Suitable for: Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6

In this lesson, students will learn about the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in China.

Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival celebrated every year in China during Autumn. It's a lunar festival, which means the date changes each year, depending on the lunar calendar but is always on Month 8, Day 15 of the moon calendar in China. That day is always in September or near the start of October. The festival centres around enjoying the full moon and, like all festivals, has special foods to eat and different activities that are done during the festival. There is also a well known story, or myth, associated with the festival, ‘Chang’e the Moon Goddess’. Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by Chinese communities around the world and across South East Asia.

Explore these videos and ask students to note down any ways they observe the festival being celebrated. They may choose to draw pictures of the ways they see afterwards, then share. Ask them to focus on foods eaten, activities done and anything else they note.

Mid-Autumn Festival: An Introduction

‘Mooncakes’ Karaoke Sing Along Song

Read the following articles together and identify and discuss the key information about Mid-Autumn Festival and how it is celebrated.

The Mid-Autumn Festival Story

A Mid-Autumn Festival Legend

After watching the two videos above that retell the story of Hou Yi in two different ways, retell it yourself through drama, storytelling or even cartoons in small groups or pairs.

Make a lantern, including a riddle that is inscribed on the lantern (write your own or use one from this list), just like they do at Mid-Autumn Festival.

Click here for instructions and supplies if needed.

Follow the instructions below to make either a no-bake mooncake or a cooked version:

Adam Liaw’s delicious no-bake mooncake

How to make moon cakes at home-easy recipe

During the Mid-Autumn Festival Changér Flies to the Moon is a commonly told story. It is based on the myth of Houyi and Changér and also references a 'rabbit in the moon'. The idea of a rabbit in the moon can be found in other cultural stories, including ancient Aztecs.

Explore the global links of this story through the videos and activities on these pages.