Moon and Tides

Moon and Tides

by Ciara West

How to Identify a phase based on image

​Step 1: What side is white with light?

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​Light on Right? Waxing Moon aka a growing moon

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Light on left? Waning Moon aka a shrinking moon.

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How to Identify a phase based on image

​Step 2: How much white light do you see?​

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​Less than half? A crescent moon

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​Half? A quarter moon

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​More than half? Gibbous

How to Identify a phase based on image

​Step 3: Put it all together!

Multiple Choice

What moon phase is this picture?

• This is the full moon phase.
• This is the waxing gibbous moon phase.
• This is the waning gibbous moon phase.
• This is the first quarter moon phase.

Multiple Choice

What moon phase is this picture?

• This is the waning crescent phase.
• This is the waxing gibbous phase.
• This is the waning gibbous phase.
• This is the new moon phase.

Multiple Choice

What is this moon phase?

• This is the waxing crescent phase.
• This is the full moon phase.
• This is the waxing gibbous phase.
• This is the last quarter moon.

Multiple Choice

What is this moon phase?

• This is the waxing gibbous moon phase.
• This is the last quarter moon phase.
• This is the first quarter moon phase.
• This is the new moon phase.  

Multiple Choice

What moon phase is this picture?

• This is the full moon phase.  
• This is the waxing crescent moon phase.
• This is the waning gibbous moon phase.
• This is the waning crescent moon phase.

Multiple Choice

What moon phase is this picture?

• This is the new moon phase.
• This is the waxing crescent moon phase.
• This is the waxing gibbous moon phase.
• This is the waning crescent moon phase.

Multiple Choice

What moon phase is this image?

• This is the full moon phase.
• This is the last quarter moon phase.
• This is the waxing gibbous moon.
• This is the new moon phase.

Multiple Choice

What phase of the moon is this image?

• This is the last quarter moon phase.
• This is the full moon phase.
• This is the first quarter moon phase.
• This is the waxing gibbous moon phase.

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between a gibbous moon and a crescent moon?

• The gibbous shows more than half of the bright side of the moon.
• The crescent shows more than half of the bright side of the moon.
• The gibbous shows less than half of the bright side of the moon. 

Multiple Choice

As the moon's shape appears to get smaller, we say that the moon is _.

• swelling
• waxing
• waning
• disappearing

Multiple Choice

Phases of the moon in which the moon appears to be getting larger are referred to as _.

• waxing
• waning
• new
• eclipse

How to Identify a phase based on position

​Step 1: Find the new moon which is always between the earth and sun!

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How to Identify a phase based on position

​Step 2: Label the moons using the song going COUNTERCLOCKWISE

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​You go this way

How to Identify a phase based on position

​Step 3: Now your moon's should be labeled!

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New Moon

Wax Cres

1st Qua

Wax Gib

Full Moon

Wan Gib

3rd Qua

Wan Cres

How to Identify a phase based on position

​Step 4: Make sure your moons always follow the sun!

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Multiple Choice

Which lunar phase is visible when the moon is in this position?

• New moon
• Full moon

Multiple Choice

Which moon phase is shown in this diagram?

• new moon
• first quarter
• full moon
• last quarter/3rd quarter

Multiple Choice

What phase is this?

• Waning Gibbous Moon
• Waxing Gibbous Moon
• Waning Crescent Moon
• Waxing Crescent Moon

Multiple Choice

What phase is this?

• First Quarter Moon

• Third Quarter Moon

• Waxing Gibbous Moon

• Waning Gibbous Moon

Multiple Choice

Name the phase of the moon for letter f

• Waning Gibbous
• Waxing Gibbous
• Waning Crescent
• Waxing Crescent

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the moon phase in the diagram?

• New Moon

• Full Moon

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the moon phase in the diagram?

• 1st Quarter Moon

• 3rd Quarter Moon

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the moon phase in the diagram?

• Waxing Crescent Moon

• Waning Crescent Moon

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the moon phase in the diagram?

• New Moon

• Full Moon

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the moon phase in the diagram?

• Waxing Gibbous Moon

• Waning Gibbous Moon

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the moon phase at #2

• Waxing Gibbous

• Waning Gibbous

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the moon phase at #5

• New Moon

• Full Moon

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the moon phase at #1

• New Moon

• Full Moon

Multiple Choice

What is the name of this moon phase?

• Waxing Gibbous

• Waning Gibbous

How to predict the moon phases with time

​Step 1: You need to know there are about 3.5 days between each phase

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​3.5

​3.5

​3.5

​3.5

​3.5

​3.5

​3.5

​3.5

How to predict the moon phases with time

​Step 2: That means if I skip over a phase, 7 days have passed. For example: From new moon to first quarter is 7 days because I skipped waxing crescent

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7 days

7 days

7 days

7 days

How to predict the moon phases with time

​Step 3: If a moon phase is STRAIGHT ACROSS from another, those phases are 14 days apart For example: From new moon to full moon is 14 days because it's straight across

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14 days----------

14 days----------

Multiple Choice

What are most likely the date of the full moons? (Hint 14 days later)

• February 5, March 7, April 5, May 4
• February 15, March 17, April 15, May 14
• February 25, March 27, April 25, May 24
• February 29, March 31, April 29, May 28

Multiple Choice

If we are in a new moon phase right now, what phase can we expect to be in a week from now?

• Waxing Crescent
• 1st Quarter
• Full Moon
• Waning Crescent 

Multiple Choice

How many days does it take to go from New Moon to New Moon?

• 28 days
• 7 days

• 21 days

• 14 days

Multiple Choice

A new moon occurs on Dec 8th, when will the student see a last quarter?

• 5th

• 12th

• 29th

• 26th

Multiple Choice

On January 21st, 2026 a full moon will occur.  What will be the moon phase on February 1, 2026?

• Waning Crescent

• New Moon

• Last Quarter
• Waning Gibbous

Multiple Choice

What moon phase is seen three weeks before a new moon?

• First Quarter
• Full Moon
• Last Quarter
• New Moon

Multiple Choice

Approximately how many days will it take for this moon phase to appear again?

• 3-4 days
• 6-7 days
• 13-14 days
• 27-28 days

Multiple Choice

If there is a full moon on March 2, when would you expect the Third Quarter?

• March 5
• March 9
• March 16
• March 23

Multiple Choice

If today was a full moon, what would be the moon phase in one week?

• New Moon
• First Quarter
• Third Quarter
• Full Moon

Multiple Choice

• July 9

• July 16

• July 23

• July 30

How to know tides

​Spring Tide= Strong= Straight

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​Neap Tide= Weak= 90 Degrees

Multiple Choice

A[n] ___________ tide occurs when the sun, Earth, and the moon are nearly in a line. 

• spring
• high
• low
• neap

Multiple Choice

A[n] ______________ tide occurs when the sun is at right angles to the line between Earth and the moon. 

• high
• neap
• low
• spring

Multiple Choice

A neap tide is a tide with the greatest difference between low and high tides

• true
• false

Multiple Choice

• spring tide
• neap tide

Multiple Choice

• neap tide
• spring tide

Multiple Choice

• neap tide
• spring tide

Multiple Choice

• neap tide
• spring tide

Multiple Choice

• Spring Tide
• Neap Tide

Multiple Choice

• Spring Tide
• Neap Tide

Multiple Choice

Neap tides happen at _________ and _________ phases of the moon.

• first quarter and new moon

• last quarter and full moon

• waxing and waning

• 1st quarter and 3rd quarter

Multiple Choice

During a neap tide, the sun, moon, and earth are at a ___________ angle.

• 360 degree

• 23.5 degree

• 45 degree

• 90 degree

Multiple Choice

What type of tide is evident when the moon is in the full moon phase?

• high tide

• low tide

• spring tide

• neap tide

Multiple Choice

What is a difference between spring and neap tides?

• Spring tides occur when the earth and sun are IN LINE with the new or full moon. 
• Spring tides occur when moon in 3rd or 1st quarter phases
• Spring tides are LOWER than neap tides
• Spring tides occur in Spring and neap tides can occur in any season

​Staar Question Time!

Multiple Choice

A student models moon phases. She holds a foam ball on a stick in front of her body and then stands in front of a light as shown. Student uses herself to represent Earth. She turns her body slowly to represent four different moon phases. Which numbered diagram represents the student modeling a full moon?

• Diagram 1

• Diagram 2

• Diagram 3

• Diagram 4

Multiple Choice

The diagram below shows four consecutive moon phases.

Which of the following diagrams shows the next four moon phases in the correct order?

Multiple Choice

Which phases happen immediately before and after the phase shown

• Full moon and New moon
• Waxing Crescent and Waxing Gibbous
• Waxing Crescent and Full Moon
• Waxing Gibbous and Full Moon

Multiple Choice

If the new moon must always be between the sun and Earth where should a student put the "sun"

• Position 1
• Position 2
• Position 3
• Position 4

Multiple Choice

What are most likely the date of the full moons? (Hint 14 days later)

• February 5, March 7, April 5, May 4
• February 15, March 17, April 15, May 14
• February 25, March 27, April 25, May 24
• February 29, March 31, April 29, May 28

Multiple Choice

 Sarah observes and records these moon phases. 
Which phase will she observe on Night 15? 

• A
• B
• C
• D

Multiple Choice

What phase of the moon will you see in this situation? 

• A
• B
• C
• D

Multiple Choice

Which positions of the Moon will produce the highest tides on Earth? 

• A and B 
• A and C 
• B and C 
• B and D 

Multiple Choice

A student uses paper and fasteners to create a model of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon. The Sun and Earth are attached to the paper background, while the Moon is free to revolve around the Earth.

Which diagram shows the objects arranged so that a New Moon would be visible from Earth?

Multiple Choice

Different relative positions of the Sun, the Moon and Earth have different effects on Earth's oceans.

Which model shows the position of the Sun, the Moon and Earth that have the greatest effect on ocean tides?

Multiple Choice

• Waning Crescent

• Waxing Crescent

• Waning Gibbous

• Waxing Gibbous

Multiple Choice

What moon phase is shown and what special tide will occur?

• New moon; neap tide

• New moon; spring tide

• Full moon; neap tide

• Full moon; spring tide