This storybook is dedicated to all my future students who I hope to inspire.

One evening in early March, four friends gather in the school parking lot after their night of activities. The sky is filled with stars and the Moon is big and bright, lighting up the entire school campus.

My name is Courtney. I love to play softball and write poems!

My name is Miguel. I play the clarinet and my favorite subject is math!

My name is Derek. I have a passion for art and fashion! 

My name is Ellie. I love running and studying history!

"It's so good to see you all!" exclaims Courtney. "How was art club, Derek? What about your track workout, Ellie? And band practice, Miguel?"

"Awesome!" they all answer.

"I love how bright the sky is tonight. You can see all the stars and the Moon!"

"You're right, Miguel!" replies Ellie. "It looks like a Full Moon. I wonder when the last one was..."

March 9th

"I don't know," pondered Derek. "How long is the cycle through the Moon phases?"

"I've never thought about that! We should totally investigate this," Miguel suggested.

"Yes!! We could figure this out like scientists," Courtney stated proudly. "Lets make a plan."

"Today is Monday, March 9th. We can all meet every Monday at this time and observe the Moon. I'll draw pictures!" Derek responded excitedly.

"Sounds like a plan!" shouted Courtney.

March 9th

"Let's do it!" Miguel decided.

"I'm in!" Ellie added.

The friends arrive at the parking lot on March 16th, a week after their first Moon spotting. They are ready to investigate the length of the Moon phase cycle, but something is missing.

"Hey guys! I'm all ready to draw," Derek announces.

"There's a little problem," Ellie starts hesitantly.

"The Moon isn't out," Miguel remarks sadly.

"I've seen the Moon in the morning sky before...maybe we should look when we get to school tomorrow?" Courtney asks.

"I guess that will have to do. I hope I have something to draw tomorrow!" Derek says.

March 16th

"There it is!" Ellie yells.

March 17th

"We can definitely see less of the Moon now than last week.," Miguel explains.

"Since it was just a Full Moon, it is waning. Less than half is illuminated, so maybe a waning crescent?" Ellie wonders.

"I think so!" Derek and Courtney answer together.

"Yes...a little less than half of its surface is illuminated," Courtney adds.

"I'm sketching!" replies Derek.

"What phase would that be?" Miguel asks.

"See you all Monday night," says Ellie.

March 17th

"I have a sketch and description for March 16th/17th," declares Derek.

"Awesome! So we'll look again on Monday and if we don't see it, check in the next morning on the 24th?" questions Miguel.

"Yep! Good work team," Courtney praises.

"Another night with no Moon," Courtney observes.

March 23rd

"Wait a minute...we concluded the last Moon we saw was a waning crescent, right? Maybe its a New Moon which means we wouldn't see it at all, no matter what time it is," Miguel explains.

"That's right!" Derek responds. "We can check tomorrow morning, but it might be a New Moon tonight!"

"Looks like its a New Moon! Halfway through the cycle," Ellie notices.

"How long has it been since we started our investigation?" Miguel asks.

"We started on the 9th and now it's the 24th, so around 2 weeks," Derek answers.

"Half the cycle in two weeks...I think we might have something there!" Courtney exclaims.

March 24th

"The Moon is back!" Miguel says excitedly.

"The light is on the opposite side from when it was a waning crescent, so the illumination is increasing this time!" Courtney observes.

"So a waxing crescent! Sketching and describing now!" Derek responds while quickly scribbling in his notepad.

"This is so interesting! I'm curious to see if it will be back to a Full Moon next week," Miguel wonders out loud.

March 30th

"The Moon is fully illuminated again!" Ellie says, delighted.

"Full Moon, April 6th. We started with a Full Moon on March 9th, almost a month ago," Derek describes.

"So...the cycle through the Moon phases takes around a month or about 30 days," Courtney concludes.

April 6th