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I recently discovered a fun and unique way to learn about the phases of the moon using Oreo cookies (or off brand sandwich cookies). Students are actively engaged in learning about the different phases of the moon by using Oreo cookies to construct each phase of the moon. I have attached a link to a free resource by Rockin' Teacher Materials-Hilary Lewis on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phases-of-the-Moon-Oreo-Activity-FREEBIE-158654

I hope this helps! 

Hello Shannon,

Popular activities like labelling handouts, cutting out paper or cardboard, and the popular (and tasty) turning cream-filled cookies into the different shapes only demonstrate that students can tell you what a waning gibbous or waxing crescent moon looks like.  I would say that these two-dimensional, hands-on activities may actually reinforce that the moon could be flat! 

Ask your students to just observe the moon.  What’s its shape, colour, placement in the sky?  Does it change during the day? Have them take photos or draw on calendars over a few weeks or months. The great thing: observe the moon during the day in your own school yard.   Can they create a model that explains what they observe?  [ Don’t worry if they don’t – western cultures didn’t really figure it out until Copernicus and Galileo came along.] 

Conduct a demonstration by putting a projector at one end of a darkened classroom or, better yet, a large space like a library or gym.  Have the students stand in a cluster in the middle with a large ball (Earth) and face the projector.  Spinning in place they should discern how day and night occurs.  With the students still in the middle, you walk counter-clockwise around the periphery with a ball representing the moon.  Observe and record the lit and unlit portions at different points in your orbit.  Other observations to make: walk clockwise; create eclipses; spin the moon at different rates.

The main ideas students need to understand are that the phases of the moon are caused by reflecting sunlight, being spherical and orbiting around the Earth. 

Hope this helps!

On YouTube, I found a great song called 'Moon Phases to Cee Lo’s Forget You.' This short audio-video goes through each phase of the moon in more details. A teacher took a popular song that is catchy and entertaining and modified it to teach this lesson. Students will be able to remain engaged and sing along. Link to the song is posted below:

https://youtu.be/HkvlrWpsnuQ

My 5th grade teacher gave us wooden spheres with sticks to hold onto, kind of like a wooden lollipop, and placed a bright lamp in the middle of the classroom, to act as the sun. He'd have all of us rotate our bodies to show the different phases of the moon. It was a fun activity and I'm sure your second grade class would enjoy it as well.

My 5th grade teacher gave us wooden spheres with sticks to hold onto, kind of like a wooden lollipop, and placed a bright lamp in the middle of the classroom, to act as the sun. He'd have all of us rotate our bodies to show the different phases of the moon. It was a fun activity and I'm sure your second grade class would enjoy it as well.

I would start by learning about the cultures in your class.  Many students use multiple calendars, the Gregorian for school/ work and a lunar calendar at home.   Students with that background have a different understanding of moon phases, and having observed the patterns so often, usually only need a little hands on with the how.

Hello Shannon, a fun activity regarding the phases of the moon that i always enjoyed doing, was with oreos. Each phase was represented with the amount of vanilla frosting remained on the oreo, it was always fun to do.

Hello Amanda,

Are you asking about misconceptions in general or related to the phases of the moon?

- Gabe