Focused Science Practice
Eclipses, Tides, & Phases of the Moon - All Activities
Everything on one page: spelling, matching, ordering, and the study guide. Pair Tier 3 words with pictures and reuse simple verbs (move, change, cover, pull).
Beginner ELL Core Idea
- The Moon moves around Earth.
- Gravity pulls the Moon and water.
- Moon shapes change in a cycle.
Spell the Moon/Eclipse/Tide Word
Press "Hear Word" to listen, "Slow Word" for slower audio, then spell it.
Select “Speak” to practice pronunciation with your voice.
Start typing above to see draggable letters.
Words in set
36
Accuracy
0%
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Match the word to its definition
Choose the correct vocabulary word for each definition.
36 to go
How much a line slants compared to another line.
The phase when we see the whole lit side of the moon.
A massive collection of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity.
The force that pulls objects with mass toward each other.
The phase when the moon is between Earth and the sun, so we see none of its lit side.
Describes something that is incomplete — only part of the whole.
The shape of the lit part of the moon that we see from Earth.
Where an object is compared with a chosen reference point.
A perfectly round, three-dimensional shape, like a ball.
A tide with extra-high high tides and extra-low low tides. It happens when the sun, moon, and Earth line up.
The regular rise and fall of the ocean’s surface, caused mostly by the moon’s pull.
A slant or lean away from straight up and down.
An imaginary line through the center of Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. Earth spins around it.
Describes a solar eclipse where the Moon appears too small to fully cover the Sun, leaving a bright ring visible around its edge.
The Sun’s outer atmosphere, visible around the covered disk during a total solar eclipse.
A thin, curved sliver shape, seen when only a small part of the Moon's lit side faces Earth.
Happening in a cycle that repeats.
An event where one object passes into the shadow of another, or blocks the view of another, in space.
A push or a pull.
Describes a Moon phase where more than half, but not all, of the visible side is lit.
The pull that objects with mass have on each other.
Describes a solar eclipse that appears annular along some parts of its track and total along others.
When Earth passes between the sun and the moon and Earth’s shadow covers the moon.
The name of the galaxy that contains our solar system.
A tide with the smallest difference between high and low water. It happens at the quarter moons.
The curved path of one object around another in space, maintained by gravity.
The track across Earth’s surface where the Moon completely covers the Sun’s visible disk during a total solar eclipse.
The lighter outer part of a shadow, where only some light is blocked.
A wave bouncing off a surface.
One full trip of an object around another object.
Spinning around a center line.
When the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks the sun’s light.
The stage of a solar eclipse when the Moon completely blocks the Sun's visible surface.
The darkest, center part of a shadow, where all of the light is blocked.
Getting smaller. The lit part of the moon we see is shrinking.
Getting bigger. The lit part of the moon we see is growing.
Spell Every Moon/Eclipse/Tide Word
Type each vocabulary word. Use the scrambled letters and definition clue for help.
Definition clue
How much a line slants compared to another line.
Definition clue
The phase when we see the whole lit side of the moon.
Definition clue
A massive collection of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity.
Definition clue
The force that pulls objects with mass toward each other.
Definition clue
The phase when the moon is between Earth and the sun, so we see none of its lit side.
Definition clue
Describes something that is incomplete — only part of the whole.
Definition clue
The shape of the lit part of the moon that we see from Earth.
Definition clue
Where an object is compared with a chosen reference point.
Definition clue
A perfectly round, three-dimensional shape, like a ball.
Definition clue
A tide with extra-high high tides and extra-low low tides. It happens when the sun, moon, and Earth line up.
Definition clue
The regular rise and fall of the ocean’s surface, caused mostly by the moon’s pull.
Definition clue
A slant or lean away from straight up and down.
Definition clue
An imaginary line through the center of Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. Earth spins around it.
Definition clue
Describes a solar eclipse where the Moon appears too small to fully cover the Sun, leaving a bright ring visible around its edge.
Definition clue
The Sun’s outer atmosphere, visible around the covered disk during a total solar eclipse.
Definition clue
A thin, curved sliver shape, seen when only a small part of the Moon's lit side faces Earth.
Definition clue
Happening in a cycle that repeats.
Definition clue
An event where one object passes into the shadow of another, or blocks the view of another, in space.
Definition clue
A push or a pull.
Definition clue
Describes a Moon phase where more than half, but not all, of the visible side is lit.
Definition clue
The pull that objects with mass have on each other.
Definition clue
Describes a solar eclipse that appears annular along some parts of its track and total along others.
Definition clue
When Earth passes between the sun and the moon and Earth’s shadow covers the moon.
Definition clue
The name of the galaxy that contains our solar system.
Definition clue
A tide with the smallest difference between high and low water. It happens at the quarter moons.
Definition clue
The curved path of one object around another in space, maintained by gravity.
Definition clue
The track across Earth’s surface where the Moon completely covers the Sun’s visible disk during a total solar eclipse.
Definition clue
The lighter outer part of a shadow, where only some light is blocked.
Definition clue
A wave bouncing off a surface.
Definition clue
One full trip of an object around another object.
Definition clue
Spinning around a center line.
Definition clue
When the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks the sun’s light.
Definition clue
The stage of a solar eclipse when the Moon completely blocks the Sun's visible surface.
Definition clue
The darkest, center part of a shadow, where all of the light is blocked.
Definition clue
Getting smaller. The lit part of the moon we see is shrinking.
Definition clue
Getting bigger. The lit part of the moon we see is growing.
Order the Moon Cycle
Start with a New Moon you cannot see, then Waxing (growing), Full Moon, and Waning (shrinking). The cycle repeats.
Reading
The Moon orbits Earth. Sunlight hits the Moon at different angles, so we see changing shapes. A New Moon is dark. A Waxing Moon grows. A Full Moon looks like a circle. A Waning Moon shrinks. The cycle is cyclical and repeats.
Tip: New Moon -> Waxing -> Full Moon -> Waning -> repeat.
Study Guide
Quick meanings for every word. Pair Tier 3 words with pictures for newcomers.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Angle | How much a line slants compared to another line. |
| Full Moon | The phase when we see the whole lit side of the moon. |
| Galaxy | A massive collection of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity. |
| Gravity | The force that pulls objects with mass toward each other. |
| New Moon | The phase when the moon is between Earth and the sun, so we see none of its lit side. |
| Partial | Describes something that is incomplete — only part of the whole. |
| Phases | The shape of the lit part of the moon that we see from Earth. |
| Position | Where an object is compared with a chosen reference point. |
| Sphere | A perfectly round, three-dimensional shape, like a ball. |
| Spring | A tide with extra-high high tides and extra-low low tides. It happens when the sun, moon, and Earth line up. |
| Tide | The regular rise and fall of the ocean’s surface, caused mostly by the moon’s pull. |
| Tilt | A slant or lean away from straight up and down. |
| Axis | An imaginary line through the center of Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. Earth spins around it. |
| Annular | Describes a solar eclipse where the Moon appears too small to fully cover the Sun, leaving a bright ring visible around its edge. |
| Corona | The Sun’s outer atmosphere, visible around the covered disk during a total solar eclipse. |
| Crescent | A thin, curved sliver shape, seen when only a small part of the Moon's lit side faces Earth. |
| Cyclical | Happening in a cycle that repeats. |
| Eclipse | An event where one object passes into the shadow of another, or blocks the view of another, in space. |
| Forces | A push or a pull. |
| Gibbous | Describes a Moon phase where more than half, but not all, of the visible side is lit. |
| Gravitational Pull | The pull that objects with mass have on each other. |
| Hybrid | Describes a solar eclipse that appears annular along some parts of its track and total along others. |
| Lunar Eclipse | When Earth passes between the sun and the moon and Earth’s shadow covers the moon. |
| Milky Way | The name of the galaxy that contains our solar system. |
| Neap | A tide with the smallest difference between high and low water. It happens at the quarter moons. |
| Orbit | The curved path of one object around another in space, maintained by gravity. |
| Path of Totality | The track across Earth’s surface where the Moon completely covers the Sun’s visible disk during a total solar eclipse. |
| Penumbra | The lighter outer part of a shadow, where only some light is blocked. |
| Reflection | A wave bouncing off a surface. |
| Revolution | One full trip of an object around another object. |
| Rotation | Spinning around a center line. |
| Solar Eclipse | When the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks the sun’s light. |
| Totality | The stage of a solar eclipse when the Moon completely blocks the Sun's visible surface. |
| Umbra | The darkest, center part of a shadow, where all of the light is blocked. |
| Waning | Getting smaller. The lit part of the moon we see is shrinking. |
| Waxing | Getting bigger. The lit part of the moon we see is growing. |