If you do this activity, it counts towards an activity badge for Summer Library Challenge. Make sure you go back to Beanstack or talk to a staff member to mark your activity!
This special blog post is written by Mrs. K., the STEAM Queen of YS!
Happy STEAM Week! What could be better than combining a science activity with a yummy treat? For this Moon phase activity, we will do just that with classic Oreo cookies! Once every month, the Moon orbits the Earth. During this orbit, we see the Moon in different phases which are caused by the amount of sunlight that is reflected off the Moon.
You will need
- 8 Oreo cookies
- A popsicle stick or other tool for scraping the frosting
- A paper plate
What to do
- Gently twist each Oreo, keeping the frosting on one side when you separate the halves. Set the cookies without frosting aside. If it doesn’t work, eat the cookie and try again!
- Use the popsicle stick or other tool to carefully scrape off a portion of the white frosting to recreate the phases of the moon. You can help younger scientists by drawing a line in the frosting so they know how much to scrape off. Older scientists can form the phases by looking at the picture below.
- Arrange the phases of the moon in order on the paper plate.
Different phases of the moon
NEW MOON: When the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, it is not visible from Earth.
WAXING CRESCENT: As the Moon continues to orbit Earth, it becomes visible again. This is called the waxing moon (waxing means it’s getting bigger), and the initial phase is called the Waxing Crescent. The waxing moon gets bigger every night until it reaches the First Quarter, when we can see half of the Moon.
FIRST QUARTER: Half of the Moon is lit by the sun, and half is in shadow.
WAXING GIBBOUS: “Gibbous” means that more than half of the Moon is visible but not the entire circle.
FULL MOON: When the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, we can see the full circle.
WANING GIBBOUS: More than half of the Moon is visible and the lit portion gets smaller every day.
THIRD QUARTER: The opposite half of the Moon is lit compared to the First Quarter Moon.
WANING CRESCENT: Less than half of the Moon is visible and slowly decreases to the New Moon.
Watch the short video below, and try to name the phases that you see.
Fun moon facts
- The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and was formed 4.5 billion years ago.
- Gravity on the Moon is 1/6 the gravity on Earth.
- Twelve people have walked on the Moon.
- Footprints on the Moon will last for millions of years because there is no wind.
- The Moon is moving away from Earth at a rate of 3.78 cm per year.
- The Moon is about 239,000 miles from Earth.
- We will only ever see one side of the Moon from Earth because of synchronous rotation.
Read More!
A Big Mooncake for Little Star, by Grace Lin
The Moon Tonight: Our Moon’s Journey Around Earth, by Chang-hoon Jung
Wild Moon: How the Lunar Phases Light Up Our World, by Andie Powers
Thank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature’s Nightlight, by Melissa Stewart
