The Moon and Its Phases word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

The Moon and Its Phases word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this moon phases puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our space unit. The kids could look up and see the moon but had no idea why it seemed to change shape every few nights. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like new moon, crescent, first quarter, gibbous, full moon, last quarter, orbit, lunar, cycle, sunlight, shadow, waxing, waning, and eclipse. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the phases finally make sense.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue over which phase comes next or how to spell "gibbous." The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple moon circle drawings showing a few phases but nothing too busy.

Works for 2nd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers draw the eight phases in order on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.