Phases of the Moon Lesson Plans

Third graders read about the moon and experiment to understand the phases of the moon. In this phases of the moon lesson plan, 3rd graders experiment with a ball and a flashlight to explore the phases of the moon. Students understand the meaning of phase, waxing, and waning. Students complete the lesson plan by diagramming the phases.

Learners diagram the phases of the moon.  In this moon phases lesson, students define and diagram the terms waxing and waning.  Learners design a model of the moon phases.  Students explore the vocabulary of the phases of the moon.

A fascinating lesson on the phases of the moon awaits your students. First, 3rd graders take part in an in-class simulation of the phases of the moon by using a flashlight and a ball. Then, students create their own PowerPoint which shows the phases of the moon. They access websites embedded in the plan in order to gain the information needed for their PowerPoint. The PowerPoint slide templates are also included in this incredibly rich lesson.

Third graders construct a model of how the moon revolves around the Earth using a ball, flashlight, and themselves, and complete a chart sequencing the phases of the moon in the correct order.

Third graders name the phases of the moon. For this moon phase lesson, 3rd graders listen to the story The Moon Seems to Change and they discuss the different moon phases. They take oreos and split them apart and look at the cream to see what moon phase they see. 

Third graders explore the phases of the moon. Using a calendar grid, they make nightly observations of the moon and record their findings. At the end of the month, 3rd graders discuss the changes and shapes of the moon. In groups, they perform activities to simulate the phases of the moon, and create models to indicate the locations of the sun, moon and Earth during each phase.

Students answer the question, "How are the motions of the Earth, the moon, and the sun, related to the moon's phases?" They observe the moon to create a moon journal and a phases of the moon diagram.

Third graders model the phases of the moon. In this lunar phases lesson, 3rd graders work in groups to create the moon and the Earth out of Play-Doh and use a flashlight to demonstrate how the phases of the moon occur.

Students become familiar with the phases of the moon. In this moon instructional activity, students recognize that gravitational force keeps the moon in orbit.  Students experiment with light to understand how the sun reflects on the moon. Students complete a web quiz.

Young scholars explore the earth's rotation and phases of the moon. In this planets lesson, students rotate and revolve around a light representing the sun. Young scholars use movement and props to simulate what causes the phases of the moon as well as what causes the seasons.