Science · 6th Grade

Active learning ideas

Phases of the Moon and Eclipses

Take your students on a celestial journey to decode the mysteries of the night sky. This topic explores the beautiful, predictable dance between the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

• Common Core State Standards
• NGSS: MS-ESS1 - Earth's Place in the Universe

• 20–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Simulation Game
• 30 min · Pairs

Oreo Cookie Moon Phases

Students twist open Oreo cookies and scrape the cream filling to model the eight primary phases of the Moon. They then arrange the cookies in the correct order on a worksheet, labeling each phase.

Explain what causes the different phases of the Moon as seen from Earth.

Facilitation Tip

Encourage students to start with the four major phases (New, First Quarter, Full, Third Quarter) as anchors before filling in the rest.

What to look for

Use an exit ticket where students must draw and label the Sun-Earth-Moon alignment for a full moon and a solar eclipse, highlighting the key difference.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 45 min · Small Groups

Human Orrery: Modeling Eclipses

In a darkened room, one student represents Earth holding a small ball, another represents the Moon holding a smaller ball, and a bright lamp represents the Sun. Students physically model the orbits to see how and when shadows fall to create solar and lunar eclipses.

Compare the celestial alignments required for a solar eclipse versus a lunar eclipse.

Facilitation Tip

Have the 'Moon' student slightly tilt their orbit up and down to demonstrate why eclipses don't happen every month.

What to look for

Students create a physical or digital model of the Earth-Moon-Sun system and use it to demonstrate and explain the complete lunar cycle and the conditions for both types of eclipses.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Simulation Game
• 20 min · Individual

Eclipse Venn Diagram

Students use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast solar and lunar eclipses. They must include details like the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, the moon phase during which each can occur, and the type of shadow involved.

Analyze why we do not have a solar and lunar eclipse every month.

Facilitation Tip

Provide a word bank with key vocabulary like umbra, penumbra, new moon, and full moon to guide their comparisons.

What to look for

Provide students with a checklist of key concepts. They rate their confidence level (e.g., 'I can teach this,' 'I understand,' 'I need help') for topics like identifying waxing vs. waning or explaining the orbital tilt.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

Start with a concrete, hands-on model like the Oreo or Styrofoam ball activity to establish the core concept of phases. Use physical movement with the human orrery to help students grasp the 3D nature of orbits and eclipses. Consistently reinforce that the Moon reflects, not produces, light and that our perspective from Earth is key.

Students will be able to model and explain the phases of the Moon and differentiate between the special alignments that cause dramatic solar and lunar eclipses.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• The phases of the Moon are caused by the Earth's shadow covering part of the Moon.

  The phases we see depend on how much of the sunlit side of the Moon is facing Earth as it revolves around us. The Earth's shadow is only involved during a lunar eclipse.

• The Moon creates its own light.

  The Moon does not produce light. The 'moonlight' we see is actually sunlight reflecting off the Moon's surface.

• A solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse should happen every month.

  The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees compared to Earth's orbit around the Sun. Because of this tilt, the Moon and its shadow usually pass above or below the Earth, so the perfect alignment needed for an eclipse is rare.

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Methods used in this brief

• Simulation Game