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Full Moon Facts & Worksheets

The full moon is a moon phase when the moon appears completely illuminated when seen from Earth. A full moon happens once a month when the Earth is situated exactly between the Sun and the Moon.

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The full moon is a moon phase when the moon appears completely illuminated when seen from Earth. A full moon happens once a month when the Earth is situated exactly between the Sun and the Moon. The hemisphere of the moon facing Earth is completely luminous.

See the fact file below for more information on the full moon or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Full Moon worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

CHARACTERISTICS

  • When the moon is fully illuminated as seen from Earth, we call it a full moon. This occurs about once a month.
  • The moon rises around the time when the sun sets.
  • It does not necessarily last all night and day because moon phases continuously wane or wax.
  • The schedule of full moons includes exact dates and even exact times (in Coordinated Universal Time).
  • Full moon is not the best time to make astronomical observations of the moon because its usual shadows are not there, and the bright reflection outshines the brightness of the stars.
  • A supermoon is a lunar phenomenon when a full moon (or new moon) is closer to the Earth than usual, nearly coinciding with perigee.
  • The perigee is the point in the moon’s orbit closest to Earth.
  • A full supermoon was observed on December 12, 2008, March 19, 2011, and November 14, 2016.

LUNAR ECLIPSE

  • A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon gets into Earth’s shadow.
  • During a lunar eclipse, the moon may appear reddish because of the refraction of sunlight and the Rayleigh scattering of blue wavelengths.
  • A lunar eclipse only occurs when the full moon is around the ascending or descending node of the moon’s orbit.
  • A lunar eclipse happens roughly every six months and often two weeks before or after a solar eclipse.

BLUE MOON

  • A full moon usually happens once a month but a full moon happening for the second time in a month is called a blue moon.
  • A blue moon may also refer to the third of four full moons in one season between either solstice or equinox.
  • The term “blue moon” was first used in the 16th century but its usage spread in the United States upon the publication of the Farmers’ Almanac in 1818.

NAMING FULL MOONS

  • In the past, month names were derived from names of moons.
  • When the Julian calendar was introduced during the Roman Empire, this practice changed.
  • Full moons have developed new names like blue moon and supermoon.
  • A full moon during a lunar eclipse may also be referred to as a blood moon due to its reddish appearance on the near side of the moon.
  • A full moon in summer or autumn may be called a harvest moon or a hunter’s moon.

HARVEST MOON

  • A full moon is called a harvest moon or a hunter’s moon during the late summer and autumn in the northern hemisphere.
  • The harvest moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox.
  • A harvest moon usually occurs in September.
  • A hunter’s moon is the full moon following the harvest moon. It usually occurs in October.

FOLKLORE

  • Some myths about full moons include its relation to insanity and insomnia (the inability to sleep).
  • The term lunacy refers to insanity associated with the full moon.
  • A person who is affected by lunacy is called a lunatic.
  • Another folktale is that a person can supernaturally transform into a wild creature such as a wolf during a full moon. This supernatural folktale is called lycanthropy.

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

  • Because of the bright moonlight from a full moon, it’s easier for some animals to see and communicate.
  • The eagle owl communicates through its white feathers during a full moon.
  • Predators have a hard time searching for prey to hunt because prey animals lay low because of the bright environment.
  • Certain species of sea turtle wait for the full moon to lay their eggs. The tide is higher during a full moon so the eggs will be taken further onto the shore.

LUNAR INFLUENCE

  • Some studies show that the full moon may negatively affect a person’s mood if they are sensitive to the moon’s gravitational pull.
  • A study has found that sleep is also affected by a full moon. It either resulted in a poor quality of sleep or a lack of it.

HISTORY OF THE MYTHS

  • For a long time, a full moon and manic activity have been strongly linked, even by professionals.
  • It was Hippocrates who first described the lunatic myth in the 5th century BCE when he wrote: “One who is seized with terror, fright and madness during the night is being visited by the goddess of the moon.”
  • In the 18th century, people in England could use the full moon as an excuse for a crime such as murder on the grounds of lunacy.

Full Moon Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the full moon across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Full Moon worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the full moon which is a moon phase when the moon appears completely illuminated when seen from Earth. A full moon happens once a month when the Earth is situated exactly between the Sun and the Moon. The hemisphere of the moon facing Earth is completely luminous.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Full Moon Facts
  • Full or False Moon
  • Special Moons
  • Lunar Phases
  • Full Moon Crossword
  • Myths vs. Facts
  • Werewolf Myth
  • Read and Answer
  • Quote Interpretation
  • Halloween Jingle
  • My Paper Plate Moon

Frequently Asked Questions

What is interesting about the full moon?

A full moon takes place every 29.5 days, so every two and a half years, we see two full moons in one month. The second full moon is called a “Blue Moon.” So, the saying “once in a blue moon” means that something is not common and does not happen often.

What do full moons mean spiritually?

The Moon is a symbol of both the physical and emotional body. The full moon is when you should be most receptive to taking in awareness from your spirituality, into both the emotional and physical parts of yourself.

What does moon bathing do?

Moon bathing, or sitting in the moonlight, is a long-standing summertime treatment to help people stay cool. Some also believe that lunar light exposure can help one relax and reduce stress and anxiety.

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Link will appear as Full Moon Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 8, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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