Moon Phases
Observe and describe the Moon's changing shape over about a month, recognising that it goes through a repeating cycle of phases from new moon (invisible) to full moon (complete circle) and back again
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“If you asked your child to look at the Moon several nights in a row, could they notice that it changes shape and describe the pattern?”
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- Activity. Observe and describe the Moon's changing shape over about a month, recognising that it goes through a repeating cycle of phases from new moon (invisible) to full moon (complete circle) and back again
What to notice. Describe that the Moon appears to change shape over about a month • Name or draw at least three phases: new moon (dark), half moon, and full moon • State that the pattern repeats — the Moon goes through the same shapes again and again
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If you asked your child to look at the Moon several nights in a row, could they notice that it changes shape and describe the pattern?
Observe and describe the Moon's changing shape over about a month, recognising that it goes through a repeating cycle of phases from new moon (invisible) to full moon (complete circle) and back again
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Check understanding
- Describe that the Moon appears to change shape over about a month
- Name or draw at least three phases: new moon (dark), half moon, and full moon
- State that the pattern repeats — the Moon goes through the same shapes again and again
“If you asked your child to look at the Moon several nights in a row, could they notice that it changes shape and describe the pattern?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Space Exploration
- Age range
- Ages 5–7