Vocabulary
To shine light on an object and make it visible
Illuminate
How long does it take to complete a full cycle of Moon phases?
About one month
What must be in the middle for a lunar eclipse?
Earth
What does ‘not to scale’ mean in scientific models?
The model is not accurate sizing
This cartoon character lives in a pineapple under the sea.
Spongebob Squarepants
The border between light and dark on the Moon
Terminator
Why did the lit part appear larger several days later?”
The Moon moved so we see more of the lit half.
Why doesn’t a lunar eclipse happen every month?
The alignment isn’t perfect every orbit
Why do scientists use top-view diagrams?
To show positions, not appearances.
This red and powdery snack is the universal currency of middle school lunch trades.
Takis
A nearly circular path that an object travels around a larger object
Orbit
Which Key Concept explains why phases repeat?
Key Concept 8: repeated orbit patterns.
During a lunar eclipse, why is the Moon completely dark?
Earth blocks the sunlight
What does the dotted circle around moon represent?
The moon's orbit
In Fortnite, players celebrate a win with this phrase that means they were the final survivor.
Victory Royale
The shape of the lit part of the Moon as seen from Earth
Moon phase
You look at the Moon twice in one week and the illuminated part has gotten smaller each night. Give the scientific explanation.
The Moon moved so that we see less of the half that faces the sun
A classmate says the entire Moon can be lit at once. Using modeling rules, explain why this is incorrect.
Only the half facing the sun is lit at any time because light travels in straight lines
This cereal's mascot shouts “They’re grrrreat!”
Frosted Flakes
Students see a picture from the assessment showing half lit from the left. → “What vocab term explains why only one side is lit?
Light travels in straight lines
Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever appear completely dark? Explain using top-view reasoning.
Yes — but only when the lit half is facing away from Earth and the alignment allows us to see only the dark half
Explain what conditions make the Moon appear completely dark to someone on Earth.
Requires alignment + light in a straight line
In a top-view model, how should light on the Moon be drawn or described?
One half lit (the half facing the sun) and one half dark — no matter where the Moon is in its orbit.
Dr. Pepper and Alani