phases does the moon have? _____________________________________
6. Draw a series of three pictures illustrating a waning moon.
7. Draw a series of three pictures illustrating a waxing moon.
8. Draw a picture of a crescent moon, and 9. Draw a picture of gibbous moon, and then
then write a sentence explaining what a write a sentence explaining what a
crescent moon is. gibbous moon is.
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
10. Draw a picture of the Earth, moon, and sun illustrating the new moon phase.
11. Explain why there is not a solar eclipse each month when the moon passes between the
Earth and sun.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
12. Explain why people on Earth always see the same side of the moon.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
© Gay Miller Page 6
Lunar Phases Check for Understanding
1. How long does it take for the moon to make one complete orbit around the Earth?
The moon takes approximately 27.3 days to orbit around the Earth.
2. What is a lunar month?
A lunar month is the time from one new moon to the next new moon.
3. How long is a lunar month? A lunar month is about 29.5 days.
4. Explain why there is a difference between the time it takes for the moon to orbit Earth
and the length of the lunar month.
Because the Earth moves while the moon orbits, it takes the moon about 2 extra days to
get into new moon position. On Earth we see a crescent moon during this time.
5. How many phases does the moon have? The moon goes through eight phases.
6. Draw a series of three pictures illustrating a waning moon.
7. Draw a series of three pictures illustrating a waxing moon.
8. Draw a picture of a crescent moon, and 9. Draw a picture of gibbous moon, and
then write a sentence explaining what a then write a sentence explaining what a
crescent moon is. gibbous moon is.
Phases where you can see Phases where you can see
less than half of the bright more than half of the bright
side of the moon are called side of the moon are called
crescent moons. gibbous moons.
10. Draw a picture of the Earth, moon, and sun illustrating the new moon phase.
During the new moon phase the moon
is between the Earth and sun.
11. Explain why there is not a solar eclipse each month when the moon passes between the
Earth and sun.
The moon’s orbit around the Earth is tilted about five degrees from the Earth’s orbit
around the sun making most shadows cast by the Earth and moon miss each other.
12. Explain why people on Earth always see the same side of the moon.
The moon’s rotation takes the same amount of time as its revolution around the Earth.
Because of this people on Earth always see the same side of the moon.
© Gay Miller Page 7
Edible Lunar Phases Made with Moon Pies
s
This moon phase model was created using a combination of vanilla
and chocolate Moon Pies.
© Gay Miller Page 8
Mnemonic Device
First
Quarter
Last
Quarter
© Gay Miller Page 9
Visit my website for more teaching ideas:
http://bookunitsteacher.com/
Cover Clipart Credits
Winchester Lambourne The 3am Teacher
This is a sample from
Earth’s Place in the Universe
Interactive Organizers
© Gay Miller Page 10
