Learn at LASM: Oreo Cookie Moon Phases

Recreate the lunar phases using the frosting from Oreo® cookies. Round cream cheese crackers can also be used if cookies are not an option.
Although there are other activities that place the phases in a circular formation, this may confuse students if they attempt to conceptualize the location of the Sun or Earth in relation to the Moon’s orbit. We recommend that students first learn to correctly match the names with the appearances of each phase, and to place them in order.
For very young students, you may want to model only 4 Moon phases (New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon, and Last Quarter Moon). Older students should be able to model all 8 phases. The Moon’s phases are a natural example of a recurring predictable cycle. They have been used as a calendar by many different cultures throughout history.