Montessori Moon Phase 3-Part Cards and Moon Journal

Since it’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival, we’re been using our Montessori moon phase 3-part cards and reviewing these terms in Chinese. To be honest, I’m relearning the moon phases in English, too!

Waxing Gibbous, anyone? I’m pretty sure my husband doesn’t know the moon phases in Korean or English, either haha. Please tell me we aren’t the only ones who keep forgetting these terms over the years!

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Anyway, I’m excited to show you these moon phase printables in Chinese, Korean, and English! I hope they can help your family with homeschooling, distance learning, or supplementing regular school.

Introducing moon phases to children

The most exciting way to introduce moon phases to kids is simply pointing to the moon in the sky! My kids love “finding” the moon in different parts of the sky and observing the shape changes.

Reading books about the moon in Chinese and English also helps with understanding these concepts bilingually.

In addition, we’ve had fun with various moon crafts, including:

• Sun & Moon Paper Roll Paint Stamp – Learn Chinese Characters 日 and 月
• Moon Phase Glue Resist Activity
• Mooncake Moon Phases Fun Play Dough Activity

The moon phases Montessori 3-part cards are perfect for observing NASA images of the moon and learning how to read each name!

Important moon phases vocabulary in Chinese, Korean, English

Below are moon phase names that we reviewed together.

The words are listed in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Hanyu Pinyin, Korean, and English.

• Moon*
  • 月球 (Yuèqiú) or 月亮 (Yuèliàng)
  • 삭
• Phases of the moon
  • 月相 (Yuè xiàng )
  • 달의 위상 or 월상
• New moon
  • 新月 (Xīn yuè)
  • 삭
• Waxing crescent – Right side 1-49%
  • 眉月 (Méi yuè)
  • 초승달
• First quarter – Right side 50%
  • 上弦月 (Shàngxián yuè)
  • 상현달
• Waxing gibbous – Right side 51-99%
  • 盈凸月 (Yíng tú yuè)
  • 상현망간
• Full moon -– 100%
  • 满月 / 滿月 / (Mǎnyuè)
  • 보름달(망)
• Waning gibbous – Left side 51-99%
  • 亏凸月 / 虧凸月 (Kuī tú yuè)
  • 하현망간
• Last quarter – Left side 50%
  • 下弦月 (Xiàxián yuè)
  • 하현달
• Waning crescent – Left side 1-49%
  • 残月 / 殘月 (Cányuè)
  • 그믐달
• Lunar eclipse – when Earth’s shadow blocks the sun’s light, which otherwise reflects off the moon
  • 月蚀 / 月蝕 (Yuè shí / Lunar eclipse)
  • 월식

In Chinese, 月球 (yuèqiú) is the scientific term while 月亮 (yuèliàng) is used colloquially in everyday conversation.

What you need for Montessori moon phase 3-part cards activity

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1. Montessori 3-part cards with folder template
   • English
   • Simplified Chinese
   • Traditional Chinese
   • Korean
2. Printer
3. White cardstock paper
4. Paper trimmer or scissors
5. Optional: Laminator and laminating pouches (consider for durability)

How to use Montessori 3-part cards to teach moon phase nomenclature

Each set of cards consist of 3 parts that are displayed in a divided stand, tray, or folder:

1. Picture (photo or realistic drawing)
2. Label (the picture’s name)
3. Control card with picture and label together

Moon phase control cards

Control cards can be used at any age to practice recognizing an image and learning nomenclature with the 3-period lesson:

• Period 1 – Introducing each moon phase name: “This is the moon. 这是月球 (Zhè shì yuèqiú).”
• Period 2 – Assessing whether a child can recognize the moon phase name without pressure to name it: “Show me the moon. 给我看月球 / 給我看月亮(Gěi wǒ kàn yuèqiú).”
• Period 3 – Seeing if the child can come up with the moon phase name when asked: “What is this? 这是什么？/ 這是什麼？(Zhè shì shénme?)

Matching moon phase 3-part cards

Younger children can match moon phases photos while those who are ready to read and use the word cards.

Because of the moon craters, matching images in this set is trickier than our other printable activities!

Because kids can self-check their work, 3-part cards encourage kids to complete matching independently. In turn, concentration and confidence grows!

Get your Montessori 3-part cards activity pack here

Have you used these moon phase Montessori 3-part cards?

If you try this activity, please let us know in the comments below! What age(s) are your kid(s) and how did it go? We’d love to hear about your learning experience!

Happy learning, friends!