2nd/3rd/4th/5th Phases of The Moon Diagram - Labeling and Coloring or Cookies - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We are given a diagram with 8 empty circles around Earth, and we need to label each one with the correct phase of the Moon — using the guide at the top. The guide shows 8 phases in order from left to right:

1. New Moon
2. Waxing Crescent
3. Quarter Moon (First Quarter)
4. Waxing Gibbous
5. Full Moon
6. Waning Gibbous
7. Third Quarter
8. Waning Crescent

Also note: “The Sun This Way” is pointing to the LEFT. That means sunlight comes from the left side. So when the Moon is between Earth and Sun (on the left), it’s New Moon. When Earth is between Moon and Sun (Moon on the right), it’s Full Moon.

Now let’s go around the circle starting from the position closest to the Sun (leftmost moon position).

Step 1: Leftmost circle (closest to Sun arrow) → This is where the Moon is between Earth and Sun → New Moon

Step 2: Moving clockwise (next circle up-left) → After New Moon, we see a sliver on the right → Waxing Crescent

Step 3: Top-left circle → Half lit on the right → Quarter Moon (First Quarter)

Step 4: Top-center circle → More than half lit, still growing → Waxing Gibbous

Step 5: Rightmost circle (opposite Sun) → Fully lit → Full Moon

Step 6: Bottom-right circle → Starting to shrink, mostly lit → Waning Gibbous

Step 7: Bottom-center circle → Half lit on the left → Third Quarter

Step 8: Bottom-left circle → Sliver on the left → Waning Crescent

Wait — let’s double-check the direction. In most diagrams, the Moon orbits counterclockwise around Earth. But here, since the Sun is on the left, and we’re labeling positions around Earth, we should follow the natural orbital path.

Actually, looking at standard lunar phase diagrams:

- New Moon: Moon between Earth and Sun → left side
- Then as Moon moves counterclockwise:
- Waxing Crescent (top-left)
- First Quarter (top)
- Waxing Gibbous (top-right)
- Full Moon (right)
- Waning Gibbous (bottom-right)
- Third Quarter (bottom)
- Waning Crescent (bottom-left)

But in our diagram, the circles are arranged like a clock around Earth. Let’s assign them based on position relative to Sun.

Sun is on the LEFT → so:

Position 1 (far left): New Moon
Position 2 (upper left): Waxing Crescent
Position 3 (top): First Quarter
Position 4 (upper right): Waxing Gibbous
Position 5 (far right): Full Moon
Position 6 (lower right): Waning Gibbous
Position 7 (bottom): Third Quarter
Position 8 (lower left): Waning Crescent

Yes, that matches the sequence in the guide.

So now, match each blank box to its circle.

Looking at the worksheet layout:

There are 8 boxes placed near each circle. We’ll list them in order going clockwise from the leftmost circle (New Moon position):

Leftmost circle → Box below it → Label: New Moon

Upper-left circle → No box directly under? Wait — actually, looking again:

The boxes are placed strategically. Let me map them visually:

From the image description (since I can’t see but based on typical layout):

Typically, for such worksheets:

- The circle on the far left has a box underneath → New Moon
- The circle above and left of Earth → box might be to the side or below? Actually, in the user’s image description, there are boxes positioned around.

To avoid confusion, let’s use the standard order and assign labels to each position based on angle from Sun.

Since Sun is on left:

Angle 0° (left): New Moon
Angle 45° (upper left): Waxing Crescent
Angle 90° (top): First Quarter
Angle 135° (upper right): Waxing Gibbous
Angle 180° (right): Full Moon
Angle 225° (lower right): Waning Gibbous
Angle 270° (bottom): Third Quarter
Angle 315° (lower left): Waning Crescent

Now, matching to the blanks:

Assuming the blanks are placed adjacent to each circle in clockwise order starting from left:

Blank 1 (under left circle): New Moon
Blank 2 (under upper-left circle?): Wait — actually, in many such worksheets, the blanks are placed outside the circle ring.

Looking back at the original problem structure:

It says: “label & color the phases of the moon” and there are 8 large circles around Earth, each with a blank rectangle nearby.

Based on common design:

Start from the leftmost circle (closest to Sun arrow) → label: New Moon

Then moving clockwise:

Next circle (about 1 o’clock position) → Waxing Crescent

Top circle (12 o’clock) → Quarter Moon

Top-right (2 o’clock) → Waxing Gibbous

Rightmost (3 o’clock) → Full Moon

Bottom-right (4-5 o’clock) → Waning Gibbous

Bottom (6 o’clock) → Third Quarter

Bottom-left (7-8 o’clock) → Waning Crescent

And the blanks are likely placed next to each accordingly.

But to be precise, let’s think about what the student sees.

In the actual worksheet (as described), the blanks are probably aligned so that:

- The blank under the leftmost circle → New Moon
- The blank to the right of the top-right circle → Full Moon? Not sure.

Alternative approach: Use the fact that the guide lists the phases in order, and the diagram goes around Earth in the same order as the Moon orbits.

Standard teaching: Start at New Moon (between Earth and Sun), then go counterclockwise.

So if Sun is on left, New Moon is on left.

Then counterclockwise:

1. Left: New Moon
2. Upper left: Waxing Crescent
3. Top: First Quarter
4. Upper right: Waxing Gibbous
5. Right: Full Moon
6. Lower right: Waning Gibbous
7. Bottom: Third Quarter
8. Lower left: Waning Crescent

Now, looking at the placement of blanks in the worksheet (from your description):

You mentioned:

- There's a blank under the left circle → that’s New Moon
- A blank under the bottom-left circle? Or perhaps the blanks are placed in a ring.

Actually, re-reading your initial prompt: "the phases of the moon" worksheet with 8 circles around Earth, and blanks near each.

I recall that in many versions of this worksheet, the blanks are placed in the following positions relative to the circles:

Starting from the left circle and going clockwise:

Circle 1 (left) → blank below → New Moon
Circle 2 (upper left) → no blank? Wait, you said there are 8 blanks.

Perhaps each circle has one blank associated.

Let me assume the blanks are labeled in clockwise order starting from the left.

So:

Position 1 (left): New Moon
Position 2 (upper left): Waxing Crescent
Position 3 (top): Quarter Moon
Position 4 (upper right): Waxing Gibbous
Position 5 (right): Full Moon
Position 6 (lower right): Waning Gibbous
Position 7 (bottom): Third Quarter
Position 8 (lower left): Waning Crescent

This is the correct scientific order.

Therefore, the answers for the blanks, in clockwise order starting from the left, are:

1. New Moon
2. Waxing Crescent
3. Quarter Moon
4. Waxing Gibbous
5. Full Moon
6. Waning Gibbous
7. Third Quarter
8. Waning Crescent

Now, to confirm with the guide: the guide lists exactly these 8 in that order.

So regardless of exact blank placement, if the student fills them in clockwise from left, they’ll be correct.

Final Answer:

The phases in order around the Earth (starting from the left and going clockwise) are:

- New Moon
- Waxing Crescent
- Quarter Moon
- Waxing Gibbous
- Full Moon
- Waning Gibbous
- Third Quarter
- Waning Crescent