Graphing Moon Phases Activity

In this graphing moon phases activity, students are provided data about what percent of the moon is illuminated for each day of a month. They graph the data and then use it to answer questions about which moon phases would occur on different dates.

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In this activity, students will:

• READ brief background information on moon phases
• GRAPH the percentage of the moon that is illuminated by date
• ANSWER follow-up questions (from the graph) that relate to moon phases

Please note: This activity starts the moon phase cycle on the full moon. I did this intentionally because most activities and diagrams “start” the moon phases on the new moon, so this is what kids get accustomed to seeing. I try to mix it up to reinforce that moon phases are a cycle and don’t “start” anywhere.

Teacher Notes:

• INCLUDES ANSWER KEY.
• This graphing moon phases activity is not editable.
• NGSS Standard: MS-ESS1-1, HS-ESS1-4
• NGSS Science & Engineering Practice: Analyzing and interpreting data
• NGSS Science & Engineering Practice: Using mathematics and computational thinking
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Related Standards:

• • NGSS MS-ESS1-1: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses, and seasons.