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Student Project .

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Look at the Moon! Journaling Project

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Subject
Science
Time Required
30 Days
Dec 2017 Supermoon

The Moon is the most visible object in our night sky, and it’s even sometimes visible in daylight. Have you noticed the patterns of the different Moon shapes, or phases, you can see? Keeping a Moon Journal for a month is a great way to see those patterns and be able to predict the phase that will appear the next night and next week.

Watch the Tutorial

See below for materials and step-by-step instructions. For more video tutorials and activities like this one, visit Learning Space.

Watch en Español: Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración.

In this episode of Learning Space, you'll find out how to make a journal showing the phases of the Moon by observing the Moon throughout the month and drawing what you see. | Watch on YouTube

Materials

Moon Journal Activity Materials - NASA/JPL Edu

Project Steps

  • Print it out

    Print out this blank calendar to use as your journal.

  • Look at the Moon

    You may start on any day of any month. Record the date and time of your first observation.

  • Draw the Moon

    Draw the Moon as you see it in the sky.

  • Repeat

    Do the same thing every day for an entire month, at least 30 days. If you can’t see the Moon one day, leave that day blank. We’ll fill it in later.

  • See a pattern?

    What patterns do you see? Use the patterns to predict what the Moon looked like on days you didn’t see it. Draw in the Moon for any days that are blank in your journal.

  • Check your work

    Once you are done observing for the month and filling in any blank days, check that your drawings are in the same order as this animation.

  • Label the moon phases

    Use this guide to label the eight moon phases in your journal.

  • What makes it do that?

    Moon phases are caused by the relative position of the Sun, Moon and Earth.

  • Keep going!

    Now that you're familiar with the phases of the Moon, you can build this Moon Phase Calendar and Calculator so you’ll know when and where to look in the sky for every phase of the moon this year!

    Find out more about the Moon and the NASA robots and humans who have visited it by visiting:

About the Author

Lyle Tavernier

Educational Technology Specialist, NASA-JPL Education Office

Lyle Tavernier is an educational technology specialist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. When he’s not busy working in the areas of distance learning and instructional technology, you might find him running with his dog, cooking or planning his next trip.

Lesson Last Updated: Oct. 30, 2024