Phases of the Moon

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Ari sketches the Moon from the backyard after school. The right half is lit and the left half is dark. Which phase is it?

   • First quarter
   • Full moon
   • Waxing gibbous
   • Third quarter
2. 2.

   At a backyard star party, the Moon is so bright the stars look shy. Kira sees its whole round face lit. Which phase is it?

   • First quarter
   • New moon
   • Waxing gibbous
   • Full moon
3. 3.

   Luz looks at a first quarter Moon. How much of the whole Moon is lit by the Sun right now?

   • Half of it, the half facing the Sun
   • A quarter of it, since Earth's shadow covers the rest
   • No sunlight, since the Moon glows by itself
   • The half facing Earth, since the far side stays dark
4. 4.

   “Orbit diagram, top view, not to scale” Tonight is a new moon, and Milo can't find the Moon anywhere. What is happening on the Moon's far side, the side facing away from Earth?

   • It is dark, because sunlight cannot get there
   • It is glowing by itself
   • It is hidden in Earth's shadow
   • It is fully lit by the Sun

5. Read this first

   Use this

   Orbit diagram, top view from above the North Pole, not to scale.

6. 5.

   Noah studies an orbit diagram for a science quiz. Which phase does someone on Earth see when the Moon is at position E?

   • Full moon: whole face lit
   • Third quarter: left half lit
   • First quarter: right half lit
   • New moon: no lit face showing
7. 6.

   Pia points to position G on the orbit diagram. Which phase does someone on Earth see when the Moon is there?

   • Third quarter: left half lit
   • Full moon: whole face lit
   • First quarter: right half lit
   • New moon: no lit face showing
8. 7.

   Ren wants to mark the new moon on the orbit diagram. At which position is the Moon at new moon?

   • Position G, three-quarters of the way around
   • Position C, a quarter of the way around
   • Position A, between Earth and the Sun
   • Position E, on the far side of Earth
9. 8.

   Tala marks a new moon on the class calendar. Which main phase comes next, about a week later?

   • First quarter
   • Third quarter
   • Full moon
   • New moon again

10. Phase strip of the four main phases in order

    New moon, first quarter, full moon, third quarter, then new moon again, about 7 days apart. The full moon is circled.

11. 9.

    On a camping trip, the full moon is bright enough to read a comic by. Which main phase will Zee see about a week later?

    • Full moon again
    • Third quarter
    • First quarter
    • Waning gibbous
12. 10.

    Esme sees a third quarter Moon on a Monday morning. Which main phase comes next, about a week later?

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