Please Get the Moon for Me

LESSON 3

Children create moon art inspired by "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me" by Eric Carle, exploring the story's themes and phases of the moon through painting and crafting. 

  • Watercolor or cardstock paper 

  • Watercolor or acrylic paints 

  • Paintbrushes 

  • Yellow tissue paper or painted paper 

  • Painting smock 

  • Protective cover or tablecloth for workspace 

  • Scissors and glue 

Materials

Optional: 

  • Small printed photo of your child reaching. 

  • Popsicle sticks 

Preparations

  • Gather materials. 

  • Prepare work surface with a protective covering. 

  • Cut out photo of your child reaching. (optional) 

  • Cut a few popsicle sticks in half. (optional) 

  • Help children understand lunar phases and the moon's disappearance and reappearance.

  • Reinforce comprehension by prompting students to recall the phases of the moon portrayed in the story.

  • Support students in creating moon-themed artwork that integrates storytelling themes and encourages creative expression.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children explore why the moon changes size and learn about its phases through storytelling and discussion. 

  • Children recall and name some of the phases of the moon observed in the story. 

  • Children create moon art using different materials to reflect on the story's themes.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

Practice singing the poem “Solar System in Motion” together with the actions you came up with.

Solar System in Motion

Tune: The Farmer in the Dell

The Earth turns around,

The Earth turns around,

Once a day, every day,

The Earth turns around.

The moon goes round the earth,

The moon goes round the earth,

Once a month, every month,

The moon goes round the earth.

The Earth goes round the Sun,

The Earth goes round the Sun,

Once a year, every year,

The Earth goes round the sun.

The stars are all around,

The stars are all around,

Here to there, and everywhere,

The stars are all around!

Activity Flow

  1. Begin this lesson by reflecting on what was learned about the moon in the previous lesson. Here are some questions you could ask: 

  2. Next, introduce the story "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me" by Eric Carle (optional story video version here). Explain that the story is about a girl named Monica who sees the moon from her window and wishes to play with it. She asks her father to get the moon for her. He grabs his long ladder and heads to a tall mountain. Ask your child to guess if they think he will be able to reach the moon and get it for his daughter. Then read the story together to discover what happens. 

  3. As you read, use these questions to help your child connect the story to the real world and reinforce their understanding of the phases of the moon. 

  • Could a ladder help us reach the moon? Why or why not? 

  • Why does the moon change size? 

  • What is it called when the moon disappears from the sky? 

  • Does the moon actually disappear? 

  • Can you remember the name of any of its phases? 

  • What is it called when the moon looks like a complete circle in the sky? 

4. After the story, create your own moon art inspired by the illustrator Eric Carle's style in this story.

Moon Art 

  1. Paint a sheet of cardstock or watercolor paper blue using watercolor or acrylic paint. Let it dry completely. 

  2. Paint another sheet of paper grey and allow it to dry. Cut out a moon shape from the grey paper. 

  3. Optionally, use white paint to add a face and crescent shape to the grey moon cut-out. 

  4. Use yellow tissue paper or yellow painted paper to cut out stars. 

  5. If desired, print a small picture of your child reaching and cut out their body. Use popsicle sticks to create a ladder on the painted background paper. Glue the child on top of the ladder as if reaching for the moon. 

  6.  Arrange and glue all the pieces together on the painted background to complete the art project. 

  7. Lastly, find a place to display your moon art!