Moon Light Phases

Materials

· Black cardstock

· Cup template

· Moon phase stickers

· White crayon

· Yellow tissue paper

· Binder clip

· 3 volt battery

· Red and black wire

· 2- LEDs

· Moon phases labels

· Brad

· 2- 8 oz. cups

· Copper tape

· Scissors

· Glue stick

Procedure

1. Use the scissors to cut out the shape that’s on the white paper. Use the white crayon and trace the white shape on the black cardstock. Cut out the shape from the black paper (don’t forget the circle), glue the yellow tissue paper to the back of the circle, and then place it inside one of the clear cups.

2. Turn the cup upside down so the larger end is on the black paper. Use the white crayon to trace around the cup. Do the same for the other end of the cup. Cut out the two circles.

3. Place the smaller circle in the bottom of the same cup that you placed the shape in. Now you have an all black cup and a clear cup. Place the black cup inside the clear cup.

4. Add the labels to the outside of the cup, one at a time 1/2 an inch away from each other. In order for the labels to fit on the cup, place them vertically so the words are sideways. Here is the moon phase order: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, 1st Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, 3rd Quarter, and Waning Crescent. (See video for reference)

5. Time for the moon stickers! Use the scissors to cut out the completely filled in black circle sticker. Find the new moon label and place the sticker you just cut out above the label, right below the rim of the cup. Continue this step for all of the stickers except skip placing a sticker on the cup when you get to full moon. Just move past it. You will want to make sure for full moon, the light gets through all the way.

6. Time to add the circuit! In the center of the large black circle, you will make 2 holes about 1 inch away from each other. Poke a hole with the brad about 1.5 inches away from the outside of the circle. Secure the binder clip to the side of the paper closest to the brad.

7. Find the longer prong of the LED, this is your positive prong. Push the 2 prongs through the other hole from beneath the black paper. Attach the longer end to the positive side of the battery by making a loop with the copper tape. Stick the positive side of the battery to the paper with the longer prong of the LED between the tape loop and the paper. Twist one end of the black wire to the metal part of the binder clip and the other end around the shorter prong of the LED. For the red wire, twist one end to the bottom of the brad and tape the other end to the negative side of the battery, facing up. To make the switch work, simply hold the binder clip and touch the metal part to the head of the brad. (See video for help with circuit)

8. Let’s put the night light together! Place the lid with the LED facing down on top of the cups. While holding onto the top inside cup, twist the outside counter-clockwise and enjoy the moon phases. Watch the shapes change and move through the lunar (moon) cycle. To turn off the night light, pull the binder clip up.

Science Behind it!

Astronomers use tools to look up at the moon and galaxy. Did you know that the moon is always there, the moon we can see is illuminated or lit up whereas the other part of the moon is not lit up. When looking up at the night sky, what moon phase do you see? Use the night light you just made to be able to tell which phase the moon is in. Astronomers use telescopes to gain insight into the activities happening beyond what our eyes can see. You get to use the rotating night light to learn the phases of the moon, which is just the beginning of exploring our universe.

The word, “Waxing” means becoming or growing and “Waning” means to fade away or shrink. This is why when the moon is getting bigger or growing, that phase of the moon is called waxing and when it gets smaller, the moon is in its waning phases. As to remember the lunar phase by the shape, think of a crescent like you eat around the holidays. The word “Gibbous” means protruding or bulging. In all of the 8 phases, you can be an astronomer and match your night light up to the night sky every night.