Phases of the Moon

Most Montessori classrooms use a practical approach to explain different phases of the moon by using Phases of the Moon Puzzle.  The phases are named after how much of the moon we can see and whether the amount visible is increasing or decreasing each day. The names of these phases are:

New Moon: Phase 1 is known as New Moon.

Waxing Crescent: Phase 2 is known as waxing crescent.

First Quarter: Phase 3 is called as first quarter.

Waxing Gibbous: Phase 4 is called Waxing Gibbous.

Full Moon: Phase 5 is the full moon.

Waning Gibbous: Phase 6 is the Waning Gibbous.

Third Quarter: Phase 7 is the Third quarter or last quarter.

Waning Crescent: Phase 8 is the waning crescent moon.