Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Phases of the Moon
Was there a full moon last night? Some people believe that a full moon affects people's behavior. Whether that is true or not, the moon does go through phases. What causes the moon to appear differently throughout the month?
You know that the moon does not give off its own light. When we see the moon shining at night, we are actually seeing a reflection of the sun's light. The part of the moon that we see shining (lunar phase) depends on the positions of the sun, moon, and the Earth.
When the moon is between the Earth and the sun, we can't see it. The sunlit side of the moon is facing away from us. The dark side is facing toward us. This phase is called the new moon.
