Moon Phases Games for Kids

Preparation

• Kids with a basic understanding of the scientific concepts behind the moon phases are better equipped to engage in fast-paced games that require quick response times. Games should build on prior knowledge that children have about moon phases, so establish a platform of basic knowledge prior to playing these types of games. Introduce young children ages six to nine to the vocabulary of the moon phases prior to playing games. Older children from ages 10 to 14 are able to conceptualize the scientific phenomena that create moon phases.

Drawing Games

• Understanding moon phases largely depends on visual recognition of each phase, and drawing games challenge kids to recreate moon phases on their own. A variation on the game "Around the World" is best suited for classrooms. Flashcards with the name of a moon phase on one side and an image of the phase on the other side are presented to two students standing at the blackboard. The first student to correctly draw the phase listed on the card remains at the board, and the other student must sit down and select a challenger to take her place. Games continue until one student has successfully challenged each classmate. In smaller groups, replace the chalkboard with pieces of construction paper for head-to-head matches.

Scavenger Hunt Games

• Scavenger hunt games challenge kids to match up the shapes of the moon phases with items in their everyday world. Scavenger hunts are particularly useful because they can be used as classroom games, outdoor games or at-home games. For large groups, teams of children search for items together to score points. Provide a list of the moon phases with an image of the phase beside it. For older kids, provide only the name of the moon phase. Children then explore their space looking for objects that create the shape of each moon phase. Differentiate point values for more challenging phases. For example, a full moon shape should be worth fewer points than the more challenging waxing gibbous.

Physical Games

• Physical games engage kids who are kinesthetic learners rather than visual or aural learners. In physical games, kids use their bodies to complete the task related to moon phases. One option for a physical game is moon phase tableau race. Teams of three to four children use their bodies to create the phase of the moon called out by a teacher. The team to create the shape the fastest wins a point. Another physical game is a shadow game. Set a lamp in a doorway and provide a child with a tennis ball. The child must use her head to represent the Earth, the light source as the sun and the tennis ball as the moon to create shadows on the moon that demonstrate the phases. Time each child to see who can create the right shadows in the shortest amount of time.