Why settle for just reading about the moon phases when you can dive into the cosmos with this fun and free printable worksheet?
If you’re working on a lesson plan about the different moon phases, this free printable worksheet is a great way to give kids a hands-on learning experience.
Get ready to help your little explorers embark on a hands-on journey through the lunar landscape!
- Table of Contents
Benefits Of This Moon Phase Foldout Activity
Fine Motor Skills Development:
As kids color in the lunar phases, cut out the templates and glue pieces together, they strengthen their hands and hone their fine motor skills. Engaging in these fine motor tasks not only enhances their artistic abilities but also lays a foundation for skills essential in activities like writing and intricate handwork.
Astronomy Learning:
This activity is a fun way to engage little learners in science activities. As part of your moon unit study, children can learn about what they’re able to observe with the naked eye and which parts of the moon’s surface appear lit up in the night sky.
Pair this free phases of the moon worksheet with a moon observation journal to encourage active participation and a deeper understanding of the moon’s changing appearance over time.
Critical Thinking:
Following the step-by-step instructions for cutting and gluing involves problem-solving skills as children figure out how to align and connect the different parts to create the fold-out.
Independent Work:
Finishing the craft independently provides children with a tangible sense of achievement, boosting their confidence and self-esteem.
How To Use This Moon Phase Printable
The free printable template included in this article shows the different phases of the moon as they appear in the Northern Hemisphere. The template package includes a full-color answer key that shows each phase of the moon in the night sky and the names of each phase.
Step 1)
Download and print out the free template files in this article.
Decide if you’d like to use the full color option for the front cover of your moon fold-out, or the black and white version that you can color yourself.
Step 2)
Color in the moon phase fold-out sheets to demonstrate what part of the moon you can see at night in each phase.
Step 3)
Cut out the front cover moon pieces and trim the top and bottom edges of the fold-out sheets, then glue them together.
Start by gluing the center of the fold-out together. The ‘waxing gibbous’ and ‘full moon’ should be glued together.
Then glue one half of the moon front cover next to the ‘new moon’.
Glue the other half of the moon front cover next to the ‘waning crescent’.
Materials Needed
- Free printable templates
- Markers, colored pencils or crayons
- Glue
- Scissors
Free Moon Phase Foldout Activity File Download
Grab your free Moon Phase Foldout Activity file and start your lunar adventure!
This is for your personal use only, not for commercial purposes or resale. You can choose to print the full color cover sheet or the black and white version that you color-in yourself. You can print these pages on regular white paper at home or at your local print shop. Download, explore, and enjoy this activity!
Final Thoughts On This Moon Phase Foldout For Kids
Hands-on engagement through crafts not only enriches understanding but also ensures that every lesson is a fun and creative journey of discovery for your young learners.
If you like using crafts to enhance your Earth Sciences curriculum, you might also want to check out this Layers of the Earth activity next.
Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more hands-on activities, free printables and crafts for kids of all ages.
