The Moon's journey
Pupil resources for this lesson. Use these sheets alongside the matching slideshow.
GROW Science Autumn1 W7A The Moon Pupil
PUPIL WORKSHEET
The Moon's journey
Autumn 1 · Week 7 · Lesson A
Describe the Moon orbiting Earth roughly monthly; explain moonlight as reflected sunlight and ordinary phases as changing views of the illuminated half.
Monday ·40 minutes. Name:________________ Date:________________. Explain the Moon's orbit, reflected light and ordinary phases. Keep this sheet for Tuesday.
1. Arrival: a first idea
Supported: point to full Moon on the adult's phase strip. Standard: estimate the time for Moon to orbit Earth. Stretch: also name where its light comes from.
PUPIL TASK / Autumn 1 · Week 7 · Lesson A
2. Trace the light
Write, draw, point or dictate as agreed with your teacher.
Draw or explain a light path from Sun to Moon and then to an observer on Earth. Name the light source and the reflecting object. Use arrows or direct an adult.
PUPIL TASK / Autumn 1 · Week 7 · Lesson A
3. Watch three model views
Write, draw, point or dictate as agreed with your teacher.
The adult keeps the light direction fixed. Compare new, half and full from the same observer position; record or point to how much of the visible disc appears lit. The ball stays round.
| View | Visible lit portion |
| New Moon | |
| Half Moon | |
| Full Moon |
PUPIL TASK / Autumn 1 · Week 7 · Lesson A
4. Phase or eclipse?
Write, draw, point or dictate as agreed with your teacher.
Write ordinary phase or lunar eclipse. Explain how one eclipse example differs from the normal phase cycle.
| Observation | Phase / eclipse |
| Crescent Moon | |
| Full Moon | |
| New Moon is hard to see | |
| Moon goes dark red in Earth's shadow |
PUPIL TASK / Autumn 1 · Week 7 · Lesson A
5. True or false?
Write, draw, point or dictate as agreed with your teacher.
Mark each claim. Repair one false statement in your own words.
| Claim | True / false |
| The Moon reflects sunlight. | |
| The Moon glows by itself. | |
| Ordinary phases are Earth's shadow. | |
| The Moon orbits Earth in about a month. | |
| The Moon is only visible at night. |
6. Build the explanation
Complete: The Moon reflects_____. As it orbits_____, we see different amounts of_____. Keep the work and a question for Tuesday.
CHOOSE A RESPONSE ROUTE
Ways to show your understanding
Choose the route agreed with your teacher. You do not need to complete every route.
Supported
Point to a full-Moon example and identify Sun as the light source; adult reads/scribes statements.
Standard
Describe three views, sort claims and explain ordinary phases using orbit and reflected sunlight.
Stretch
Explain an eclipse/phase difference and distinguish an orbit from a full new-to-new phase cycle.
Source: Science_Teesside/Teaching_Packs/GROW/lessons/W7A/GROW_Science_Autumn1_W7A_The_Moon_Pupil.docx