Moon Phases

Question 1

Sam records the Moon’s shape every night for 30 nights. Which statement best describes how the Moon’s shape changes during those 30 nights?

Accepted Answer

It starts as a thin crescent, gets a little bigger each night until it is a full circle, then gets a little smaller each night until it is a thin crescent again; this whole cycle takes about a month.

Answer

It stays the same shape the whole month and only changes once at the very end.

Answer

It changes randomly—sometimes it looks bigger, sometimes smaller—with no overall pattern.

Answer

It disappears for half the month and then appears as a full circle for the rest of the month.

Question 2

Maya looked at the Moon every night for three weeks. On the first night the Moon was completely dark. Two weeks later the Moon was a bright full circle. Which three phases did Maya see, in the order they appeared?

Accepted Answer

new moon, half moon, full moon

Answer

new moon, full moon, half moon

Answer

crescent moon, half moon, full moon

Answer

new moon, half moon, new moon

Question 3

How does the Moon look during the about‑a‑month time it takes to go through all its phases?

Accepted Answer

It changes shape, going from invisible to a half moon to a full round moon, and then the pattern starts again.

Answer

It looks the same every night.

Answer

It moves down to the ground at night.

Answer

It changes color from blue to red.

Try three questions

Sam records the Moon’s shape every night for 30 nights. Which statement best describes how the Moon’s shape changes during those 30 nights?

Maya looked at the Moon every night for three weeks. On the first night the Moon was completely dark. Two weeks later the Moon was a bright full circle. Which three phases did Maya see, in the order they appeared?

How does the Moon look during the about‑a‑month time it takes to go through all its phases?

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