All lessons › Challenge: Moon, tides and eclipses › Lesson 2
Australian primary science · Years 5–6 (challenge) · Lesson 2 of 3
Eclipse detectives
Inquiry question: If the Moon goes around Earth every month, why don’t we see an eclipse every month?
Marked no materials needed
Pattern seeking
What students learn
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes exactly between the Sun and Earth (at new moon). A lunar eclipse happens when Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon (at full moon). Because the Moon’s orbit is tilted, the three only line up exactly a few times a year.
Success criteria
- I can use data to show which moon phase goes with each type of eclipse.
- I can explain why eclipses don’t happen every month.
- I can use eclipse patterns to make a prediction.
Preparation and materials
Before this lesson: Students can explain new moon and full moon positions (lesson 1).
- iPads with Bottlebrush Education open (nothing else needed) — 13 (one per pair)
- Projector or big screen — 1
Teacher setup
- Open Earth & space › Play › Space and rock clues on your screen to demonstrate.
- Check the iPads are charged and set to Your year › Years 5–6.
Safety and adaptations
Follow school science and equipment risk assessment procedures for the materials used.
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.
- Pairs study the eclipse table and find the pattern between the type of eclipse and the moon phase.
- Explain the pattern using a drawing of Sun, Earth and Moon positions for each type.
- Draw a side view showing the Moon’s tilted orbit passing above and below Earth’s shadow.
- Answer the puzzle in a claim, evidence, reasoning paragraph.
- Play Space and rock clues and pick out the questions about the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Teacher modelling prompt
Hold up two hula hoops or draw two ellipses on the board: a big one (Earth around the Sun) and a small one (Moon around Earth) tilted slightly. Think aloud: “If the Moon’s path were flat, every new moon the Moon would block the Sun. But it’s tilted, so most months the Moon passes just above or just below. Only where the two paths cross can everything line up.”
Record and explain evidence
Recording question: Why don’t we see an eclipse every month?
| Date | Type of eclipse | Moon phase | Which body is in the middle? | What I notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ________________ | ________________ | ________________ | ________________ | ________________ |
Example recording headings; record actual observations, including inconclusive results.
Discussion prompt
Which explanation also explains why eclipses come in seasons about six months apart?
Provided example or reference data
Real eclipses seen from parts of Australia (recent and coming)
| Date | Type | Moon phase that day | Where in Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 November 2022 | Total lunar eclipse | Full moon | Seen across Australia |
| 20 April 2023 | Total solar eclipse | New moon | Exmouth, Western Australia |
| 8 September 2025 | Total lunar eclipse | Full moon | Seen across Australia, early morning |
| 3 March 2026 | Total lunar eclipse | Full moon | Seen across Australia, evening |
| 22 July 2028 | Total solar eclipse | New moon | Path crosses WA, NT, Queensland and NSW, including Sydney |
| 25 November 2030 | Total solar eclipse | New moon | Path crosses parts of South Australia, NSW and Queensland |
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? What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?
Explain with evidence: Use the table to explain why a solar eclipse could never happen at full moon.
Apply the idea: A friend in Sydney asks whether she can see the 22 July 2028 eclipse at night. What would you tell her and why?
Teacher answer guidance and saved classroom work are available through the main lesson experience where supported.