There’s something truly magical about the glow of the moon and its changing phases. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomy enthusiast or just a curious parent looking for a fun family activity, this journal provides a fun activity that will nurture your kids’ curiosity about the cosmos.
The printable Moon Observation Journal includes a chart to record your moon observations and track the different phases. There is also an informational page that describes each moon phase – one page from the perspective of the northern hemisphere, and another for the southern hemisphere. I first started a moon journal with my not-so-little one when she was a toddler, and it has provided a lot of fun memories over the years as well as instilled a great love of science in her. I hope it does the same for you!
Feel free to use these journal pages at home, as part of your homeschooling curriculum, or in your classroom!
If you or your kids really love this activity, consider checking out if you have any observatories nearby. Many will have presentations and telescope viewing opportunities that are open to the public. We’ve attended many of these over the years and they are so much fun! Over the years we’ve heard talks from many astronomy professors and even scientists who worked on the James Webb Space Telescope. My daughter also has fond memories of being able to help control the movement of a huge telescope during a special telescope viewing event when she was little.
These events have often been free or very low cost too. This directory of observatories will help get you started in finding a location near you, and you can also reach out to local colleges, as many university astronomy departments offer similar programs open to the public.
Moon and Star Gazing Tools
There are lots of apps and tools to help you teach your little ones about astronomy, or learn for yourself!
SkyView Lite – App Store, Google Play – This app is so easy to use – just aim your phone at a section of the sky and it will show you and identify constellations, planets, and even satellites! The free version has plenty of features too.
Star Finder Map – If you’d like an analog option, these star finder maps are great! Just make sure you select the correct map for your location or the location you’ll be viewing from.
If you want a close look, this Gskyer telescope is a great beginner’s telescope that won’t break the bank. It even has an adapter so you can take photos with your phone! I also have a tutorial here for making a solar filter so you can view and photograph the sun!
Recommended Reading
Sky Gazing: A Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses, and Constellations is a highly visual guide to observing the sky with the naked eye, kids aged 9–14 will delve into the science behind what they see.
Once in a Full Moon is great to read to toddlers and up, as it tells the stories of the names of each of the full moons throughout the year.
For your middle school to early high school students, The Universe: The Big Bang, Black Holes, and Blue Whales takes a deeper dive into the science behind what they see in the sky!
The moon observation journal printable is in PDF format and sized for 8.5″ x 11″ prints. It includes:
- a moon observation chart
- a lesson on the moon phases and their definitions and positions in space
- a fun quiz to test your knowledge
- versions of all pages for both northern and southern hemisphere moon viewing


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