Comparing Solar and Lunar Eclipses

Help students organize what they know about eclipses with this compare-and-contrast graphic organizer for NGSS MS-ESS1-1 and grades 6-8. A labeled two-panel diagram anchors the page, and a clear comparison chart guides students to contrast a solar and a lunar eclipse across five key questions.

Students fill in which object is in the middle, whose shadow falls and on what, the Moon phase, what an observer sees, and who can see each eclipse, then write one thing both eclipses share. Building the comparison this way pushes students to use the Sun-Moon-Earth model rather than just recall facts, which is the heart of the standard.

A complete answer key with the filled chart and a sample response is included, and the sheet prints cleanly in black and white. It works well as guided notes, a study tool, or an interactive notebook page, and pairs naturally with the rest of the eclipses unit.

• Labeled diagram plus comparison chart
• Answer key included
• Aligned to NGSS MS-ESS1-1, grades 6-8