Moon Phases: Why Does the Moon Change?

About this printable Moon Phases: Why Does the Moon Change? science reading passage, NGSS-aligned (Grades 3-6)

This Grade 4-5 science passage, aligned with NGSS standards, explains why the Moon appears to change shape in the sky. Students will learn about the lunar cycle, including phases such as new moon, full moon, and crescent moons. The passage defines key terms like 'orbit', 'illuminated', and 'crescent', using bolded glossary words for vocabulary support. Real-world examples are included to help students connect the science to their daily lives, such as tracking the Moon's phases to predict tides. The passage ends with an 'Interesting Fact' about the Moon. The resource includes an English and Spanish passage, a glossary, multiple-choice quiz, and writing activities that encourage students to explain concepts, make everyday connections, and analyze cause and effect. The activities are audio integrated for accessibility and comprehension. This resource is ideal for science centers, homework, or classroom discussion, and supports NGSS science standards focused on Earth and space systems.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

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Sample passage and quiz from Moon Phases: Why Does the Moon Change?

Moon Phases

"A detailed sequence of the moon's phases showing gradual changes over time." Image by Leiliane Dutra / Pexels.

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. When you look at the Moon in the night sky, it doesn’t always look the same. Sometimes it looks like a full circle, and other times, it looks like a thin slice. These different shapes are called phases of the Moon.

Moon phases happen because the Moon moves around Earth in a path called an orbit. As the Moon orbits Earth, sunlight shines on it from different angles. We can only see the part of the Moon that is lit by the Sun. The side that faces away from the Sun is dark.

There are several main phases of the Moon. The new moon is when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, and we cannot see the lit side from Earth. The full moon happens when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, and we see the whole lit side. In between these, we see the crescent Moon (a thin slice), the first quarter Moon (half lit), and the gibbous Moon (more than half but not full).

The Moon takes about 29 days to complete one orbit around Earth. This is called a lunar cycle. If you watch the Moon every night, you can see it change through all its phases during this cycle.

Moon phases are important for real life. Long ago, people used the lunar cycle to make calendars and plan when to plant crops. Today, the Moon’s phases help us predict tides in the ocean, which are important for sailing and fishing.

Interesting Fact: The same side of the Moon always faces Earth because the Moon rotates once for every orbit it makes around our planet!