The Moon Changes Shape

Science · Space Exploration · ages 5-7

Name ______________________ Date ____________

What do we call it when the Moon looks like a whole, round circle?
- New moon
- Half moon
- Full moon
What do we call it when you cannot see the Moon at all?
- Full moon
- New moon
- Half moon
The Moon looks exactly the same every single night.
Circle one: True False
Leo watched the Moon every night for a whole month. What did he notice?
- It changed shape slowly, night by night
- It vanished and never came back
- It turned into a star
Look at the order of Moon shapes below. What comes right after the full moon?
- Half moon
- Full moon again
- New moon
Count the Moon shapes shown. How many are there?
Answer: ______________
Tonight the Moon is full and round. Will it ever look completely dark again?
- No, once full it always stays full
- No, it will disappear forever
- Yes, in a few weeks it will become a new moon
Zoe says the Moon's shapes happen in a different order every month. Is she right?
- Yes, it is always random
- No, the same pattern repeats each month
- No, the Moon disappears after one month

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Full moon · A full moon is round all the way around, like a circle.
New moon · A new moon is dark, so it seems to disappear from the sky.
False · The Moon's shape changes slowly over about a month.
It changed shape slowly, night by night · Over about a month, the Moon's shape slowly changes, a little each night.
Half moon · After a full moon, the Moon shrinks back through a half moon shape.
4 · There are four shapes shown: new, half, full, and half again.
Yes, in a few weeks it will become a new moon · The Moon keeps repeating its pattern, so it will shrink back to a new moon.
No, the same pattern repeats each month · The Moon goes through the same repeating pattern of shapes, month after month.