Moon Phases for Kids: Why Does the Moon Change Shape? (Grade 1 and Grade 2 Science)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Have you noticed the Moon looks different on different nights? Sometimes it is round, and sometimes it is a thin sliver. Today we will find out why the Moon seems to change shape.

Here is a secret. The Moon does not make its own light. It is a big ball of rock. The Sun shines on the Moon, and the Moon reflects that sunlight back to us, like a mirror.

Half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun. The Moon slowly travels around the Earth. As it moves, we see different amounts of its bright side. These different looks are called phases.

When we cannot see the lit side at all, it is a new moon. Then a thin crescent appears. Next we see a half moon. Then the Moon looks bigger and bigger until it is a full moon.

After the full moon, the lit part gets smaller each night. We see a half moon again, then a thin crescent, and then the new moon comes back. Then the whole pattern starts again.

The Moon takes about one month to go through all of its phases. That is about twenty nine days. Scientists can predict the phases, because the pattern always happens in the same order.

Now it's your turn. Last week you saw a half moon. Each night since then, the Moon has looked bigger. What phase is coming next? Pause and try. A full moon is coming next!

Great job! Remember, the Moon reflects light from the Sun. As it travels around Earth, we see more or less of its lit side. Practice moon phases in the Science Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!