Oreo Moon Phases (Grades K-5)

This is a tasty way to learn about the phases of the moon. 

What are the different phases of the moon? Use sandwich cookies to see for yourself what they look like. 

This activity is courtesy of NASA and was provided to Summer Adventure by the Dudley Observatory.

What You Need

• Four or five sandwich cookies, such as Oreo cookies
• Piece of paper
• Pen or pencil

What To Do

1. Twist apart each cookie. Do your best to keep all the cream filling on one side of the cookie when you open the sandwich. 
2. Draw a large circle on your paper. Imagine that your circle is a clock, and make marks at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. 
3. To the right of the circle, draw a sun. In the center of the circle, draw the earth. 
4. Mark the 12 o’clock position as “first quarter.” Scrape the filling off the left half of a cookie, and place it here. 
5. Mark the 3 o’clock position as “new moon.” Place a blank cookie on this space. 
6. Mark the 6 o’clock position as “third quarter.” Scrape the filling off the right half of a cookie, and place it here. 
7. Mark the 9 o’clock position as “full moon.” Place a cookie fully covered in filling at this position.