Two hands-on activities celebrate the sun and moon autumnal equinox. First, scholars create a cairn using a shoebox, flashlight, and drawing tools to view the sun's progression. Second, learners take to the kitchen to bake mooncakes and reflect on the lunar cycle. 

Concepts

the equinox, the sun, the moon, autumn, seasonal change, the earth, the lunar cycle

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Begin the lesson with an investigation of the link provided for Loughcrew Cairn to gain interest and focus 
• Coordinate with the school cafeteria to prepare and bake mooncakes
• Design a bulletin board that showcases the new season including information about Loughcrew Cairn and the lunar cycle

Classroom Considerations

• Pupils do not need to be part of a Montessori classroom to take part in these activities 
• Take allergies into consideration prior to bringing in food for the mooncakes

Pros

• Provides hands-on learning experiences to enhance comprehension
• Brings awareness to other cultures and how they celebrate the autumnal equinox

Cons

• None