Learning about the phases of the moon is always a student favorite! Since students in your class all have different learning styles, it’s important to change up your style of instruction from time to time. Here is a list of activities you can choose from that will appeal to a variety of learning styles. Choose one, two, or even three!
For the visual learner: Lunar cycle doodle note
Note taking is a vital part of learning. But you don’t have to do written notes on lined paper every time- change it up! For some topics (such as the lunar cycle) having pictures in their notes greatly helps students understand new concepts. These doodle notes are something students can take notes on, color, and keep in their notebooks for reference. You can check them out here:
Phases of the Moon Doodle Note
If you want to learn more about how to use doodle notes in the classroom, check out this blog post: How to use doodle notes in the classroom.
For the kinesthetic learner: Acting out the lunar cycle NASA lesson
Many students are kinesthetic learners, which is why so many of them love science. Hands on activities really help student understanding, plus helps get their energy out! In this activity from NASA, students will physically act out the moon phases. To complete this activity you will need a Styrofoam ball, a pencil, and a light source. You can find the activity here:
NASA Moon Phases Activity
For the auditory learner: Youtube video
I always try and find a video clip to go with every new topic I teach. Video clips keep students engaged and are great reinforcement. Check out this video clip that would be great for grades 5-7: Why does the moon change? or this video that would be great for grades 8 and up: The Universe: Phases of the Moon
For the verbal learner: Card sort activity
Do you have students that learn better when they can write about a concept? This card sorting activity allows students to sort through 32 moon phase cards and write about what is happening at each phase. You can check it out here:
Phases of the Moon Card Sort
For the tech lover: Online moon simulation
In this interactive simulation from PBS, students can click and drag the moon to different positions and see what it would look like in the night sky. It’s really fun to play around with!
For the artist: Coloring page
This color by number worksheet is great because it allows students to color and be creative, but they also have to answer questions about the lunar cycle as they go.
Phases of the Moon Color By Number
Be sure to check out this blog post that includes 7 tips for using coloring pages in the secondary classroom.
For the hungry kid before lunch: Oreo cookie phases
Ok that is a joke… but seriously who doesn’t love Oreos? In this activity students use the cream filling in Oreos to represent the different moon phases. Bonus that they get a yummy snack at the end! Top: If you are worried about the cost of buying all those Oreos, I’ve used mini Oreos in the past to save money.
Tasty Moon Phases Lesson
Do you have any other favorite activities for teaching the moon phases? Leave them in the comments below!
