Our Moon is so present in our lives–always changing and freely observable.
Last night I went outside and watched the moon rise. It was so full and round! But I know in just a few nights it will seem to have changed its shape. But the moon doesn’t actually change it’s shape. It only looks that way to us on Earth.
We call the Moon’s different shapes phases. The phases repeat in a continuous cycle, so we can predict what the Moon will look like next year or in the next 100 years!
In the book A Moon of My Own an adventurous young girl journeys around the world (if only in her dreams) with the Moon as her companion, a magical friend and loyal guide. Along the way she discovers both natural beauty and man-made wonders.
I invite you to go outside (preferably with a child) and just look up! And if you wonder about any of these questions, you’ll find the answers in the A Moon of My Own:
- How far away is the Moon?
- Is the Moon bigger on some nights?
- Can you only see the Moon at night?
- Why are there different phases of the Moon?
- Does the moon look the same all around the Earth?
Then do an edible activity called Cookie Moon Phases…fun and delicious…and also informative! (Common Core and NextGen Science Standards are included.)
