Use this free printable moon journal to record nightly observations of the moon. You’ll discover all kinds of fascinating things about how the moon travels and notice the various phases of the moon.
This science activity correlates to Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS) 1-ESS1-1.
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Kids are always naturally curious about the night sky, especially the moon! Lucy and Theo are always wondering why there are nights we can’t see the moon at all and are especially curious about why it always seems to change.
I decided to create this simple moon journal so we could observe the moon each night and notice the changes that occur as the days go by. (This post contains affiliate links.)
Astronomy for Kids: Free Printable Moon Journal
How to Use the Moon Journal
1. Print out one copy of the moon journal for each person.
2. Write the starting date at the top of your journal. (You can even use a fun pencil like this one!) Aim to check the moon around the same time each night. Notate the time at the top.
3. Each night observe the moon. Write the date below the small box you will be using and shade in the circle to resemble how the moon looks. Each night the moon will look different and be located in a different part of the sky!
4. Continue recording your observations each night. (On nights we weren’t able to check the moon, we put an ‘x’ over the box, and on nights it was too cloudy, we drew clouds over our moon.)
5. Once your journal is complete, look for patterns. What do notice?
More Information about the Moon
- It takes 29 1/2 days for the moon to go from a new moon back to a new moon.
- Waxing is when the lighted part of the moon gets bigger each night. Waning is when the lighted portion starts getting smaller.
- The moon rises at a different time each day of the month.
- This website has a nice chart with the phases of the moon and a map of the moon.
- You can check your local newspaper to see when the moon is new. There’s also websites like this one.