Materials
large black papereasellarge white paint paperwhite and black paintpaper plateshole punchwhite stringscissorstapeglue
Instructions
* August 15 is the traditional time for the August Moon Festival. TheFestival is a holiday marked by family reunions, moon gazing, and theeating of moon cakes (round pastries stuffed with red bean paste and anegg yolk, or fruit and preserves).1. Ask the children to describe the moon. Record what they say.2. Explain that in China people have parties to celebrate the moon. Tellthem this celebration is called the Moon Festival and that it takes placein the middle of August. Read a book about the Moon Festival. Ask thechildren if they would like to have their own Moon Festival in theclassroom.3. Cut large black paper to fit the easel. Encourage the children to paint anighttime sky on the paper using white paint. After these have dried,display them around the room. Print what the children said about themoon on lined paper and post their statements under their paintings.4. Place large white paint paper on an easel and encourage the children topaint another nighttime picture. Encourage them to leave a circle ofwhite paper showing to represent the moon.5. Make a Moon Mobile. Help the children punch holes around the edge ofa paper plate and tie white string through the holes. Tie moon and starshapes (created by the children) to the strings. Hang the moon mobilesaround the room.6. Encourage the children to look for the moon when they are out at nightwith their parents.7. Place photos of the moon around the room.8. Take a pretend trip to the moon. Tell the following story to the childrenand act it out together as you go along:We're going on a trip to the moon. Everyone get on your spacesuits (pretend toput on space suits). Don't forget your helmets (pull helmet over head). Now,everyone get in the spaceship. (everyone sit in a chair). Put on your seatbelts(make motion as if pulling seatbelt across your body). Check yourinstruments (reach over your head and pretend to turn dials and switches).Are we ready to go? Then let's count down!10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off! (bounce around in your chair and makeengine noises).Okay, we are out of earth's gravity. Engine's off (stop making engine sound).Now, we are floating in space. Look out your window (turn head slowly to oneside). See the earth down there? (point with one index finger). It looks blueand white from here. Can you see your Grandma's house? Wave to Grandma!(wave one hand). Oh, look (turn head slowly to other side). There's ashooting star! See how fast it goes.Let's go on a space walk! Unfasten your seatbelts (make motions as ifunfastening a seat belt). Everybody stand up (move slowly as you stand).Okay, let's go! ("float" around the room together). Wow, look at the earth fromhere. It's just a little tiny ball (squint eyes and point off in the distance). Iwonder if we'll see any space aliens (continue floating around the roomtogether). Oh, look at the stars; they are so bright out here in space.Okay, everybody back in the spaceship ("float" back to the chairs). Everyone intheir seats (slowly sit down) and fasten your seatbelts (make motions as iffastening a seatbelt). Now, we are ready to land on the moon.Check your instruments (reach over your head and pretend to turn dials andswitches). Ready? Reverse engines (bounce in your seat and make enginenoises). Okay, we've landed. Engines off! (stop making engine noises).Let's go look at the moon! Unfasten your seatbelts (make motions as ifunfastening a seatbelt). Get your gravity boots on (pretend to put on boots).Let's go! Follow me! (walk very slowly around the room). Wow, the surface ofthe moon is soft (squat down and touch the floor). Let's go look at thosemoon rocks over there. What pretty rocks! Let's take some back with us. Get outyour bags (pretend to shake out a bag). Let's get these pretty rocks here(pretend to pick up rocks and put them in a bag).Oh, no (look at watch on wrist). Look at the time. We have to get back. Hurryback to the spaceship (bounce and hop back to the chairs). Have a seat andbuckle up (pretend to fasten a seatbelt). Take off your gravity boots (pretendto remove boots). Check your instruments (reach over head and pretend toturn dials and switches).Let's go! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off! (bounce around in the chair andmake engine noises).I wonder how long it will take us to get home (check watch). Okay, reverseengines (bounce in chair and make engine noises). Here we go! (pretend tosteer the space ship) Quick, hit the brakes (push with feet and make ascreeching noise like a loud brake, bounce in chair). Okay, everybodyunbuckle (pretend to unfasten seatbelt). Out we go (walk normally aroundthe room).More to do Art: Make pretend telescopes from paper towel tubes. Decorate the tubeswith stickers, and color with markers or paint with tempera paints. Pretendto gaze at the moon.Snack: Make your own moon cakes. Bake a flat rectangular cake accordingto the package instructions. Let the children use a round cookie cutter tocut the cake into "moon" pieces. Give each child two pieces. Let the childrenspread jelly or preserves on one moon shape. Cover with the other moonpiece to make a moon cake. Enjoy with a glass of cold milk or apple juice.Related song I See the Moon (Tune: "I See the Moon")I see the moon and the moon sees meDown through the leaves of the old oak tree.Please let the light that shines on meShine on the one I love.The moon shines brightly overheadAs Mommy and Daddy tuck me into bed.The moon's bright light that shines on meShines on the ones I love.
