• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Happy Tot Shelf

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Browse All Activities
  • Activity Membership
  • Learning Space
  • Free Printables
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Browse All Activities
    • Activity Membership
    • Learning Space
    • Free Printables
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » DIY Learning Toys

    Published: Jun 12, 2018 · Modified: Feb 19, 2020 by Fynn · All activities should be supervised by an adult. This post may contain affiliate links.

    Moon Phases Learning Toy

    Phases of the Moon Learning Toy

    A fun and interactive way to learn about phases of the moon, there is little wonder why this is our most popular DIY learning toy! As the cup turns, the child will see the moon change throughout the lunar phase. Here’s how to make one!

    Teaching Moon phases to kids

    Materials

    This list contains affiliate links. Please see our disclaimer for details.

    • 2 large clear plastic cups
    • Black permanent marker pen
    • 1-inch diameter yellow circle
    • A piece of black construction paper
    • Basic stationery like glue, tape and ruler

    Directions to make this Moon Phases Learning Toy

    1) Measure the height of the plastic cup. Cut a rectangular piece of black construction paper with the height of the plastic cup as the length of the paper.

    2) Paste the yellow circle on the black construction paper.

    3) Roll the black paper up with the yellow circle facing out. Making sure that the yellow circle is not covered by the black paper. Insert the roll of black paper into one of the plastic cup. Then secure the black paper onto the cup.

    How to make Moon Phases learning toy

    4) Put this plastic cup with the black paper and yellow circle INTO the second plastic cup. NOTE: We will be drawing on the second plastic cup that’s outside in the following steps.

    5) Start by locating the yellow circle and write the name full moon under the yellow circle.

    TIP: To make sure we have enough space for all 8 phases of the moon, I drew the full moon, new moon and the two half moons (or first quarter moon and last quarter moon) first. Then I filled in the gibbous moons and crescent moons in the remaining spaces.

    6) Imagine the cups like a clock, with the full moon as the 12’o clock position, turn the cup so that the yellow circle is now in the 3’o clock position. Trace the outline of the left half of the yellow circle and fill in with the black marker. The left half of the yellow circle will be covered and the right half will appear as a half moon or first quarter moon. Write the name below.

    learning first quarter moon

    7) Now turn the cup so that the yellow circle is in the 6’o clock position. Using the black permanent marker pen, trace the outline of the yellow circle and fill in completely with the black marker. The yellow circle will be covered and will look like the new moon. Write the name new moon below.

    8) Turn the cup so that the yellow circle is now in the 9’o clock position. Trace the outline of the right half of the yellow circle and fill in with the black marker. The right half of the yellow circle will be covered and the left half will appear as a half moon or last quarter moon. Write the name below.

    9) Turn the cup so that the yellow circle is now in the 1.30 clock position. Trace a crescent on the left of the yellow circle and fill in with the black marker. The right uncovered part of the yellow circle will appear as the (waxing) gibbous moon. Write the name below.

    10) Turn the cup so that the yellow circle is now in the 4.30 clock position. Trace a gibbous (less than the full circle, but larger than the semicircle shape) on the left of the yellow circle and fill in with the black marker. The right uncovered part of the yellow circle will appear as the (waxing) crescent moon. Write the name below.

    Learning crescent moon

    11) Turn the cup so that the yellow circle is now in the 7.30 clock position. Trace a gibbous (less than the full circle, but larger than the semicircle shape) on the right of the yellow circle and fill in with the black marker. The left uncovered part of the yellow circle will appear as the (waning) crescent moon. Write the name below.

    12) Turn the cup so that the yellow circle is now in the 10.30 clock position. Trace a crescent on the right of the yellow circle and fill in with the black marker. The left uncovered part of the yellow circle will appear as the (waning) gibbous moon. Write the name below. The learning toy is completed! Now to play and learn with it!

    NOTE: I used this toy as a teaching tool for my then 4yo son to teach him about shapes of the moon during the lunar phase. Hence the use of the names half moons and not including the terms ‘waxing’ and ‘waning’. For teaching older children, you may like to use the full terms first quarter moon/ last quarter moon and include the terms ‘waxing‘ and ‘waning’. Older kids might be able to make this learning toy themselves too!

    Moon phases for kids

    SaveSave

    SaveSave

    SaveSave

    Bonus: Join my mailing list and download this free guide: 9 Simple Ways to Spark a Love of Learning in your Children. Get this guide now>>

    Don't forget to pin this idea for later!

    Phases of the Moon Learning Toy

    Are you following HTS on Instagram?

    I share lots of fun and hands on learning ideas daily over at HTS Instagram. Follow us on IG too!

    More DIY Learning Toys

    • Happy Tooth, Sad Tooth - A Cute Dental Health Printable Activity for Toddlers
    • Feed the monster letter activity for preschooler
      Feed the Monster Preschool Letter Matching Activity
    • Word family sunflower learning toy
      Paper Plate Sunflower Word Family Activity
    • 20 Learning activities with Bottle caps and pouch lids
      20 Hands-On Learning Activities with Bottle Caps and Pouch Lids

    Sharing is caring!

    124394 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    About Fynn

    Fynn is a Math and Science teacher from Singapore, author of The Happy Learning Book for Siblings and founder of Happy Tot Shelf. She helps parents enjoy home learning with their children through her highly popular kids' activity membership, The Happy Learners' Club. Fynn has been featured in various newspapers, websites and on radio shows as an expert in early childhood learning and creative hands-on learning ideas.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. building toys for preschoolers                 says

      June 28, 2018 at 10:55 pm

      Awesome post ! child are playing and enjoy for toys .its rally love.

      Reply
      • happytotshelf says

        June 29, 2018 at 1:31 am

        Thank you for your kind words!

        Reply
    2. Carol L. Matthews says

      August 29, 2019 at 8:51 am

      Normally, I don't use kids' toys in my high school marine science classroom, but this is a very clever and easily model that I think would be very helpful when teaching the effect of moon phases on tides. I have a mechanical solar system that I use as a demo, but students in the back of the room often can't see it very well. I would probably make several of these ahead of time and keep as a classroom set. Great idea!

      Reply
      • happytotshelf says

        August 29, 2019 at 11:24 pm

        I'm so glad to hear that this will be useful for your classroom!

        Reply
    3. Tanya says

      July 11, 2020 at 7:16 am

      This is absolutely wonderful! Great job and thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Jody L Hodges says

      January 12, 2021 at 6:30 pm

      Shouldn't we move the moon in a counter-clockwise position since that is the direction it revolves around the Earth?

      Reply
    5. Aditsya Arvind says

      January 19, 2022 at 2:59 am

      I like the toy.

      Reply
    6. Phases Moon says

      May 12, 2022 at 9:42 am

      Good and simple idea!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi there, I'm Fynn, an educator, author and mom of 3. I believe nurturing a love of learning begins at home. I'm here to help parents nurture a love of learning and build a strong bond with their children through fun learning together.

    More about me →

    Spring Learning

    • Word family sunflower learning toy
      Paper Plate Sunflower Word Family Activity
    • Dot Marker Flower Painting
      Dot Paint Flowers with Flower Stencils Printable
    • 1 to 1 correspondence counting with paper clip leaves
      Paper Clips Flower and Leaves Counting
    • Pouch Cap Flowers Counting DIY Toy to learn 1 to 1 correspondence
      Pouch Cap Flowers Counting Box

    Popular Posts

    • Volcano theme based learning activities
      5 Benefits of Theme-based Learning
    • 18 Fun Chinese New Year Activities for Kids
    • Garden Theme Learning Activities for Kids
      Garden Theme Learning Activities and Learning Shelf
    • 20+ Weather Theme Learning Activities for Preschoolers
    • 15+ Fun Learning Activities for Fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
    • Daily Schedule with a baby and 2 Kids at Home

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Fynn
    • Meet the HTS Team
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use

    Resources

    • Activity Index
    • Activity Membership
    • Free Printable
    • Learning Space Course

    Buy my books

    • Sibling Activity Book
    • Happy Learning Math Books

    Copyright © 2023 Happy Tot Shelf

    124394 shares