Here’s a simple, hands-on kids craft for teaching moon cycles — easy to make with household items and fun for little ones to play with after. We have been on a big moon kick at our house! Hope you enjoy this as much as we have.

Moon Phases Paper Plate Craft

Ages: 4+ (with help for cutting)
Time: About 20 minutes
Mess Level: Low

Materials

• 2 white paper plates
• Black construction paper (or you can color with a black crayon/marker)
• Scissors
• Glue stick or tape
• Yellow crayon or paint (optional)
• Marker (for labeling phases)
• Brass fastener (paper brad)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Moon Plate
   • On the first paper plate, draw and color a full moon in the center (you can make it yellow, or keep it white).
   • This plate will be your “moon view.”
2. Make the Viewing Plate
   • Take the second paper plate and cut out a wide window (about 1/3 of the plate) — this will reveal the moon phases underneath.
   • Color the rest of this plate black to represent the night sky.
3. Layer & Attach
   • Place the “moon plate” underneath the “viewing plate.”
   • Attach them in the center with a brass fastener so the top plate can spin.
4. Add the Moon Phases
   • On the moon plate, lightly pencil in where each phase will show through the window as you rotate.
   • Color in the phases:
     • New Moon (all black)
     • Waxing Crescent (thin white slice on the right)
     • First Quarter (right half white)
     • Waxing Gibbous (mostly white, left sliver black)
     • Full Moon (all white)
     • Waning Gibbous (mostly white, right sliver black)
     • Last Quarter (left half white)
     • Waning Crescent (thin white slice on the left)
5. Label the Phases
   • Around the edge of the top plate, write the names of each moon phase so kids can match them as they turn the plate.

Extra Fun Ideas

• Add glow-in-the-dark paint for nighttime learning.
• Use glitter for the stars around the moon.
• Make a mini booklet with facts about each phase to go with the craft.

Here’s a delightful list of children’s books about the Moon—perfect for story time, bedtime, or teaching lunar concepts in a fun and gentle way:

Recommended Children’s Books about the Moon

Fiction & Bedtime Favorites

• “Kitten’s First Full Moon” by Kevin Henkes
  A sweet Caldecott Medal–winning tale of a kitten mistaking the full moon for a bowl of milk. 
• “A Big Mooncake for Little Star” by Grace Lin
  A charming Caldecott Honor book where a girl named Little Star nibble at a “mooncake”—an imaginative reflection of moon phases. 
• “Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me” by Eric Carle
  A playful story about a dad retrieving the moon for his child—teaching about waxing and waning through collage illustrations.
• “I Took the Moon for a Walk” by Carolyn Curtis, illustrated by Alison Jay
  A lyrical, rhyming tale about a walk with the moon, perfect for soothing bedtime reading. 
• “Mooncake” by Frank Asch
  A bedtime tale featuring Bear who mistakes snow for the moon—sweet and whimsical. 
• “The Moon Child” by Nadia Krilanovich
  A dreamy, gentle story of woodland animals playing with the moon, ideal for winding down. 
• “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen
  A serene, Caldecott-winning tale of a nighttime owl outing with powerful lunar imagery. 
• “Many Moons” by Remi Courgeon
  A beautifully illustrated blend of fiction and moon-phase education, with imaginative descriptions like a cat’s tail crescent. 
• “Rabbit and the Moon” by Douglas Wood
  A folktale adaptation of a Cree legend, explaining how rabbit reached the moon. Soothing watercolor illustrations. 

Playful & Educational Nonfiction

• “Moon! Earth’s Best Friend” by Stacy McAnulty
  Narrated by the Moon itself—this fun and fact-filled portrayal is great for young children. 
• “The Moon Seems to Change” by Franklyn M. Branley
  A more instructional take on lunar phases—great for slightly older kids ready for straightforward learning.
• “Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11” by Brian Floca
  Gorgeous illustrations depict the awe and excitement of the first Moon landing—great for curious explorers.
• “Moon: A Peek-Through Board Book” by Britta Teckentrup
  A tactile board book with cut-outs showing lunar phases—perfect for hands-on interaction. 
• “A Moon of My Own” by Jennifer Rustgi
  Follows a girl’s journey travelling the world with the moon—mixes geography and starry storytelling. 
• “Moon Pops” by Heena Baek
  A culturally-inspired Korean tale where the moon melts—inspiring and visually delightful.
• “The Moon Tonight: Our Moon’s Journey Around Earth” by Jung Chang-hoon
  A gentle nonfiction story celebrating the lunar cycle, with parent-child scenes and supplemental educator resources.
• “Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing” by Chris Gall
  A fun adventure capturing Apollo 11 through a child’s imaginative lens.