6th Grade Science

Investigating forces, energy, and Earth's place in the universe.

Advanced Topics

Seasons, Moon Phases, and Eclipses

How Earth’s Movements Shape What We See

The way Earth moves in space gives us different seasons, changing moon shapes, and even exciting eclipses!

Why Do We Have Seasons?

Earth is tilted as it orbits the sun. This tilt means different parts of Earth get more sunlight at different times of the year.

  • Summer happens when your part of Earth leans toward the sun.
  • Winter happens when it leans away.

Moon Phases

The moon looks different throughout the month because of how sunlight hits it as it goes around Earth.

  • New Moon: Can’t see the moon.
  • Full Moon: Whole moon is bright.
  • Quarter Moons: Half the moon is visible.

Eclipses

  • Solar Eclipse: The moon blocks the sun.
  • Lunar Eclipse: Earth blocks sunlight to the moon.

Why This Is Cool

Understanding these patterns lets us predict events like eclipses and plan fun activities like stargazing!

Examples

  • We have summer during June because our part of Earth faces the sun.

  • A lunar eclipse happens when Earth’s shadow covers the moon.

In a Nutshell

Earth's tilt and orbit create seasons, moon phases, and eclipses.

Seasons, Moon Phases, and Eclipses - 6th Grade Science Content | Practice Hub