Phases of the moon in Oreo cookies

Creating phases of the moon with Oreo cookies (or similar chocolate sandwich cookies with white icing) is a good activity for many age groups. For pre-school children, it can be used to teach basic phases of the moon, and for older students, it can help them remember how the moon proceeds around the Earth with respect to the Sun. This activity is covered in many places, such as the NASA spaceplace website.

The worksheet provided below has 4 simple stages of the moon designed to be overlaid with cookies, and shows the procession of the moon around the Earth. Alternatively, you can have students make their own charts.

Package of Oreos or similar

A childsafe knife

Oreo moon phases worksheet

Printer paper

A Printer

Optional: Print out the moon phases worksheet Separate the two halves of the cookie by twisting them Use the knife to shape the icing in the shape of the phases of the moon. Place cookies over the spots in the worksheet. Or, create your own chart.

new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent