Best Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Activities for Children

Sep 1

1. Read Books About Mid-Autumn Festival

Reading books about the Mid-Autumn Festival is a wonderful way for children to learn about the traditions, stories, and cultural significance of this special holiday. I’ve curated a list of 9 Chinese children’s books about Mid-Autumn Festivals. These books cover topics like the legend of Chang’e, mooncakes, and family reunions.

2. Decorating the Classroom with Lantern Crafts

Decorating with fun crafts is a perfect way to bring the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival into your home or classroom! One of our favorite activities is making paper plate lanterns with classic Mid-Autumn Festival symbols like rabbits, mooncakes, and the full moon. These lanterns are easy to create and a fantastic hands-on project for your Chinese learners. After decorating the paper plates with festive designs, we hang them on the windows to brighten up the room and set the mood for the celebration.

3. Eating Mooncakes and Pomelos

Mooncakes and pomelos are two traditional foods closely associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncakes, with their rich fillings and intricate designs, are shared among family and friends as a symbol of unity and completeness, reflecting the full moon that is celebrated during the festival. They come in a variety of flavors, from sweet red bean paste to savory salted egg yolk.

Pomelos are another popular treat during this holiday. People believe that pomelos bring good luck and prosperity to the family. A fun tradition for children is to wear the pomelo peel as a hat, symbolizing protection and happiness!

4. Learning about the Moon Phases

Learning about the moon phases is a fantastic activity to incorporate into Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, as the festival is centered around the full moon. Exploring the moon's different phases—new moon, crescent, half moon, and full moon—helps children understand the significance of the lunar cycle in Chinese culture.

A fun and delicious way to teach this is by using Oreo cookies to mimic the moon phases! By twisting the cookie apart and using the cream filling to represent the illuminated portion of the moon, kids can recreate each phase while enjoying a tasty treat.

Grab the Chinese Space Science resource in simplified or traditional Chinese.

5. Learning a Chinese Poem and Making a Fan

This activity combines Chinese poetry and art by creating a paper fan with a famous Chinese poem. Your Chinese learners will create a Mid-Autumn Festival fan with words from the traditional poem "Shui Diao Ge Tou" (水调歌头) by Su Shi, which beautifully captures the spirit of the festival. The line "但愿人长久，千里共婵娟" expresses a wish for long-lasting relationships, even when loved ones are far apart, united by the same moon.

This hands-on project not only introduces Chinese poetry but also allows kids to make a cultural connection through art, enhancing both their creativity and language skills.

6. Making Playdoh Mooncakes

Make the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration even more authentic by crafting Playdoh mooncakes in the classroom! This hands-on activity allows students to dive into one of the most beloved traditions of the holiday while enhancing their fine motor skills. Using colorful Playdoh and mooncake molds with various stamps, students can create their own mooncakes, replicating the beautiful designs seen on real ones. It's the perfect time to discuss the symbolic meaning of mooncakes, their cultural importance during the festival, and the variety of flavors shared during family gatherings. Plus, it’s a fun, mess-free way to bring this cultural tradition to life!

7. Write about How You Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festivals

Encourage your Chinese learners to reflect on their own Mid-Autumn Festival traditions by having them draw and write about how they celebrate the holiday with their families. This activity is perfect for them to connect Chinese writing with their real-life experience!

To support them, we provide a word bank with Mid-Autumn Festival vocabulary and matching pictures. With this helpful resource, students can confidently express their thoughts, describing family gatherings, mooncake feasts, lantern lighting, and other festive activities.

Our Mid-Autumn Festival Learning Packet has everything you need — from Chinese reading and writing to nursery rhymes and math. These printables will keep your learners excited and engaged as they explore the traditions of this special holiday!