Grades 2–5
Space: True or False?
Ten facts about the sun, moon and planets to mark true or false, then fix two false ones.
Science worksheet · Solar system
Phases of the Moon
Label the eight phases of the moon, then answer questions about how the moon seems to change.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Topic
- Solar system
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- The solar system, Planet facts, Moon phases
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Label each phase. The moon goes through all eight in about 29½ days.
- Circle the answer.
- The moon shines because it makes its own light reflects light from the sun
- “Waxing” means the lit part is
- A full moon looks like getting bigger getting smaller a whole bright circle a thin sliver
Words on this sheet
new moonwaxing crescentfirst quarterwaxing gibbousfull moonwaning gibbousthird quarterwaning crescent
Teacher tip
Use a ball on a stick and a lamp: kids turn in a circle and watch the lit part change.
How to use it
- Line up eight kids as the planets in order across the room or the playground.
- Use a lamp and a ball to show why the moon seems to change shape.
- Let partners compare answers and settle any differences with a book or a video.
Watch for
The moon makes no light of its own. It reflects sunlight.
Talk about it
- Which planet would you visit and why?
- What evidence helped you choose your answer?
Take it further
Build a scale model of the planets’ distances with toilet paper squares in the hallway.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More solar system worksheets
Grades 2–5
My Planet Report
A research template for one planet: a drawing, its order from the sun, moons, length of a year and fun facts.
Grades 1–3
The Planets in Order
Label the eight planets in order from the sun, with a word bank and a sentence to remember the order.
Grades 2–4
Rocky Planets and Giant Planets
Sort the planets into rocky planets and giant planets, then answer five questions about them.
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