The Moon's Orbit
Know that the Moon orbits Earth approximately once a month, that it does not make its own light but reflects sunlight, and that its changing appearance (phases) is caused by how much of the sunlit side we can see from Earth
Teaching approaches
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1 approach
Can your child explain why the Moon seems to change shape — that it’s always round but we only see the part lit up by the Sun?
Know that the Moon orbits Earth approximately once a month, that it does not make its own light but reflects sunlight, and that its changing appearance (phases) is caused by how much of the sunlit side we can see from Earth
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Check understanding
- State that the Moon orbits Earth roughly once every 28-30 days
- Explain that the Moon reflects sunlight rather than producing its own light
- Describe how Moon phases happen: we see different amounts of the lit-up side as the Moon orbits Earth
“Can your child explain why the Moon seems to change shape — that it’s always round but we only see the part lit up by the Sun?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Space Exploration
- Age range
- Ages 7–9