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INSTRUCTOR GUIDE
Patience Presents… Moon Journal!

Suggested age range: K-6 Objectives:

Standards: The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to the phases of the
Moon and to get them outside and observing the world around them.
 K.ESS.2

 1.PS.2 In this activity, students will…

 5.ESS.1
1. Practice being astronomers and observers of the night sky.
 5.ESS.3
2. Learn about the phases of the Moon.

Activity Prep
Materials:
 Moon Phases Calendar Printout
 Pen or Pencil

Set up:
 Have Moon Phases Calendar and writing utensil at
the ready.
 If needed, check out this website to find out when
the Moon will be visible in your area. https://
www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/
 Head outside on a clear day/night and find the Moon!

Alternate set up:

 Have Moon Phases Calendar and writing utensil at the ready.
 Visit https://stellarium-web.org/ to virtually view the Moon and sky.

BACKGROUND

The Moon is Earth’s constant companion and orbits the Earth once every month. It was formed
long ago when the solar system was first starting out. A large object, the size of a small planet,
crashed into the Earth while they were both still molten lava. Material was blasted out into
space and eventually came together to make the Moon.
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INSTRUCTOR GUIDE
Patience Presents… Moon Journal!

Student Instructions
Challenge Questions 1. Have your Moon Phase Chart and writing utensil ready.

2. Find out when and were the Moon is visible. Use https://
 What is the Moon? www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/ if you need
help finding the Moon.
 Do Moon Phases repeat in a
predictable manner?
3. Head outside and observe the Moon!
 Have you ever seen the Moon
during the day?
4.Draw what you see into your chart.

Science Behind the Scenes!

The Moon is visible at different times and places every day. As the Moon orbits the Earth, it’s appearance
and location changes. For example, when the Moon is Full, it is directly behind the Earth in space.
However, from here on Earth, we can see the Full Moon rise in the East as the sun sets in the West.

Similarly, when the Moon is waxing, or growing from night to night, we can see it best in the evening.
When the Moon is waning, or the light is shrinking from night to night, it is easiest to view it in the morning.
Sometimes, these moon phases are visible during the day shortly after sunrise or
just before sunset.
Did you know?
This pattern repeats every month as the Moon continues its journey around the A Solar Eclipse
Earth. Check out the Phases of the Moon handout to see what all of the phases of is when the
the Moon look like. Moon passes
between the
Earth and Sun.

EXTENSIONS

Get even more familiar with Moon phases by making a Moon Phase Flip Book! Check out
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Patience-Presents for more resources.
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