To continue exploring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this two part invitation for mooncakes is a great way to expose a child or classroom to an important part of the cultures.
The Mid-autumn festival is observed in China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. All over the world to worship the moon, celebrate the harvest season, and most importantly, to eat mooncake. Giving mooncakes filled with lotus paste and a salted egg yolk to acquaintances and friends because it is round like the moon and symbolize family and harmony.
Reading the book A Big Mooncake for Little Star is a great way to invite children to learn about the significance of mooncakes for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The story is about a girl Little Star gradually eating the mooncake that her mother has baked. To extend the literacy experience you can do a two part invitation to create and explore.
Invitation to create the phases of a moon through process art. Provide paper, tempera paint, glue, and glitter. Invite the children to paint all of the paper with rollers. Once it is dry you can invite them to freely decorate with glitter and stars. When it is all complete you can explore the different phases of the moon.
Invitation to explore eating mooncakes. Exposure to other foods from different cultures is a great way to connect the literacy experience. Invite the children to eat mooncakes as a special snack. Later on they can describe the mooncakes through their five senses.
