Exploring Moon Phases
5th Grade•40 minutes
Learning Objective
I can identify and describe the different phases of the moon.
Key Concepts
During the New Moon phase, the Moon appears dark because the side facing Earth is not lit by the sun.
The Full Moon is the only phase where the Moon is visible for the entire night, rising around sunset.
The Moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day, as it orbits Earth and goes through its phases.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 8 practice questions to reinforce learning.
View questions preview
1. Why is the New Moon difficult to see from Earth?
2. How much later does the Moon rise each day, on average?
3. Describe the position of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during the Full Moon phase.
...and 5 more questions
Educational Video
Moon Phases Explained (Animations and Timelapse)
timeanddate