Phases of the Moon

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   the Moon's shape is not drawn. On an evening hike, Esme sees the Moon rising in the east just as the Sun sets in the west. Which phase must it be, and why?

   • New moon, on the Sun's side of Earth
   • First quarter, a quarter of the way around
   • Full moon, opposite the Sun
   • Any phase, since the Moon rises when night begins
2. 2.

   Luz sees a full moon on the first night of summer camp. Camp lasts about 15 days. Which phase will the Moon be in on the last night?

   • Third quarter
   • Waning crescent
   • Full moon again
   • New moon
3. 3.

   A first quarter Moon hangs over Milo's weekly soccer practice. Which phase will light up practice one week later?

   • New moon
   • First quarter again
   • Waxing gibbous
   • Full moon
4. 4.

   Noah starts a Moon diary on the night of a new moon. About 22 days later, which phase will the diary show?

   • First quarter
   • Third quarter
   • New moon again
   • Waxing gibbous
5. 5.

   Pia's friend says a first quarter Moon looks half lit because Earth's shadow covers the other half. Which response is best?

   • Agree: Earth's shadow covers half the Moon at a quarter moon
   • Agree: the Moon dims half of its own glow in this phase
   • Disagree: a quarter moon should show a quarter of its face lit
   • Disagree: the Sun lights half the Moon, and we see half of that half
6. 6.

   Ren reads a class blog post saying a full moon happens when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun. Which response is best?

   • Disagree: Earth's shadow on the Moon is what makes it full
   • Agree: the Moon is between Earth and the Sun at full moon
   • Disagree: at full moon, Earth is between the Sun and the Moon
   • Agree: the Moon glows brightest when it is closest to the Sun
7. 7.

   “Orbit diagram, top view, not to scale” Tala's cousin says nobody sees a new moon because its sunlit side faces away from Earth. Which response is best?

   • Disagree: a new moon is hidden inside Earth's shadow
   • Disagree: the side facing away from Earth stays dark
   • Disagree: the Moon has no sunlit side, since it lights itself
   • Agree: the lit half faces the Sun, which is beyond the Moon

8. Read this first

   Classroom model, top view

   a lamp on the left; a student in the middle; four ball spots around the head: W between the head and the lamp, X and Z at the sides at right angles to the lamp, Y on the far side from the lamp.

9. 8.

   In a class model, a lamp is the Sun, a foam ball is the Moon and Zee's head is Earth. Where should Zee hold the ball to show a full moon?

   • At Y, low enough to sit in the head's shadow
   • At W, between the head and the lamp
   • At X, beside the head at a right angle
   • At Y, raised just above the head's shadow

10. Classroom model, top view

    a lamp on the left; a student in the middle; the ball at spot X, beside the head at a right angle to the lamp, with its lamp-facing half white.

11. 9.

    In the lamp model, Ari holds the ball at spot X, at a right angle to the lamp. What does Ari see on the ball?

    • No lit part, since the head's shadow covers the ball
    • The whole face lit, since the lamp shines on the ball
    • A thin sliver lit, since a quarter moon is a quarter lit
    • Half of the ball's face lit, like a quarter moon

12. Classroom model, top view

    a lamp on the left; a student in the middle; the ball at spot W between the head and the lamp, with its lamp-facing half white.

13. 10.

    In the lamp model, Bo holds the ball at spot W, between the head and the lamp, and sees no lit part. Why?

    • The side of the ball away from the viewer gets no light
    • The ball's own glow turns off near the lamp
    • The head's shadow falls on the ball
    • The lit half of the ball faces the lamp, not the viewer