This 3-page 4th grade science worksheet teaches students to tell a waxing Moon from a waning one. A short box on page 1 says a waxing Moon is lit on the right and a waning Moon is lit on the left, as seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Students then look at eight moon pictures, write W+ or W-, and name each phase from a word bank. Page 2 gives four starting phases and four empty circles for drawing what comes next. Page 3 is the answer key.
“Tell a waxing Moon from a waning Moon by the side that is lit.”
Spot the Phase asks for W+ or W- on all eight pictures.
“Put the phases of the Moon in order by saying which one comes next.”
Draw the Next Phase starts from the new moon, first quarter, full moon and third quarter.
A box with two rules. Waxing means the lit part grows and sits on the right. Waning means it shrinks and sits on the left.
Eight moons in two rows, two each of waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous and waning crescent, in mixed order. Students write W+ or W- and the phase name from a four-word bank.
Pictures of the new moon, first quarter, full moon and third quarter, each with an empty circle beside it. Students shade the next phase and write its name.
W+ or W- and the name for all eight moons, plus a description of what each drawing should look like.
Gibbous check
Walk the room during Part 1 and look at moons 2, 3, 6 and 8. Students who read the dark side instead of the lit side get the gibbous pairs backwards.
Swap and compare
Have partners draw the next phase on page 2 separately, then swap. A mismatch starts a quick talk about which side the light grows from.
Five-minute quiz
Use Part 1 alone after the lesson. Each phase appears twice, so an item missed twice shows a real gap.
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