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Astronomy Year / Week 02 / Wednesday
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Week 02 · The Moon Changes

Wednesday

Growing and shrinking
// Moon shapes and a moon log
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: Growing and shrinking

Rocket draws the Moon every night for a week. The lit part gets bigger!

"Is the Moon growing?" Rocket asks.

Raven checks the drawings. "What do you notice about the lit side?"

Nova hums. "Hint: there is a word for growing and a word for shrinking."

Waxing and waning

Waxing means the lit part grows bigger each night.

Waning means the lit part shrinks each night.

The Moon itself does not change size.

Only the lit part we see changes.

Here is a clue for where we live, in the north.

When the Moon is waxing, the right side is lit.

THE MOON GROWS
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
11
22
33
44
55
WAXING OR WANING?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
The lit part gets bigger each night. Is it waxing or waning?
The lit part gets smaller each night. Is it waxing or waning?
Does the Moon really get bigger and smaller?

The Moon shrinks too

After full moon, the lit part gets smaller.

The Moon is waning.

It goes waning gibbous, third quarter, then waning crescent.

Then it is new moon again.

THE MOON SHRINKS
  • Start at full moon.
  • Tap a card, then tap its spot.
11
22
33
44
WHICH SIDE IS LIT?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
In the north, which side of a waxing Moon is lit?
What comes right after full moon?
What comes right before full moon?
After the waning crescent, what comes next?
Moon wordTrue or false?
Waxing means growing.?
Waning means growing.?
The Moon itself changes size.?
After the waning crescent comes new moon.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEThese words tell which way the pattern is going.
Draw a waxing crescent and a waning crescent. Which side is lit on each?

Super sorting! Tomorrow we find out why the shapes change.

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