Moon Phases and Tides

Experiment Recording Worksheet — Years 5–8

Name:

Date:

Group Members:

🌙 Part 1: Hands-on Model Exploration

Use the globe (Earth), styrofoam ball (Moon), and flashlight (Sun) with your group to model the Earth-Moon-Sun system. Record your observations below.

1. In the model, what did the flashlight represent, and why was it important for showing moon phases?

2. Label the eight moon phases in order, starting from New Moon. Write them in the spaces below:

1. New Moon 2. _________________ 3. _________________ 4. _________________

5. _________________ 6. _________________ 7. _________________ 8. _________________

3. During which phase could you see the most of the Moon's surface lit up from Earth? Circle your answer:

New Moon

First Quarter

Full Moon

Third Quarter

4. In your own words, explain why the Moon appears to change shape over the month. (Hint: think about the Moon's position around Earth.)

🌊 Part 2: Tides and Gravitational Pull Activity

Using the water tray activity, you explored how the Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans. Answer the questions below based on what you observed.

5. What did you notice happened to the water when you simulated the Moon's gravitational pull?

6. Match the moon phase to the type of tide it causes. Draw lines to connect them:

New Moon

Full Moon

First Quarter Moon

Third Quarter Moon

Neap Tide (smaller tides)

Spring Tide (very high tides)

Neap Tide (smaller tides)

7. Select ALL the statements below that are correct about tides:

The Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans to cause tides.

Spring tides happen during New Moon and Full Moon phases.

Tides have nothing to do with the Moon's position.

Neap tides occur when the Moon is at a quarter phase.

High tides happen on the side of Earth facing the Moon.

8. How do you think tidal patterns might affect people who fish or live near the coast in Aotearoa New Zealand? Give one example.

💭 Part 3: Reflect and Connect

9. What was the most interesting or surprising thing you discovered during today's experiments? Explain why.

10. Using what you have learnt today, complete this summary sentence:

The Moon takes approximately _________ days to orbit Earth. As it moves, we see different moon phases because of how sunlight hits the Moon from different angles. The Moon's _________________ pull on Earth's oceans causes tides to rise and fall. When the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in a straight line (during _________________ Moon or _________________ Moon), we get the strongest tides called spring tides.

11. Draw a simple diagram showing the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during a Full Moon. Label each object and show which direction the Moon's gravity pulls the tides.