The most important concept for middle school students when learning about the phases of the Moon is that THE SIDE FACING THE SUN IS THE ONLY SIDE THAT WILL BE LIT UP WITH REFLECTED SUNLIGHT!!!  There is no UP or DOWN in this picture just like it is in space.  The Moon Map must be rotated to see the moon as we see it as the moon changes phases.

The eight major phases of the moon are pasted on in counter clock-wise order as would be seen looking from a north polar view as would be seen in the NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

With the Earth in the middle and the daylight side of the earth facing the sun to the right,
1. THE NEW MOON PHASE is placed in the middle of the Earth and the Sun.
Going counter-clockwise the next phases are:
2. WAXING CRESCENT
3. FIRST QUARTER
4. WAXING GIBBOUS
5. FULL MOON
6. WANING GIBBOUS
7. LAST QUARTER (or 3rd quarter)
8. WANING CRESCENT
1. THE NEW MOON PHASE and the repeat of the 29.5 day Moon phase cycle.

The labels must match up with the moon photograph and the most important concept for middle school students to learn about the moon phase is that THE SIDE FACING THE SUN IS THE ONLY SIDE THAT WILL BE LIT UP WITH REFLECTED SUNLIGHT!!!