Grade 6 · Science

6th grade Phases of the Moon worksheet

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Phases of the Moon

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

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
- Any phase, since the Moon rises when night begins
- First quarter, a quarter of the way around
- Full moon, opposite the Sun
2.
At 4 p.m., Jun sees the Moon in the southeast while the Sun is still up. Its right half is lit. Which explanation fits?
- A third quarter Moon, which rises around noon
- A full moon, which rises around noon
- A daytime glare, since the real Moon rises after dark
- A first quarter Moon, which rises around noon
3.
At 8 a.m. on the walk to school, Kira sees a Moon in the southwest with its left half lit. Which explanation fits?
- A third quarter Moon, which sets around noon
- A new moon, which sets around noon
- A night Moon that is running late to set
- A first quarter Moon, which sets around noon
4.
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?
- New moon
- Full moon again
- Waning crescent
- Third quarter
5.
A first quarter Moon hangs over Milo's weekly soccer practice. Which phase will light up practice one week later?
- Waxing gibbous
- Full moon
- First quarter again
- New moon
6.
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
- Waxing gibbous
- New moon again
7.
Pia's friend says a first quarter Moon looks half lit because Earth's shadow covers the other half. Which response is best?
- Agree: the Moon dims half of its own glow in this phase
- Disagree: a quarter moon should show a quarter of its face lit
- Agree: Earth's shadow covers half the Moon at a quarter moon
- Disagree: the Sun lights half the Moon, and we see half of that half
8.
Ren reads a class blog post saying a full moon happens when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun. Which response is best?
- Agree: the Moon glows brightest when it is closest to the Sun
- Disagree: Earth's shadow on the Moon is what makes it full
- Disagree: at full moon, Earth is between the Sun and the Moon
- Agree: the Moon is between Earth and the Sun at full moon
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.
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 W, between the head and the lamp
- At Y, raised just above the head's shadow
- At X, beside the head at a right angle
- At Y, low enough to sit in the head's shadow
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.
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 lit half of the ball faces the lamp, not the viewer
- The head's shadow falls on the ball

6th grade Phases of the Moon worksheet – printable — Print: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Phases of the Moon. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

I can explain that the Sun always lights half the Moon, and a phase is how much of that half we see from Earth.
I can name all eight phases, in order, from a drawing or from the Moon's place in its orbit.
I can predict the phase days later, and when the Moon is up, using a cycle of about 29.5 days.

Standard: MS-ESS1-1

Words to know

phase: The shape of the lit part of the Moon that we see from Earth

orbit: The path the Moon takes around Earth

new moon: The phase when the lit half faces away from us, so we see no lit part

full moon: The phase when we see the whole lit half, a round bright face

first / third quarter: A quarter or three-quarters of the way around the orbit; half the face looks lit

crescent: Less than half the face lit, a thin curved sliver

gibbous: More than half the face lit, but not all of it

waxing / waning: Growing (lit on the right, from the US) / shrinking (lit on the left)

Common mistakes

Your child thought Earth's shadow makes the Moon's phases. Try shining a flashlight on a ball in a dim room and walking around it together: the half facing the light stays lit.

Your child thought the Moon makes its own light. Ask where moonlight starts, and point out that the Moon is lit only on the side facing the Sun.

Your child thought the far side of the Moon is always dark. Explain that the far side is the side we never see, and that it gets sunlight at new moon.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with phases of the moon?

Your child thought Earth's shadow makes the Moon's phases. Try shining a flashlight on a ball in a dim room and walking around it together: the half facing the light stays lit.

Are these 6th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 6 science

See all grade 6 science

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