Otsukimi (September/October)
Subject: English / Other Topics
Level: Key Stage 1 / Key Stage 2
Age: 5-7 years / 7-11 years
Resource Type: Presentations / Lesson Plans / Worksheets / Other
Otsukimi or Tsukimi (月見) literally means “Moon Viewing” and is an autumn festival in Japan celebrating the Harvest Moon. The festival is also known as jugoya (十五夜) meaning “15th night” as it was traditionally observed on this night of the lunar calendar. The origins of the custom are thought to date back to the Heian period in Japan (794 – 1185).
Learning Objectives
- To learn about the customs, foods and decorations associated with Otsukimi in Japan
- To learn about the diversity of beliefs and stories about the moon around the world
Learning Outcomes
- Students will summarise The Moon Rabbit story by making a story plate
Resources
- Otsukimi Lesson Plan - PDF (647 KB)
- Otsukimi Background Notes (for teachers) - PDF (390 KB)
- Otsukimi PowerPoint Presentation - PPTX (3.27 MB)
Activity Pack - suitable for both classroom and home learning
- Video: How to make a Story Plate
Additional Resouces
- Kamishibai: The Story of the Moon Rabbit
- Video: Make an Origami Rabbit for Tsukimi