In this engaging worksheet, students will shade illustrations of the eight moon phases to correspond with their titles, such as the new Moon and the waxing crescent. After completing the shading activity, students will answer three questions regarding the Moon's phases. For added fun, the worksheet includes two creative tasks: filling in a moon scene with a werewolf and crafting a unique flag for the Moon.

Teaching young kids about the Moon's phases can be fun and educational using simple, visual, and interactive methods. Start by explaining that the Moon doesn't change shape; instead, we see different parts of the Moon lit up by the Sun as it orbits Earth. Use a flashlight to represent the Sun and a small ball for the Moon, and encourage kids to act as Earth by standing in a circle. Shine the flashlight on the ball while the kids rotate it around themselves to demonstrate how the Moon appears to change over a month. This hands-on activity teaches kids that phases such as the New Moon, the first quarter, the full Moon, and the last quarter occur because of the Moon's position relative to Earth and the Sun, making it a fun way to understand the concept of moon phases.