5 surprising, silly and sciencey Moon facts for children! Did you know the Moon smells like burnt fireworks? Or that a Moon day is longer than a whole month on Earth?
At OKIDO, we love turning big science ideas into exciting, bite-sized facts that spark curiosity in young minds.
1. The Moon is shrinking (just a little bit!)
Scientists have discovered that the Moon is gradually shrinking. It’s cooling down inside - just like a pie coming out of the oven - and as it does, the surface contracts and wrinkles, kind of like an old raisin. These wrinkles create cliffs that can be hundreds of metres tall!
So even though the Moon looks calm and still from Earth, it’s very slowly changing shape. But don’t worry - it’s only shrinking by about 50 metres every few hundred million years!
Try this at home: Peel an orange and leave it out for a day or two. Watch how it shrinks and wrinkles - just like the Moon’s surface. Try measuring it with a bit of string before and after; what's the difference?
2. There are Moonquakes!
Yes, the Moon has quakes too! Called moonquakes, they shake the surface of the Moon. Some are caused by meteoroids hitting the surface, others by Earth’s gravity tugging at it like a cosmic game of tug-of-war. And some happen deep inside the Moon, possibly from its cooling core.
Some moonquakes last up to 10 minutes - much longer than earthquakes on Earth. This is because the Moon doesn’t have water or a soft crust to absorb the shaking. If we ever build Moon bases in the future, we’ll need to make sure they’re quake-proof!
Ask your child: “If we had a house on the Moon, what would we need to protect it from moonquakes?”
3. The Moon has no wind, so footprints stay forever
There’s no atmosphere on the Moon - no air, no wind, and no rain. That means there’s nothing to blow away or wash away marks on the surface. When astronauts walked on the Moon in 1969, they left footprints, rover tracks, and even scientific equipment - and it’s all still there!
Those footprints could stay for millions of years unless a meteoroid crashes into them. It’s like the Moon is a giant dusty scrapbook!
Fun fact: The first footprint on the Moon was made by astronaut Neil Armstrong, and it might be the most famous footprint in history.
4. The Moon can make animals act a bit funny
Many animals behave differently when there’s a full Moon. Some frogs croak more often. Lions tend to hunt less. Crabs on tropical beaches time their mating dances with the Moon. Even birds change their flight patterns!
Scientists think it’s because the Moon changes how much light is in the sky at night. Some animals use moonlight to find food - or avoid being eaten. It’s like the Moon is nature’s nightlight, guiding animals in surprising ways.
Chat about it: Next time there’s a full Moon, go outside and see if you can spot anything different - do birds sound louder? Is your pet acting silly?
5. There are Moon trees on Earth
In 1971, during the Apollo 14 mission, astronaut Stuart Roosa carried about 500 tree seeds into space. They orbited the Moon in his command module, then returned to Earth. After the mission, scientists planted the seeds to see how space travel might affect them.
Those seeds grew into Moon trees, and they’re now scattered across the United States and beyond. They look just like normal trees, but their journey is out of this world. You might walk past one without even knowing it!
Imagine this: “What if a seed from your garden went to space and came back - what would you name your space plant?”
Make Space for Play: Toys & Games for Young Astronauts
Extend your child’s space adventure beyond the page with OKIDO’s space-themed toys and games. Whether they’re piecing together the galaxy with our space jigsaw puzzle or building their own solar system, each toy encourages STEAM learning through creativity and fun.
Discover More Moon Magic in OKIDO Magazine
Our April issue of OKIDO is bursting with Moon-themed science fun - think craters, rockets, moon phases, and even a delicious half-moon empanadas recipe you can make at home. With poems, stories, games and doodles, it’s the perfect hands-on way for your child to learn through play.
Explore the April issue of OKIDO
