The movement of the Moon | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Approximately how many miles away from Earth is the Moon?

1 mile

200 miles

2,000 miles ✓

20,000 miles
Match the descriptions with the names of these objects in space.

Earth

⇔

A rocky planet ✓

The Sun

⇔

A star ✓

The Moon

⇔

A satellite of Earth ✓
The Moon is mostly made of ______ and dust.

'rock' ✓
Which statement about the Moon is true?

People have travelled to the Moon but not landed on it.

People have travelled to the Moon and walked on its surface. ✓

No-one has ever travelled to the Moon.
Which of these objects produces its own light?

The Moon

The Sun ✓

Cat's eyes

A mirror
Which statement is *not* a scientific skill involved in looking at the Moon every night for a month.

Observing the shapes of the Moon.

Recording the shapes of the Moon.

Enjoying the shapes of the Moon. ✓

Describing the shapes of the Moon.

Some objects in space move in different ways. Which statement is not true?

Earth rotates on its axis.

Earth orbits the Sun.

The Sun orbits Earth. ✓

The Moon orbits Earth.
Approximately, how long does it take the Moon to orbit Earth?

1 day

7 days

28 days ✓

365 days
Why do scientists use the word approximately to describe how long it takes the Moon to orbit Earth?

Sometimes it takes more than 28 days and sometimes it takes less than 28 days.

It is not exactly 28 days, it actually takes 27.3 days. ✓

Because no-one knows exactly how long it takes.
Which statement about the Moon is *not* true?

The Moon rotates on its axis.

The Moon orbits Earth.

From Earth, we only ever see the same side of the Moon.

From Earth, we see all of the Moon as it spins. ✓
Which statement explains what is happening when we see a full Moon in the night sky from Earth?

None of the Moon is being lit by the Sun.

All of the Moon is being lit by the Sun.

From Earth, the side of the Moon being lit by the Sun is facing us. ✓

From Earth, the side of the Moon being lit by the Sun is not facing us.
Which statement explains what is happening when there is a new Moon in the night sky from Earth?

None of the Moon is being lit by the Sun.

All of the Moon is being lit by the Sun.

From Earth, the side of the Moon being lit by the Sun is facing us.

From Earth, the side of the Moon being lit by the Sun is not facing us. ✓

Loading worksheet ...

Loading presentation ...

The Moon moves around the Earth. It takes approximately 28 days for the Moon to complete its orbit of the Earth.
As the Moon orbits the Earth, the same side of the Moon is always facing us.
We see the Moon because light from the Sun shines on the Moon and this light is reflected to Earth.
The Moon appears to change shape depending on the amount we see from Earth being lit by the Sun.

Pupils will think that the Moon actually does change shape, or that it becomes covered with clouds.

Pupils should use models to see and feel for themselves what is actually moving and how this affects the apparent shape of the Moon.

Moon - Our Moon is an object that travels around planet Earth.
Reflect - To reflect light is when light hits a surface and bounces off in another direction.
Orbit - Orbit is when something travels around a star, planet or moon.
Satellite - The Moon is a satellite because it moves around the Earth.
Observations - When we make observations we look closely at something and use other senses too.