Moon Phases

Multiple Choice

Read the passage and answer the following question(s). The table below shows average daily temperatures in
Austin, Texas.

The average daily temperatures suggest that
Austin experiences —

• a warm winter and a hot spring.

• a moderate (medium) winter and a warm spring.

• a hot winter and a cold spring.

• a cold winter and a hot spring.

Multiple Choice

Read the passage and answer the following question(s). The table below shows average daily temperatures in
Austin, Texas.

The average daily temperatures suggest that
Austin experiences —

• cold summers

• freezing summers.

• hot summers

• cool summers

13

Earth and Space

LO: SWBAT identify and predict patterns of change in
Moon phases.

DOL: Given scenarios, SW correctly identify and predict
patterns of change in Moon phases in at least 4 of 5
questions.

SCI.4.9B Collect and analyze data to identify sequences and predict patterns of change in the observable appearance of the Moon
from Earth.
SEPs 4.1G, 4.2B
RTCs 4.5A

15

Lesson Vocabulary

full moon

moon phase

new moon

quarter moon

sequence

gibbous moon

crescent moon

26

Moon Phases

How much of the Moon
appears to us on Earth
to be lit up by the Sun
determines the phase of
the Moon.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

27

Full Moon

A Moon phase in which
the Moon’s visible
surface is fully lit

28

New Moon

A Moon phase in which
the Moon’s visible
surface is not lit

29

Quarter Moon

A Moon phase when half
of the Moon’s visible
surface is lit

31

Gibbous Moon

A Moon phase when
more than half is lit.

30

Crescent Moon

A Moon phase when less
than half is lit.

32

Sequence

When something follows
an order

16

How can you predict Moon patterns?

17

What are the phases of the Moon?

Materials

1

2

3

What do you know about the orbit

and phases of the Moon?

Draw and label the phases of the

moon. As you read, look for

information about what causes the

Moon’s phases.

Explain the difference between a

solar calendar and a lunar calendar.

Then summarize what you read
about the phases of the Moon.

Interactive journal

Moon Phases

Match

Match the following pictures to their moon phases.

Full moon

New moon

Crescent moon

Gibbous moon

Quarter moon

• Full moon

• New moon

• Crescent moon

• Gibbous moon

• Quarter moon

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

How does the Moon’s appearance change over time?

A Moon phase is the changing apparent shape of the Moon. The part of the
Moon’s lit and visible surface changes in a regular sequence, or order, that
repeats each month.

Photo credit: James Hall/EyeEm/Getty Images; KSullivan/Shutterstock

Open Ended

How can you predict Moon phases?

I can predict the phases of the moon by...

19

What are the phases of the moon?

A new moon is a Moon phase in which the Moon’s visible surface is not lit. A
full moon is a Moon phase in which the Moon’s visible surface is fully lit. A
quarter moon is a Moon phase in which when half of the Moon’s visible
surface is lit.

Photo credit: Claudio Divizia/Shutterstock

Quarter moon

Quarter moon

New moon

Full moon

20

What other phases of the Moon are in this model?

First Quarter

Third Quarter

22

How can you predict Moon patterns?

Moon phases follow a predictable pattern.
Each phase repeats after about 28 to 30 days.
You can use your eyes and a calendar to predict upcoming Moon phases.

Photo credit: Vitalii Bashkatov/Shutterstock; Yuliia Dubinko/Alamy Stock Vector

23

Identify the phase of the Moon that would be next.

?

Multiple Choice

Identify the phase of the Moon that would be next.

• New moon

• Full moon

• Crescent moon

• Quarter moon

Multiple Choice

What happens to the Moon when it changes phases?

• Pieces of the Moon fall off and rebuild

• Pieces of the Moon light up at different times

• The Sun's light shines on different parts of the Moon

• The Earth's light shines on different parts of the Moon.

Multiple Choice

Every evening before bed, Petra lets her dog out in the backyard. On some nights,
she needs to turn on the porch light to see her dog, but on other nights she doesn't
need the light. If the night is clear and the phase of the Moon is a new moon, will she
need a light?

• She will need a light because the Moon will not be visible.

• She might need a light because only about half of the Moon will be visible.

• She will not need a light because the Moon will be fully visible.

• She might need a light because only about a quarter of the Moon will be visible.

35

DOL: Given
scenarios, SW
correctly identify and
predict patterns of
change in Moon
phases in at least 4
of 5 questions.

Demonstration of Learning