How many times have you looked up in the sky and seen a different shaped moon? Chances are if you look close enough, you’ll see how every day of the month the moon looks slightly different than it did the day before. Whether you are a parent or a teacher (or both) moon phases can be an exciting topic to explore with kids. When you get to bring the moons to life in 3D with your 3Doodler 3D printing pen it’s a tangible experience that helps lock in everything your learning. So grab your 3Doodler Start+ or Create+ 3D printing pens and let’s get learning.

The 8 Phases

There are eight phases of the moon, in order: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. The cycle repeats once a month (every 29.5 days). Although there are eight phases of the moon we are going to mostly focus on the four that are the easiest to see with the naked eye. This video creates a good visual of what is going on.

If you want to see another perspective of the moon check out this view of the moon Doodled by the artist Ricardo Martinez.

 

New Moon

During a New Moon, the moon is located between the Earth and the Sun, and as a result, isn’t visible to the human eye. The New Moon is considered “new” because it marks the start of the lunar cycle. It represents new beginnings, rebirth, potential, and stillness.

 

 

 

Waxing Moon

A waxing moon is the period of time when the moon appears to slowly grow fuller and bigger. This period includes the phases of waxing crescent, first quarter, and waxing gibbous. The waxing moon represents growth, personal development, decision-making, and progress.

 

 

Full Moon

Also known as the harvest moon, the full moon holds much power. During this time, the moon and the sun sit on opposite sides of the earth, lending the moon its bright, circular appearance. The full moon represents illumination, clarity, and completion.

 

 

Waning Moon

When the moon is waning, it appears to fade gradually from the sky (though of course, it’s always there). A waning moon includes the phases of waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. It symbolizes letting go, releasing, retreating, and surrendering.

 

 

 

 

So tell us, do you have a favorite moon phase? A fun discussion topic can be explaining which phase is your favorite, and why / how you got to that decision. But enough talking, let’s get hands-on with this subject!

STEM Moon Project

Now that we’ve learned about the different phases of the moon, it’s time to create our own 3D versions. Use this week’s stencil and tutorial to create your own moon diagram that’ll demonstrate your understanding of the different phases of the moon.