All lessons › Moon Phase Case Files › Lesson 1
Australian primary science · Years 5–6 · Lesson 1 of 1
Moon Phase Case Files
Inquiry question: Why does the Moon appear to change shape?
Marked no materials needed
Analysing a supplied case file
What students learn
Explain the phase sequence and distinguish ordinary phases from eclipses.
Success criteria
- I can read the supplied evidence accurately.
- I can support an explanation using two details.
- I can identify a claim that goes beyond the evidence.
Preparation and materials
Before this lesson: Recall that the Moon reflects sunlight and orbits Earth. Distinguish a phase from an eclipse.
- Charged iPad per individual or pair — One per student or pair
- Projector — One
Teacher setup
- Open the assigned lesson and present the slides.
- Show the lesson QR; students enter one or two names and start.
- Use the lesson timings: allow 45–55 minutes plus first-use sign-in time. Do not add copying to fill a full hour.
- All evidence is supplied in the lesson. No equipment, worksheets or external websites are necessary.
Safety and adaptations
- Screen-based evidence inquiry only. Do not perform physical experiments or imitate hazards described in the case files.
Review your school policies and curriculum requirements before teaching.
How to investigate
The lesson sequence should leave pupils with evidence to interpret, not only an activity to finish.
- Order the five phases into a cycle.
- Describe what changes between days 8 and 16.
- Predict whether day 12 is waxing or waning.
- Use the Sun–Moon–Earth model to explain which part is sunlit and which part an Earth observer sees. Describe or sketch it.
- Describe why these days are approximate.
Teacher modelling prompt
Read day 8 as first quarter and day 16 as full. Show that the visible lit portion increases between them without Earth casting the usual phase shadow.
Record and explain evidence
Recording question: Why does the Moon appear to change shape?
| Day / phase | What we see | What changes? |
|---|---|---|
| ________________ | ________________ | ________________ |
Example recording headings; record actual observations, including inconclusive results.
Discussion prompt
Which claim is more strongly supported? Quote evidence and explain why.
Provided example or reference data
Illustrative approximate phase cycle
| Day | Phase | Visible lit portion |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New | Very little or none |
| 8 | First quarter | About half |
| 16 | Full | Nearly all |
| 23 | Last quarter | About half |
| 30 | New again | Very little or none |
Check the data source in the teacher lesson. Illustrative or fictional data are not measurements collected by your class.
Check understanding
What should pupils know? Does the Moon produce its own visible light?
Explain with evidence: Is day 12 waxing or waning?
Apply the idea: A crescent becomes a half-lit Moon several nights later. What changed, and what stayed the same?
Teacher answer guidance and saved classroom work are available through the main lesson experience where supported.