Phases of the Moon Wheel
Introduction: Phases of the Moon Wheel
I was looking for something simple with minimal materials that our students could create and learn about the phases of the moon. After a couple of prototypes, I settled on this format. Hope your students enjoy making it.
Supplies
A black piece of construction paper, 45cm x 30cm
A white piece of standard size paper
Paper clip or compass
Straw
Circle template, 4cm diameter
Tape
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors/craft knife/Exacto knife
Eraser
Step 1: Fold the Paper
Fold the construction paper in half so that it is approximately 22.5cm x 30cm.
Step 2: Finding the Centre Point
On one side of the paper, located the centre point by drawing diagonals from opposite corners and make a pencil mark.
Step 3: Draw the Phases Circle
From that centre point, draw an 8cm circle using a compass or paperclip.
Step 4: Horizontal and Vertical Lines
With the fold at the bottom, draw a horizontal line through the centre point. Both ends of this line should be at the midpoint of the edges.
Draw a vertical line through the centre point that is perpendicular to the horizontal line that was just drawn. At this point you can erase the two diagonal lines used to find the midpoint.
Step 5: Make the Phase Sections
Draw two lines through the centre point which bisect the 90-degree angles created by the horizontal and vertical lines. This will create eight sections that will measure 45 degrees each.
Step 6: Drawing the Moons
At each point where the 8cm circle intersects with the lines drawn in the previous instruction, draw 4cm circles using a compass or 4cm template. Use the intersection point as the centre of the circle. Once complete you will have eight, 5cm circles drawn around the larger 8cm circle.
Use a black marker to trace the 4cm circles.
Step 7: Drawing the Phases
With a pencil, draw the phases of the moon inside the 8 circles with the “full moon” on the left circle. 294
Make a mark on the pieces that will need to be cut so each circle shows the appropriate phase. You can erase some of the straight lines outside the 4cm circles.
Note: you will cut out the portion of each circle that is visible in the “phases of the moon” picture.
Step 8: Cutting Out the Phases
Cut out the parts of the moon phases but don’t cut through the back page. Open the page up while cutting out the parts.
Poke a pin hole through the centre point so that it marks the second page.
Step 9: Make a Straw Hole
Open the page and make the pinhole on the second page large enough to fit a straw.
Step 10: Making Moon Phases Visible
Using white paper, cut out a circle large enough to cover all the moon phases. You can use the same paperclip or compass for this but make sure you cut the circle a little larger. To find the middle point draw diagonals from each corner.
Trim the circle so that when placed on the moon phases the white section only covers one phase. The shape will be like a keyhole or rectangle.
Step 11: Add the Spinner
Make four vertical cuts in one end of the straw then fold each piece/tab so they are perpendicular with the straw.
Place the straw on the centre point of the white paper and tape down the tabs. If you spin the straw, the white paper should spin with it.
Insert the non-cut end of the straw into the hole that was made on the second (or back) black page.
Step 12: Test It Out
Close the black paper and rotate the straw. The white page should show through each moon phase as it rotates.
Step 13: Write the Phases on the Wheel
Remove the straw and white paper then write the moon phase next to each location in white pencil crayon or marker. Now you can reinsert the straw and test it out. 6