1. The light we see bouncing off of the moon is .

2. Why does the moon look so bright?

• The moon reflects a lot of light from both the sun and the other stars around it, which makes it very bright.
• The sun is much brighter than most of the other stars and the light from the sun reflects off the moon.
• The sun is closer than the other stars and the light from the sun reflects off the moon.
• The moon makes its own light.

3. In the winter, the amount of sunlight changes, but the do(es) not change.

4. Moon phases are a result of __

• the position of the moon relative to Earth and the sun
• the season of the year
• the time of the night
• the position of Earth relative to the sun and other planets

5.
Earth is slightly tilted on its axis. How does this affect us?

• Earth’s tilt determines when it is a full moon and when it is a new moon.
• It is nighttime when we are tilted away from the sun, and daytime when we are tilted towards the sun.
• Earth’s tilt affects the seasons.
• Earth’s tilt is what causes eclipses.

6. What is the best way to explain why the moon has different phases?

• Light from the Sun reflects off of the moon, but sometimes we can’t see all of the parts where the light hits.
• As the Moon gets further from the Sun, it gets darker. As the Moon gets closer to the Sun, it gets brighter again.
• The Earth blocks the Sun from hitting the Moon during some parts of the month and those parts appear dark.
• The Moon is a star and we can’t see it when it’s behind the Earth.

7. Which of the student models in figure B correctly shows the movement of the Sun and moon in Earth’s sky?

• B
• A
• C
• D

8. Which of these students’ explanations correctly describes a new moon (figure A)?

• Travis: “A new moon happens when the sunlight does not hit the moon.”
• Elliot: “A new moon happens when the sun’s light hits Earth, making it hard to see the moon.”
• Kimaya: “A new moon happens when the sun’s light hits the side of the moon that is facing away from Earth.”
• Oreen: “A new moon happens on nights when the moon does not give off its own light.”

9.
Why do we always see the same side of the moon?

• Because the moon and Earth spin on their axis and move in orbit at the same speed.
• Because the sun’s light only hits one side of the moon.
• Because we only see the moon at night.
• Because the other side of the moon is blocked by Earth’s shadow.

10.
Which student correctly identifies the phenomenon shown in this model?

• Connor: “This is a new moon.”
• Lynn: “This is a solar eclipse.”
• O’Shea: “This is a lunar eclipse.”
• Bettina: “This is a full moon.”

11. Which of these pieces of information is missing from the sun-Earth-moon model in figure A?

• Some of the names for the moon’s phases are missing.
• The model doesn’t show that the moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted.
• The model doesn’t show what the moon looks like from Earth.
• The model doesn’t show that the sun’s light only ever illuminates half of the moon.

12. Imagine that you are an astronaut standing on the moon, looking in the direction of Earth. From where you are standing, Earth looks completely dark. Using the model in figure A, what phase must the moon be in for this to happen?

• New moon
• Third quarter
• Waxing gibbous
• Full moon

13. Where does the sun’s light come from?

• It is reflecting light from the planets
• It makes its own light
• It is reflecting light from another star
• No one knows where the sun’s light comes from.

14. Your science class observed a total solar eclipse, where the moon casts a shadow on Earth. Your classmate Elsie asks, “How is a solar eclipse different from a new moon?”

In the space below, draw a model that shows the difference in the positions of the moon, Earth, and the sun in a solar eclipse versus a new moon. Use figure A to help you.