Phases of the Moon
CONCEPTUALExplain the phases of the Moon as the changing angle of sunlight on the lunar surface as seen from Earth, and describe how solar and lunar eclipses occur
Mastery Evidence
- Explains that the phases of the Moon arise from the changing geometry of Sun, Earth, and Moon, not Earth's shadow
- Describes the sequence of Moon phases over approximately 28 days
- Distinguishes between a solar eclipse (Moon between Sun and Earth) and a lunar eclipse (Earth between Sun and Moon)
Assessment Prompt
“If [child] noticed the Moon looking like a thin crescent one night and a full circle two weeks later, could they explain what has changed and why — and describe what happens during a lunar eclipse?”
Curriculum Standards2 alignments
MS-ESS1-1Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Middle Schoolcodes onlyKS3.Sci.Phys.SpacePhysics.3The national curriculum in Englandthe seasons and the Earth's tilt; the distance from the Earth varying the energy received; the phases of the Moon
Prerequisites3
- The solar systemhardAges 9—10
- Earth & Space VocabularyhardAges 8—11
- Earth's rotation and day/nightsoftAges 9—11
Show full prerequisite tree
- The solar system hard
Explaining Moon phases requires understanding the Sun–Earth–Moon geometry established in KS2
- Naming the Planets hard
Describing sun, Earth, and moon as spherical bodies and planets orbiting the sun requires solar system vocabulary
- Sun, Moon, and stars hard
Must observe sun/moon patterns before learning about the solar system model
- Naming the Planets hard
Describing predictable patterns of sun, moon, and stars requires planet, star, moon, orbit vocabulary
- Why seasons change hard
Must observe sun/moon/star patterns before relating daylight to time of year
- Naming the Planets soft
Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
- Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
- Ordering Events in Time hard
Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
- Earth & Space Vocabulary hard
Explaining moon phases requires 'lunar phases', 'waxing', 'waning', and 'eclipse' vocabulary
- Earth's rotation and day/night soft
Understanding Earth's rotation and the concept of shadows supports the eclipse explanation
- The solar system hard
Must understand Earth orbits the sun before explaining rotation causes day/night
- Naming the Planets hard
Describing sun, Earth, and moon as spherical bodies and planets orbiting the sun requires solar system vocabulary
- Sun, Moon, and stars hard
Must observe sun/moon patterns before learning about the solar system model
- Naming the Planets hard
Describing predictable patterns of sun, moon, and stars requires planet, star, moon, orbit vocabulary
- Why seasons change hard
Must observe sun/moon/star patterns before relating daylight to time of year
- Naming the Planets soft
Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
- Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
- Ordering Events in Time hard
Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
- Naming the Planets soft
Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
- Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
- Ordering Events in Time hard
Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
- Earth & Space Vocabulary hard
Explaining day and night using Earth's rotation requires 'rotation' and 'axis' vocabulary
- Earth's Spin & Orbit soft
Enrichment knowledge of Earth's rotation and orbit supports formal explanation of day/night cycle
- Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
- Ordering Events in Time hard
Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
- The Sun is a star hard
Must know the Sun-centred system before understanding Earth's rotation and orbit within it
- Why seasons change soft
Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification
- Naming the Planets soft
Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
- Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
- Ordering Events in Time hard
Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
- Sun, Moon & Stars hard
Must know the Sun and stars before learning about planets and the solar system
- Why seasons change soft
Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification
- Naming the Planets soft
Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
- Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
- Ordering Events in Time hard
Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
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