The Moon: Phases and Why We See Them — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 5 the solar system & space worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 5 · Science · The Solar System & SpaceThe Moon: Phases and Why We See Them — Answers
Part A: Our Moon
Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.
The Moon travels around (orbits) the Earth. It does not make its own light. Like a mirror, it reflects light from the Sun. At any time, the half of the Moon facing the Sun is lit up and the other half is dark.
As the Moon orbits the Earth, we see different amounts of its lit half. This makes the Moon seem to change shape. These shapes are called the phases of the Moon. One full cycle of phases takes about one month (about 29 and a half days).
The phases, in order, are: new moon (the lit side faces away from us, so we cannot see the Moon), waxing crescent, first quarter (half of the disc looks lit), waxing gibbous, full moon (the whole disc is lit), waning gibbous, third quarter (also called last quarter) and waning crescent. Then it is new moon again.
Waxing means the lit part we see is growing. Waning means it is shrinking. Gibbous means more than half of the disc is lit. The Moon always keeps the same side facing the Earth.
A common mistake is thinking the Earth's shadow causes the phases. It does not. The Earth's shadow only falls on the Moon during a lunar eclipse, which does not happen every month.
- AIt makes its own light.
- BIt reflects light from the Sun.
- CIt reflects light from the stars only.
- DIt is very hot.
Answer: It reflects light from the Sun.
The Moon does not make its own light. We see it because sunlight bounces (reflects) off it.
- Aabout one month
- Babout one day
- Cabout one week
- Dabout one year
Answer: about one month
One full cycle of phases takes about a month (about 29 and a half days).
- Anew moon
- Bcrescent moon
- Cfull moon
- Dfirst quarter
Answer: full moon
At full moon the side of the Moon lit by the Sun is facing the Earth, so we see a whole round disc.
- AThe Earth's shadow covers part of the Moon.
- BClouds cover part of the Moon.
- CThe Moon changes size.
- DAs the Moon orbits the Earth, we see different amounts of its sunlit half.
Answer: As the Moon orbits the Earth, we see different amounts of its sunlit half.
Half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun. As the Moon travels around the Earth, we see more or less of that lit half.
- AThe lit part we see is getting bigger each night.
- BThe lit part we see is getting smaller each night.
- CThe Moon is not visible.
- DThe Moon is closest to the Sun.
Answer: The lit part we see is getting bigger each night.
Waxing means growing. Between new moon and full moon, we see more of the lit side each night.
Part B: Naming the phases
- new moon
- crescent
- gibbous
- full moon
- a thin curved sliver is lit
- the Moon cannot be seen
- the whole round disc is lit
- more than half of the disc is lit
Answer: new moon → the Moon cannot be seen; crescent → a thin curved sliver is lit; gibbous → more than half of the disc is lit; full moon → the whole round disc is lit
Answer: Sun
Answer: waning
Answer: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, full moon
Part C: True or false?
Write True or False.
Answer: False
The Moon only reflects sunlight. The Sun is a star that makes its own light.
Answer: True
The side facing the Sun is always lit. The phases depend on how much of that lit half we can see from Earth.
Answer: True
When the Moon is above the horizon during the day, we can often see it in the blue sky.
Answer: False
The phases are caused by how much of the Moon's sunlit half we see as it orbits. The Earth's shadow only falls on the Moon during a lunar eclipse.
Part D: Working scientifically: my Moon diary
Record your drawings in a table with the date, the time and the shape you saw.
For two weeks, look for the Moon each evening with a grown-up (on some days it is easier to see in the morning sky). Draw the shape of the lit part and write the date and time. If you cannot see the Moon, write why. Only look at the Moon — never look at the Sun.
Answer: The shape of the lit part of the Moon (its phase).
Answer: So the observations can be compared fairly; the Moon rises at a different time each night, so on some nights it may not be in the sky at that time.
Answer: Any one of: clouds, it is near new moon, the Moon has not risen yet or has already set, buildings or trees block the view.
Model answer: Over the two weeks the lit part of the Moon changed shape a little each night. It grew from a thin crescent to a full moon (or shrank from full to a crescent). This happens because the Moon orbits the Earth, so each night we see a different amount of the half of the Moon that is lit by the Sun.
Success criteria:
- Describes the lit part getting bigger or smaller night by night
- Uses phase names correctly
- Explains phases using the Moon's orbit and its sunlit half
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.
Great work. Here's what to try next: