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Moon Phases and Maramataka
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Moon Phases and Maramataka
🌙 Part 1: Understanding Moon Phases
1. Why do we see different phases of the Moon? Circle the correct answer:
The Moon changes shape
Clouds cover different parts of the Moon
Different amounts of sunlight reflect off the Moon as it orbits Earth
The Earth's shadow falls on the Moon
2. How long does it take for the Moon to complete one full cycle of phases?
24 hours
7 days
29.5 days
365 days
3. Fill in the blanks about moon phases:
The Moon ________ around the Earth, and the ________ shines light on it. We see different amounts of the Moon's ________ surface depending on its position relative to Earth and the Sun.
🌕 Part 2: Naming the Moon Phases
4. Match each moon phase with its correct description:
1. New Moon
2. First Quarter
3. Full Moon
4. Waxing Crescent
5. Waning Gibbous
A. Entire Moon face is visible
B. Moon appears completely dark
C. Right half of Moon is visible
D. Small crescent getting larger
E. More than half visible, getting smaller
5. List the eight main phases of the Moon in order, starting with New Moon:
🌺 Part 3: Te Ao Māori and Maramataka
6. What is maramataka?
A Māori star map
The Māori lunar calendar
A traditional Māori dance
A type of Māori food
7. Check all the ways Māori traditionally used moon phases (multiple answers):
Planning when to plant crops
Deciding when to go fishing
Navigation
Understanding natural rhythms
Telling time during the day
8. Explain how observing moon phases connected Māori to their environment:
9. What is the Māori name for the New Moon phase?
🎨 Part 4: Drawing and Modelling
10. Draw and label a diagram showing the positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a Full Moon phase:
11. Draw the Moon as it would appear during each of these phases:
New Moon:
First Quarter:
Full Moon:
Last Quarter:
🔬 Part 5: Scientific Thinking
12. During your moon phase modelling activity, what did the torch represent?
13. Explain in your own words why we see different moon phases:
14. If you were looking at a Waxing Crescent moon, what would you expect to see in about one week?
New Moon
First Quarter
Full Moon
Last Quarter
15. Home Observation Challenge: Over the next week, observe and sketch the Moon each night. Record the date and phase name for each observation:
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