Art Project: Phases of the Moon
Use Texture and Color to Create Waxing and Waning Moons
Apr 20, 2007
Begin this art project by talking about the texture of the moon. What kind of texture does the moon appear to have from looking at it with the naked eye? Talk about the crater-y surface texture that we see with our eye, but also have confirmed with photos from the moon and of the moon in outer space.
Find a texture in the classroom that could be used to create a crayon rubbing on an 8-1/2 x 11” sheet of white paper of a textured moon surface. Students could use cool-colored crayons for this to emulate the cool color of the moon high in the night sky. Though given the phrase, “Red moon at night, sailors delight”, it is also legitimate to create a yellow, orange, or red moon. This is a great place to discuss the difference between warm colors and cool colors. Suitable moon textures might include the bark from a tree, a clothing texture, a textured carpet, maybe even a rubbing from the texture on the bottom of a shoe. (Some shoe treads can be quite crater like.) The goal here is to have a white sheet of paper that has a moon texture suitable for cutting out the phases of the moon.
This is a good time to discuss the various phases of the moon: new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. Draw these phases and label them on a chalkboard, so students can see exactly what you are talking about. You can also discuss how the moon only appears to change shape because part of it is in light and part of it is in shadow.
Give each student a compass and have them use it to create 8, equal-sized circles on their moon texture paper. Students can go back and use a ruler (for the half moon) and a compass to alter the remaining moons to create the correct crescent and gibbous proportions on their moons. Have students use scissors to cut out their moons, now in their proper phases, and glue them on a black piece of construction paper in a vertical axis, with moons lined up in order to the left side of the paper.
Moons can be labeled with a separate piece of white paper, written in pencil, cut out, and glued carefully to the right of each moon phase. When completed, the moons line up on the left vertically, and the labels are appropriately placed to the right of the phases. When completed properly, students see the pattern of the shifting phases of the moon. This art project is meant for kids from ages 8-12 and teaches texture, how to use a compass, fine motor skills, and the phases of the moon. Remind your students that when they are out at night or during the day, they can see the moon and try to identify which phase it is in.
You can also read about eclipses of the moon in an article by Paul Heckert here.
