Celebrating the Harvest Moon: Picture Books, Lanterns, Playdough, and More

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The harvest moon is about a month away (on Tuesday, Sept. 17), and that means that my very favorite season is also approaching!

The harvest moon seems to mark the end of summer and the start of autumn, although technically the autumnal equinox (on 9/22) is the official start of the autumn season. When I see that giant orange moon hanging over the horizon, it always seems to be saying that fall is here, in all her glory!

My family and I love marking the changing of seasons, so here are some ways you and your students can celebrate the upcoming harvest moon.

Read a Picture Book

There are so many great picture books about the harvest moon and the shifting of season. Here are some of our favorites:

Hello Harvest Moon

Possum’s Harvest Moon

We Gather Together

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

Make a Harvest Moon Lantern

If you’re planning on venturing outside at dusk to see the harvest moon rise, why not create a special lantern to bring with you?

All you need for this project is a clear glass or plastic jar, mod podge, tissue paper (or translucent kite paper), a battery operated tea light, and some twine.

Simply cover the outside of your jar with a layer of mod podge, then lay on a piece of dark blue or black tissue paper for the sky. Cut out a moon shape (and stars if you want, or maybe a spooky tree), and mod podge those to the top of the blue paper. Add another layer of mod podge to cover the entire outside of the jar, and allow it to dry.

Tightly wrap some twine around the lip of the jar to create a handle for carrying. Pop in a battery operated tea light and there you have it!

Make Harvest Moon Playdough

Harvest moon playdough is so fun! You can make your own playdough and use food coloring to make it harvest-moon-hued or feel free to use yellow store-bought playdough.

Here’s my favorite, SUPER EASY homemade playdough recipe: (adapted from my fav playdough recipe from @wovenchildhood)

Mix together:
– 2 cups white flour
– 1 cup fine salt
– 3 tablespoons cream of tartar
– 1.5 tablespoons vegetable oil

Carefully stir in 2 cups of boiling water + yellow food coloring

Allow it a few minutes to cool, knead together until it forms a smooth, pliable dough.

We like to use canning jar rings to cut out moons from the playdough, and you can even use them to make the phases of the moon!

Check out these Phases of the Moon Flashcards

Draw the Harvest Moon

Chalk pastels on black paper look AMAZING for this. Just grab a bowl or round object for tracing, and trace a large circle onto a piece of black construction paper. Use chalk pastels (or regular chalk) to color in your circle with yellow and orange hues. Use your finger to blend.

Color the rest of the paper with a deep blue sky, blending with your finger as you go. You can use a white pastel to add stars.

Finally, draw some wheat stalks in the foreground – or whatever you observe when you view the harvest moon in your area – with a black pastel, and admire your harvest moon artwork!

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Teach Your Kids About the Harvest Moon with the Autumn Journal

For more resources on learning about the harvest moon, check out my printable Autumn Journal. In this in-depth printable nature study, your student will learn all about the harvest moon, autumn trees, fall fungi, apples, spiders, fall foraging, and more. This 28-page nature study unit includes anatomy and fact pages, flash cards, coloring pages, and interactive activities!