{"id":4271,"date":"2025-04-14T13:18:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T13:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/?p=4271"},"modified":"2026-07-23T16:45:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T16:45:56","slug":"moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\/","title":{"rendered":"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4271\" class=\"elementor elementor-4271\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef3dc91 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ef3dc91\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-081d7dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"081d7dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7090152 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7090152\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44ee0c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"44ee0c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Introduction: Why Does the Moon Look Different Every Night?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a 7th-grade classroom, a student once asked, \u201cWhy does the Moon change shape?\u201d This question opens the door to an engaging lesson on Moon phases and its fascinating surface.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From waxing crescents to full moons and back again, the Moon\u2019s changing appearance is a result of its orbit and how sunlight reflects off its surface. However, many students struggle to visualize this process\u2014making it the perfect topic for a visual and interactive approach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/science-video\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">JoVE\u2019s standards-aligned videos<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> simplify complex concepts like lunar phases and surface features, making them easier for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/solutions\/middle-school\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">middle school <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">students to understand and remember.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df603ce e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"df603ce\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dead711 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dead711\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Does the Moon Have Phases?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-677c910 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"677c910\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c10b569 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c10b569\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding Moon phases starts with recognizing that the Moon doesn\u2019t actually change shape\u2014it\u2019s all about how much sunlight we see from Earth as it moves in its orbit.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-203b853 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"203b853\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=Jw7vE1sJYiI&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;play_on_mobile&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;mute&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50dc160 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"50dc160\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dba21f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dba21f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Moon Orbit and Illumination<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Moon completes one orbit around Earth approximately every 29.5 days. During this time, different portions of its sunlit half are visible, giving us:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Moon<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waxing Crescent<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First Quarter<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waxing Gibbous<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full Moon<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waning Gibbous<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last Quarter<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waning Crescent<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83c\udfa5 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Jw7vE1sJYiI\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch JoVE\u2019s Moon Lesson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to see this process animated with clarity and precision.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e308475 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e308475\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d91503 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d91503\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Classroom Activity \u2014 Modeling the Moon\u2019s Phases\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8aa59f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f8aa59f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e1dcc5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e1dcc5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hands-on learning deepens understanding. This flashlight-and-foam-ball model allows students to simulate Moon phases and see light and shadow in real time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the activity, explain that models help make distant and complex systems\u2014like the Earth-Moon-Sun relationship\u2014easier to grasp.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Materials Needed<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small white foam ball (Moon)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pencil or stick<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lamp or flashlight (Sun)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dark room<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notebook for observations<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Activity Steps<\/b><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Attach the foam ball to the pencil for easy rotation.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a darkened room, place a lamp in the center as the \u201cSun.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students walk in a circle around the lamp holding the \u201cMoon\u201d and observe how the light changes.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students record and label each phase observed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cff0c4e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cff0c4e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9673be1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9673be1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> Exploring the Moon\u2019s Surface Features\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87af1fd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"87af1fd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7295ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d7295ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from its changing shape, the Moon has intriguing surface characteristics that tell stories about its formation and history.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What\u2019s on the Moon\u2019s Surface?<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Craters:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Created by asteroid and meteoroid impacts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Maria:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Dark, flat plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Highlands:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Elevated, lighter-colored areas composed of older rocks<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-342584c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"342584c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0f21be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e0f21be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Common Misconceptions About the Moon\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f94ac6e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f94ac6e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc6cc85 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bc6cc85\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Middle schoolers often arrive with persistent misconceptions about the Moon. Addressing these early makes for clearer scientific understanding.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>H3: Debunking Lunar Myths<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u274c <\/span><b>The Moon generates its own light.<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2705 It reflects sunlight from the Sun.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u274c <\/span><b>The far side of the Moon is always dark.<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2705 It gets sunlight too\u2014we just never see it from Earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u274c <\/span><b>Craters are volcanic in origin.<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2705 Most result from impacts by space debris.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">JoVE\u2019s visuals help replace myths with accurate representations that middle schoolers can understand and remember.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05a09ea e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"05a09ea\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-702f460 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"702f460\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> Connecting Moon Phases to Earth Science Lessons\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a1bd8b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0a1bd8b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-539568f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"539568f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lunar science fits perfectly into broader Earth science concepts, such as tides and eclipses.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Why It Matters<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tides:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Caused by the Moon\u2019s gravitational pull on Earth\u2019s oceans<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Eclipses:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Happen when the Moon or Earth blocks sunlight in specific alignments<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17f5bc7 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"17f5bc7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8778973 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8778973\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion \u2014 Let Your Science Lessons Shine Bright\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1271dc8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1271dc8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbe8707 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fbe8707\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explaining the Moon\u2019s phases and surface features doesn\u2019t have to be challenging. With <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">JoVE\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> visual and interactive science content, middle school educators can make lunar lessons unforgettable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83c\udf15<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/highschool\/request-trial\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Book a FREE Demo Today to unlock full access to JoVE\u2019s Middle School Video Library and help your students explore the Moon with confidence and curiosity.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers Introduction: Why Does the Moon Look Different Every Night? In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4272,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ngss-standards"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Moon Phases and Surface Features Classroom Guide | JoVE K12<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Teach moon phases and surface features with JoVE K12 visuals that help students connect lunar patterns, observations, and space science vocabulary in class.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Moon Phases and Surface Features Classroom Guide | JoVE K12\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Teach moon phases and surface features with JoVE K12 visuals that help students connect lunar patterns, observations, and space science vocabulary in class.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"JoVE for K12\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-14T13:18:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-23T16:45:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nikita\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Nikita\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Nikita\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0ff4cdbe99d2228eccf9650bf05d0ce3\"},\"headline\":\"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-14T13:18:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-23T16:45:56+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":604,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"NGSS Standards\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\",\"name\":\"Moon Phases and Surface Features Classroom Guide | JoVE K12\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-14T13:18:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-23T16:45:56+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0ff4cdbe99d2228eccf9650bf05d0ce3\"},\"description\":\"Teach moon phases and surface features with JoVE K12 visuals that help students connect lunar patterns, observations, and space science vocabulary in class.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.jove.com\\\/schools\\\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"JoVE for K12\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schools.jove.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0ff4cdbe99d2228eccf9650bf05d0ce3\",\"name\":\"Nikita\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53c75525e86112c7ea0538346bc0d46d38de452f1042e3722927383fa7606ff8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53c75525e86112c7ea0538346bc0d46d38de452f1042e3722927383fa7606ff8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53c75525e86112c7ea0538346bc0d46d38de452f1042e3722927383fa7606ff8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Nikita\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Moon Phases and Surface Features Classroom Guide | JoVE K12","description":"Teach moon phases and surface features with JoVE K12 visuals that help students connect lunar patterns, observations, and space science vocabulary in class.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Moon Phases and Surface Features Classroom Guide | JoVE K12","og_description":"Teach moon phases and surface features with JoVE K12 visuals that help students connect lunar patterns, observations, and space science vocabulary in class.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers","og_site_name":"JoVE for K12","article_published_time":"2025-04-14T13:18:06+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-23T16:45:56+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Nikita","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Nikita","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\/"},"author":{"name":"Nikita","@id":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/#\/schema\/person\/0ff4cdbe99d2228eccf9650bf05d0ce3"},"headline":"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers","datePublished":"2025-04-14T13:18:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-23T16:45:56+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\/"},"wordCount":604,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png","articleSection":["NGSS Standards"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers\/","url":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers","name":"Moon Phases and Surface Features Classroom Guide | JoVE K12","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png","datePublished":"2025-04-14T13:18:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-23T16:45:56+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/#\/schema\/person\/0ff4cdbe99d2228eccf9650bf05d0ce3"},"description":"Teach moon phases and surface features with JoVE K12 visuals that help students connect lunar patterns, observations, and space science vocabulary in class.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Explaining-the-Moons-Phases-and-Surface-Features-for-Middle-Schoolers.png","width":1920,"height":1080,"caption":"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/moon-phases-and-surface-features-explained-for-middle-schoolers#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Explaining the Moon\u2019s Phases and Surface Features for Middle Schoolers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/","name":"JoVE for K12","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/#\/schema\/person\/0ff4cdbe99d2228eccf9650bf05d0ce3","name":"Nikita","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53c75525e86112c7ea0538346bc0d46d38de452f1042e3722927383fa7606ff8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53c75525e86112c7ea0538346bc0d46d38de452f1042e3722927383fa7606ff8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53c75525e86112c7ea0538346bc0d46d38de452f1042e3722927383fa7606ff8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Nikita"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}