About the Moon 1

Have you ever looked up at the sky and noticed how the Moon changes shape each night? Well, it doesn’t ‘change shape’ at all! The Moon doesn’t emit light itself, the ‘moonlight’ we see is actually the Sun’s light reflected off the lunar surface.

• Moon Phases [1]: The Moon orbits the Earth, the Sun lights up different parts of its surface. It’s just our view of the Moon that’s changing, not the Moon itself.
• Tides [2]: Tides are caused by the Moon's gravity pulling the ocean and the Earth towards it.
• Solar eclipse [3]: A solar eclipse occurs when a portion of the Earth is engulfed in a shadow cast by the Moon which fully or partially blocks sunlight.
• Lunar eclipse [4]: A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind Earth and into its shadow.

Instructions

This activity requires the students to complete the following activities:

• Put the moon phases to the right places
• Move the words to the right moon phases.
• How will the high tide act?
• Move the moon to the right place to make a solar eclipse occur.
• Move the moon to the right place to make a lunar eclipse occur.

Guide questions for teachers:

• Identify the cyclic phases of the Moon.
• Explain the positioning of the Earth, Moon and Sun at each phase.
• How the Moon affects Ocean Tides?
• Why are there high tides during a Full Moon?
• How does a solar eclipse occur?
• How does a lunar eclipse occur?