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Space science · Grades 2–4

Moon Phases Worksheet

The eight phases of the Moon, in order, with a word bank, plus 4 questions with facts from NASA. Kids name each phase. The answer key is on its own page. Switch to version B or C for a new set, or open it in the builder to change anything.

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Version A · 1 page + answer key · prints on US Letter or A4Customize version A

Science · The MoonAges 7–11 · Grades 2–5

Phases of the Moon

The Moon seems to change shape over a month. Read the facts, then name each phase.

NameDate
The full Moon photographed by NASA's Galileo spacecraft
The Moon, from NASA’s Galileo spacecraft, 1992.

Moon facts

  • The Moon is about 239,000 miles (384,400 km) from Earth, on average.
  • It is about one-fourth as wide as Earth: 2,159 miles across.
  • Its gravity is about one-sixth of Earth’s, so you would weigh much less there.
  • The Moon makes no light of its own. Moonlight is sunlight bouncing off it.
  • It goes around Earth in about 27.3 days, but new Moon to new Moon takes 29.5 days.
  • We always see the same side, because the Moon spins once each time it goes around Earth.

The phases

In order, from the new Moon. Write the name of each phase.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SUNLIGHTEARTH
How it works. The Sun always lights half of the Moon. Inner ring: the Moon on its trip around Earth. Outer ring: how it looks from Earth. Not to scale.
Word banknew Moonwaxing crescentfirst quarterwaxing gibbousfull Moonwaning gibbousthird quarterwaning crescent

Questions

  1. 1.About how many days are there from one new Moon to the next?
  2. 2.Which phase comes right after first quarter?
  3. 3.Which phase comes right before the new Moon?
  4. 4.Why do we only ever see one side of the Moon?
Photo: NASA/JPL/USGS, Galileo, Dec. 7, 1992 (PIA00405). Facts: NASA Moon Fact Sheet and NASA Moon Phases page.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn
Science · The MoonAges 7–11 · Grades 2–5

Phases of the MoonANSWER KEY

Answers. NASA also calls the third quarter the “last quarter.”

The phases

In order, from the new Moon. Write the name of each phase.

1new Moon
2waxing crescent
3first quarter
4waxing gibbous
5full Moon
6waning gibbous
7third quarter
8waning crescent

Question answers

  1. 1.About how many days are there from one new Moon to the next?About 29.5 days
  2. 2.Which phase comes right after first quarter?Waxing gibbous
  3. 3.Which phase comes right before the new Moon?Waning crescent
  4. 4.Why do we only ever see one side of the Moon?It spins once each time it goes around Earth
Photo: NASA/JPL/USGS, Galileo, Dec. 7, 1992 (PIA00405). Facts: NASA Moon Fact Sheet and NASA Moon Phases page.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn

Version B · 1 page + answer key · prints on US Letter or A4Customize version B

Science · The MoonAges 7–11 · Grades 2–5

Phases of the Moon

The Moon seems to change shape over a month. Read the facts, then name each phase.

NameDate
The full Moon photographed by NASA's Galileo spacecraft
The Moon, from NASA’s Galileo spacecraft, 1992.

Moon facts

  • The Moon is about 239,000 miles (384,400 km) from Earth, on average.
  • It is about one-fourth as wide as Earth: 2,159 miles across.
  • Its gravity is about one-sixth of Earth’s, so you would weigh much less there.
  • The Moon makes no light of its own. Moonlight is sunlight bouncing off it.
  • It goes around Earth in about 27.3 days, but new Moon to new Moon takes 29.5 days.
  • We always see the same side, because the Moon spins once each time it goes around Earth.

The phases

In order, from the new Moon. Write the name of each phase.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SUNLIGHTEARTH
How it works. The Sun always lights half of the Moon. Inner ring: the Moon on its trip around Earth. Outer ring: how it looks from Earth. Not to scale.
Word banknew Moonwaxing crescentfirst quarterwaxing gibbousfull Moonwaning gibbousthird quarterwaning crescent

Questions

  1. 1.Which phase comes right after first quarter?
  2. 2.Which phase comes right before the new Moon?
  3. 3.Would you weigh more or less on the Moon than on Earth?
  4. 4.Why do we only ever see one side of the Moon?
Photo: NASA/JPL/USGS, Galileo, Dec. 7, 1992 (PIA00405). Facts: NASA Moon Fact Sheet and NASA Moon Phases page.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn
Science · The MoonAges 7–11 · Grades 2–5

Phases of the MoonANSWER KEY

Answers. NASA also calls the third quarter the “last quarter.”

The phases

In order, from the new Moon. Write the name of each phase.

1new Moon
2waxing crescent
3first quarter
4waxing gibbous
5full Moon
6waning gibbous
7third quarter
8waning crescent

Question answers

  1. 1.Which phase comes right after first quarter?Waxing gibbous
  2. 2.Which phase comes right before the new Moon?Waning crescent
  3. 3.Would you weigh more or less on the Moon than on Earth?Less: about one-sixth as much
  4. 4.Why do we only ever see one side of the Moon?It spins once each time it goes around Earth
Photo: NASA/JPL/USGS, Galileo, Dec. 7, 1992 (PIA00405). Facts: NASA Moon Fact Sheet and NASA Moon Phases page.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn

Version C · 1 page + answer key · prints on US Letter or A4Customize version C

Science · The MoonAges 7–11 · Grades 2–5

Phases of the Moon

The Moon seems to change shape over a month. Read the facts, then name each phase.

NameDate
The full Moon photographed by NASA's Galileo spacecraft
The Moon, from NASA’s Galileo spacecraft, 1992.

Moon facts

  • The Moon is about 239,000 miles (384,400 km) from Earth, on average.
  • It is about one-fourth as wide as Earth: 2,159 miles across.
  • Its gravity is about one-sixth of Earth’s, so you would weigh much less there.
  • The Moon makes no light of its own. Moonlight is sunlight bouncing off it.
  • It goes around Earth in about 27.3 days, but new Moon to new Moon takes 29.5 days.
  • We always see the same side, because the Moon spins once each time it goes around Earth.

The phases

In order, from the new Moon. Write the name of each phase.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SUNLIGHTEARTH
How it works. The Sun always lights half of the Moon. Inner ring: the Moon on its trip around Earth. Outer ring: how it looks from Earth. Not to scale.
Word banknew Moonwaxing crescentfirst quarterwaxing gibbousfull Moonwaning gibbousthird quarterwaning crescent

Questions

  1. 1.About how many days are there from one new Moon to the next?
  2. 2.Which phase comes right after first quarter?
  3. 3.Would you weigh more or less on the Moon than on Earth?
  4. 4.In which phase is the whole side facing Earth lit up?
Photo: NASA/JPL/USGS, Galileo, Dec. 7, 1992 (PIA00405). Facts: NASA Moon Fact Sheet and NASA Moon Phases page.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn
Science · The MoonAges 7–11 · Grades 2–5

Phases of the MoonANSWER KEY

Answers. NASA also calls the third quarter the “last quarter.”

The phases

In order, from the new Moon. Write the name of each phase.

1new Moon
2waxing crescent
3first quarter
4waxing gibbous
5full Moon
6waning gibbous
7third quarter
8waning crescent

Question answers

  1. 1.About how many days are there from one new Moon to the next?About 29.5 days
  2. 2.Which phase comes right after first quarter?Waxing gibbous
  3. 3.Would you weigh more or less on the Moon than on Earth?Less: about one-sixth as much
  4. 4.In which phase is the whole side facing Earth lit up?Full Moon
Photo: NASA/JPL/USGS, Galileo, Dec. 7, 1992 (PIA00405). Facts: NASA Moon Fact Sheet and NASA Moon Phases page.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn

How to use it

  1. Look at how much of the Moon is lit in each picture.
  2. Waxing means growing; waning means shrinking.
  3. Check with the answer key.
  4. Look at the real Moon tonight and match it to a phase.

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