Sun and
Moon
re and
tists – they love to explo
Children are born scien
enjoy doing
n
ca
u
yo
activities that
ny
ma
are
ere
Th
r.
ve
disco
scientist.
at home with your little
Questions
on?
• What shape is the Mo
at dif ferent
look dif ferent shapes
on
Mo
the
es
do
y
Wh
•
times?
• What is the Moon?
tRY tHis At HoMe
a
n around another ¼ of
5. Ask your child to tur
the torch. The ball
circle so they are facing
child’s perspective
should be unlit from the
w moon.
– this represents a ne
Phases of the Moon
e activity
tion of this Science Tim
See a video demonstra
.au
at www.questacon.edu
You Will Need
?
WHAt’s HAppeningthe
Earth,
• A small ball
• A torch
WHAt to Do
ll will be the
darkened room. The ba
1. Do this activity in a
the Sun and your child
Moon, the torch will be
will be the Earth.
front of them
ball at arm’s length in
2. The child holds the
torch on the ball.
as the adult shines the
ball from
shining the torch on the
3. Start with the adult
’s
shoulder. From the child
over the child’s head or
ll – this
l light up the whole ba
perspective the torch wil
.
represents a full moon
child to
und the Earth. Ask your
aro
es
olv
child
4. The Moon rev
towards the torch. To the
slowly turn ¼ of a circle
ts a
pear lit – this represen
half the ball should ap
half moon.
Open 9am – 5pm every day. Closed Christmas Day.
Admission fees apply.
King Edward Terrace, Canberra
t 02 6270 2893
around
As the Moon revolves
the Moon are in light
of
s
on
rti
po
dif ferent pro
times. From Earth’s
and shadow at various
s
ly see the lit up portion
perspective we can on
is
at
Th
.
ow
ad
sh
rts in
of the Moon, not the pa
on appears to change
Mo
the
of
e
ap
why the sh
each night.
DiscoveR MoRe
t. What shape is it?
Look at the Moon tonigh
little bit every night.
Watch as it changes a
of the Moon calendar
You can buy a phases
Moon diary!
or even keep your own
www.questacon.edu.au
tivities
tRY tHese otHeR Ac
on compared to
Mo
• Roughly how big is the
t your closed fist is
tha
d
ten
pre
u
yo
If
Earth?
onally, the Moon is
the Earth, then proporti
.
top part of your thumb
roughly the size of the
the Moon: You can use
• Take a closer look at
to take a closer look at
any magnifying device
le
of binoculars will enab
the Moon. Even a pair
e
es that you can’t se
you to see many featur
s.
unaided, such as crater
y
st of the stars in the sk
• Look at the stars: Mo
not look as bright as
are other suns. They do
are so far away. Some
our Sun because they
in fact other planets!
of the bright stars are
dif ference is that only
The best way to tell the
stars twinkle.
ReAD Books
ok
at your local librar y, bo
Have fun finding more
store or online.
s: Moon
• DK Eyewitness Book
by DK Publishing
by Gillia M. Olson
• Phases of the Moon
Open 9am – 5pm every day. Closed Christmas Day.
Admission fees apply.
King Edward Terrace, Canberra
t 02 6270 2893
go on An excuRsion
are some
on! Here
Go on a space excursi
erra region.
suggestions in the Canb
Space Lab
• Questacon: play in the
tend, predict
pre
to
ce
in Mini Q - a pla
and explore!
lex
e Communication Comp
• Canberra Deep Spac
of
st
km southwe
at Tidbinbilla, about 35
sa.gov
.na
cc
Canberra www.cds
s
investigAte WeBsite
for children about
bsites
There are also many we
suggest you start with:
We
.
the Sun and the Moon
Science Time Sun and
• Questacon Watch the
estacon.edu.au
Moon video at www.qu
rs
Bus Episodes Sees Sta
• The Magic School
om
www.veoh.c
and Out Of This World
nce.nasa.gov/kids
• NASA www.nasascie
w.kidsastronomy.com
• Kids Astronomy ww
for
like Google Earth, but
• Google Moon Just
m/moon
our Moon www.google.co
www
.questacon.edu.au
www.questacon.edu.au