Gross Motor Game to Learn the Phases of the Moon

Kindergarten Moon Unit Study

We are almost done with our My Father's World Kindergarten moon unit study, but before we wrap it up I decided we needed to add in a gross motor game.  I am a firm believer in the power of active learning, or combining gross motor movement with educational activities.  We made an erupting moon cake to learn about the phases of the moon, and I thought it would be fun to play a gross motor game to see what J-Bug remembered.

How to Make a Phases of the Moon Gross Motor Game

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Supplies:

• black glitter felt
• white cardstock
• school glue

Directions:  First I have to tell you that I did not buy these pieces of glitter felt.  My sister was a first grade teacher for many years before becoming a stay at home mom, and I happened to be around when she cleaned out her classroom.  She generously gave me all the craft supplies she had purchased out of pocket.  I've had these pieces of felt for two years now, and I finally had a project worthy of using them.

I traced a bowl three times on white cardstock.  I cut out one full circle, a half circle, and a crescent shape using the tracings as a guide.  I used school glue to attach the white moons to the black felt.  Once they were dry I scattered them on our kitchen floor in preparation for our gross motor game.  Please note that we changed up the position of the game pieces several times.  They are not in any particular order.  

I called out, "New Moon!" or one of the other phases, and J-Bug jumped to it.  Our game was as simple as that, and there were lots of giggles.  We switched up the order.  Sometimes I jumped on a game piece, and J-Bug told me what it was.  If you want to get more technical you could get into waning and waxing moons.  We kept it light for now.  Please use caution jumping on felt on a slippery floor.  Our felt pieces gripped the floor enough to keep this safe and fun.

I want to point out that you do not need fancy game pieces to play this gross motor game.  J-Bug drew his own phases of the moon using black cardstock and a white colored pencil.  We played with his homemade pieces as well.  You could also take it outside and play with sidewalk chalk!

For more gross motor games follow me on Pinterest.

More ways to learn about the moon:

Erupting Moon Dust Sensory Tray ~ How Does the Moon Give Us Light? ~ Moon Dust Paint Recipe