Educational worksheet for matching moon phases to their correct names.
Worksheet titled "Phases of the Moon - Matching" with images of eight moon phases and blank lines for writing the correct names, with a list of phase names on the right side.
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Step-by-step solution for: Phases of the Moon Explained
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Phases of the Moon Explained
Let’s go step by step to match each moon phase image with its correct name.
We’ll look at how much of the Moon is lit up and which side is lit — that tells us what phase it is.
Here’s a quick guide:
- New Moon: Completely dark (not visible).
- Waxing Crescent: Small sliver on the right side lit.
- First Quarter: Right half lit.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half lit, but not full — still growing toward full.
- Full Moon: Entire face lit.
- Waning Gibbous: More than half lit, but shrinking after full.
- Last Quarter: Left half lit.
- Waning Crescent: Small sliver on the left side lit.
Now let’s match each number:
1. The Moon is completely dark → new moon
2. A small sliver on the *right* side is lit → waxing crescent
3. About half lit on the *right* side → first quarter
4. More than half lit, right side mostly lit → waxing gibbous
5. Fully lit → full moon
6. More than half lit, but now the *left* side is more lit → this is after full, so waning gibbous
7. Half lit on the *left* side → last quarter
8. Small sliver on the *left* side lit → waning crescent
Wait — let me double-check the images based on standard order.
Actually, looking again carefully:
Image 1: All black → New Moon ✔
Image 2: Thin light on RIGHT → Waxing Crescent ✔
Image 3: Half lit on RIGHT → First Quarter ✔
Image 4: Mostly lit, right side brighter → Waxing Gibbous ✔
Image 5: Fully lit → Full Moon ✔
Image 6: Mostly lit, but left side brighter? Wait — actually, in Image 6, the LEFT side is darker? Let me think...
Hold on — I need to be precise.
Standard sequence:
After Full Moon, the left side starts to darken → so Waning Gibbous has the *right* side starting to go dark? No — actually, when waning, the *left* side stays lit longer? Wait no — let's clarify:
In the Northern Hemisphere:
- Waxing phases: Light grows from RIGHT to LEFT.
- Waning phases: Light shrinks from RIGHT to LEFT → so the LEFT side remains lit longer during waning.
So:
- After Full Moon, the right edge starts to darken → so the lit part is mostly on the LEFT → that’s Waning Gibbous.
- Then Last Quarter: only LEFT half lit.
- Then Waning Crescent: thin sliver on LEFT.
So re-matching:
1. All dark → new moon
2. Thin light on RIGHT → waxing crescent
3. Right half lit → first quarter
4. Mostly lit, right side fully lit, left side partially → waxing gibbous
5. All lit → full moon
6. Mostly lit, but now the LEFT side is more lit? Actually, in image 6, it looks like the RIGHT side is darker — meaning the lit part is on the LEFT → that’s waning gibbous
7. Left half lit → last quarter
8. Thin sliver on LEFT → waning crescent
Yes, that matches.
But wait — let’s check the provided options again. The names given are:
- full moon
- new moon
- waxing crescent
- waning crescent
- first quarter
- last quarter
- waxing gibbous
- waning gibbous
And we have 8 images.
Final matching:
1. → new moon
2. → waxing crescent
3. → first quarter
4. → waxing gibbous
5. → full moon
6. → waning gibbous
7. → last quarter
8. → waning crescent
That uses all 8 terms correctly.
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Final Answer:
1. new moon
2. waxing crescent
3. first quarter
4. waxing gibbous
5. full moon
6. waning gibbous
7. last quarter
8. waning crescent
We’ll look at how much of the Moon is lit up and which side is lit — that tells us what phase it is.
Here’s a quick guide:
- New Moon: Completely dark (not visible).
- Waxing Crescent: Small sliver on the right side lit.
- First Quarter: Right half lit.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half lit, but not full — still growing toward full.
- Full Moon: Entire face lit.
- Waning Gibbous: More than half lit, but shrinking after full.
- Last Quarter: Left half lit.
- Waning Crescent: Small sliver on the left side lit.
Now let’s match each number:
1. The Moon is completely dark → new moon
2. A small sliver on the *right* side is lit → waxing crescent
3. About half lit on the *right* side → first quarter
4. More than half lit, right side mostly lit → waxing gibbous
5. Fully lit → full moon
6. More than half lit, but now the *left* side is more lit → this is after full, so waning gibbous
7. Half lit on the *left* side → last quarter
8. Small sliver on the *left* side lit → waning crescent
Wait — let me double-check the images based on standard order.
Actually, looking again carefully:
Image 1: All black → New Moon ✔
Image 2: Thin light on RIGHT → Waxing Crescent ✔
Image 3: Half lit on RIGHT → First Quarter ✔
Image 4: Mostly lit, right side brighter → Waxing Gibbous ✔
Image 5: Fully lit → Full Moon ✔
Image 6: Mostly lit, but left side brighter? Wait — actually, in Image 6, the LEFT side is darker? Let me think...
Hold on — I need to be precise.
Standard sequence:
After Full Moon, the left side starts to darken → so Waning Gibbous has the *right* side starting to go dark? No — actually, when waning, the *left* side stays lit longer? Wait no — let's clarify:
In the Northern Hemisphere:
- Waxing phases: Light grows from RIGHT to LEFT.
- Waning phases: Light shrinks from RIGHT to LEFT → so the LEFT side remains lit longer during waning.
So:
- After Full Moon, the right edge starts to darken → so the lit part is mostly on the LEFT → that’s Waning Gibbous.
- Then Last Quarter: only LEFT half lit.
- Then Waning Crescent: thin sliver on LEFT.
So re-matching:
1. All dark → new moon
2. Thin light on RIGHT → waxing crescent
3. Right half lit → first quarter
4. Mostly lit, right side fully lit, left side partially → waxing gibbous
5. All lit → full moon
6. Mostly lit, but now the LEFT side is more lit? Actually, in image 6, it looks like the RIGHT side is darker — meaning the lit part is on the LEFT → that’s waning gibbous
7. Left half lit → last quarter
8. Thin sliver on LEFT → waning crescent
Yes, that matches.
But wait — let’s check the provided options again. The names given are:
- full moon
- new moon
- waxing crescent
- waning crescent
- first quarter
- last quarter
- waxing gibbous
- waning gibbous
And we have 8 images.
Final matching:
1. → new moon
2. → waxing crescent
3. → first quarter
4. → waxing gibbous
5. → full moon
6. → waning gibbous
7. → last quarter
8. → waning crescent
That uses all 8 terms correctly.
──────────────────────────────────────
Final Answer:
1. new moon
2. waxing crescent
3. first quarter
4. waxing gibbous
5. full moon
6. waning gibbous
7. last quarter
8. waning crescent
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of phases of the moon worksheet.