Oreo Moon Phases

Yum! Let’s enjoy a bit of edible astronomy with this Oreo moon phases activity. Have you ever noticed the changing shape of the moon? Let’s explore how the moon’s shape or moon phases change over the month with a favorite cookie. Learn the moon phases with this simple moon craft activity and snack. Explore the moon with neat space activities all month long.

Learn About the Moon 

Add this simple Oreo moon phases activity to your space lesson plans this season. Let’s get twisting if you want to learn about the moon’s phases! Twisting apart the cookies, that is…

While you’re at it, make sure to check out these other fun space theme activities.

Our science activities are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun! Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home!

What are the Phases of the Moon?

To start, the phases of the Moon are the different ways the Moon looks from Earth over about a month!

As the moon orbits around the Earth, the half of the moon that faces the sun will be lit up. The different shapes of the lit up portion of the moon that can be seen from the Earth are known as the phases of the Moon.

Each phase repeats itself every 29.5 days. There are 8 phases that the moon goes through.

HERE ARE THE MOON PHASES (IN ORDER)

NEW MOON: A new moon cannot be seen because we are looking at the unlit half of the Moon.

WAXING CRESCENT: This is when the Moon looks like a crescent and gets bigger in size from one day to the next.

FIRST QUARTER: Half of the lit portion of the Moon is visible.

WAXING GIBBOUS: This occurs when more than half of the lit portion of the Moon can be seen. It gets bigger in size day by day.

FULL MOON: The entire lit portion of the moon can be seen!

WANING GIBBOUS: This occurs when more than half of the lit portion of the Moon can be seen but it gets smaller daily.

LAST QUARTER: Half of the lit portion of the Moon is visible.

WANING CRESCENT: This is when the Moon looks like a crescent and gets smaller in size from one day to the next

Click here to get your printable Moon Activities.

You’ll find an Oreo moon phase printable included!

Oreo Phases of the Moon

Let’s dig into the cookie bag and learn about the different phases of the moon and what causes us to see only part of the moon at certain times of the month! 

This fun Oreo moon phases activity lets kids combine a fun snack with simple astronomy.

YOU WILL NEED:

Note: This Moon phases project can be easily done with construction paper!

• Oreo cookies or similar generic brand
• Paper plate
• Marker
• Plastic knife, fork, or spoon (for carving out the moon phases)
• Glass of milk (optional for dunking the Moon)

HOW TO MAKE THE PHASES OF THE MOON WITH OREOS

STEP 1: Open up a pack of cookies and twist eight cookies carefully apart.

STEP 2: Use the edge of a fork to draw a line down the center of the icing, carefully scrape off half the icing, and set it onto the top of the paper plate to begin your first quarter Moon cycle. 

STEP 3: Work from left to right on your cookie moon cycle, with the next being waxing gibbous. Use the fork to draw the line, scrape off the icing, and set on the left of the first quarter Moon. 

STEP 4: Work your way around: full Moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent, new, waning crescent, and back to the first quarter. 

STEP 5: Once all the Oreo Moon’s are on the plate in a circle, carefully draw the Earth in the center with markers. 

STEP 6: Use a marker or pen to write which Moon phase each cookie represents next to the appropriate Moon cookie model.

Phases of the Moon Tips

If you can’t use food to illustrate the phases of the moon, why not try this moon phases craft activity using paper or felt?

More Fun Space Activities For Kids

Pair this solar system project with one or more of these hands on space activities for kids. Here are more fun ways to learn about our solar system…

• Solar system lapbook project
• Make a solar system diorama
• Build your own satellite
• Learn about constellations
• Create a DIY planetarium
• Build an Aquarius Reef Base model
• Make a lunar lander model
• Make a pinhole camera to view an eclipse

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Printable Space Projects Pack

With 250+ pages of hands-on, fun space themed fun, you can easily explore classic space themes with your kiddos, including moon phases, constellations, the solar system, and of course the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar landing with Neil Armstrong.

⭐️ Activities include supply lists, instructions, and step-by-step pictures. Also Includes FULL Space Camp Week. ⭐️

Celebrate the 1969 lunar landing with easy-to-do activities at home, with groups, at camp, or in the classroom. Read up on this famous event and learn more about Neil Armstrong as well.

• Moon STEAM activities combine science, technology, engineering, art, and math with supply lists, set up and process photos, and science information. Craters, fizzy moon rocks, edible moon phases, watercolor galaxies, a DIY planetarium, bottle rocket, and so MUCH MORE!

• Printable Moon STEM challenges that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Also included, is a Moon theme STEM Story with challenges perfect for going on a STEM adventure inside or outside!

• Moon phases & Constellation activities include charting moon phases, oreo moon phases, moon phases mini book, and more!

• Solar System activities include a solar system lapbook template and plenty of information to learn about the solar system and beyond!

• Moon extras include I-Spy, algorithm game, binary code project, 3D rocket building, thaumatropes, and MORE!