Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes
The Moon and its phases
Space
CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS1-1England: KS2 Y5 Earth and space
Objective and success criteria
Students will: The Moon and its phases.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Day and night
Leads to: Solar and lunar eclipses
Materials: Torch and ball for a Sun-Earth-Moon model, Space images, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Day and night). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- How long does the Earth take to spin once? (about 24 hours / one year / one month / one week) → about 24 hoursPrompt: It is one day and one night.
- The Sun rises at 07:45 and sets at 20:30. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 12.75 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.
- Day and night: which statement is NOT true? (Night happens because the Sun switches off. / It is always daytime somewhere on Earth. / The Earth rotates once about every 24 hours. / The Sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west.) → Night happens because the Sun switches off.Prompt: Rotation and orbit are different movements.
Hook · 5 min
- Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
- Share the objective: The Moon and its phases. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Among the phases of the Moon, starting from new moon, which comes straight after "waxing gibbous"?
- Step 1: new moon → waxing crescent → first quarter → waxing gibbous → full moon → waning gibbous → last quarter → waning crescent
- Step 2: So the answer is: full moon
- Answer: full moon
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Among the main phases of the Moon, which comes straight after "new moon"? (full moon / first quarter / last quarter) → first quarterPrompt: Is the lit part getting bigger or smaller at this stage?
- What does the Moon orbit? (the Earth / Mars / the Sun only / nothing) → the EarthPrompt: Each lap of its orbit takes about 27 days.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Among the phases of the Moon, starting from new moon, which comes straight after "waning gibbous"? (new moon / full moon / last quarter / waxing crescent) → last quarterPrompt: "Waxing" means the lit part is growing.
- About how long is the cycle of Moon phases? (365 days / about 29.5 days / 7 days / 24 hours) → about 29.5 daysPrompt: It is roughly a month.
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Day and night.
- Use concrete materials: torch and ball for a sun-earth-moon model.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Solar and lunar eclipses.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder