Mrs. Timmons asked her class to share their ideas about what causes the different
phases of the Moon. This is what some of her students said:
Mona: The Moon lights up in different parts at different times of the month.
Jared: The phases of the Moon change according to the season of the year.
Sofia: Parts of the Moon reflect light depending on the position of the Earth in rela-
tion to the Sun and Moon.
Drew: The Earth casts a shadow that causes a monthly pattern in how much of the
Moon we can see from Earth.
Trey: Different planets cast a shadow on the Moon as they revolve around the Sun.
Oofra: The shadow of the Sun blocks part of the Moon each night causing a pattern
of different Moon phases.
Natasha: The clouds cover the parts of the Moon that we can't see.
Raj: The Moon grows a little bit bigger each day until it is full and then it gets smaller
again. It repeats this cycle every month.
Which student do you agree with and why? Explain your thinking