An Activity Guide for Parent and Child Based on the Book
Round Is a Mooncake: A Book About Shapes
by Roseanne Thong


The first step to using this Parent/Child Activity Guide is to Read the following book:
Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong
Publisher: Chronicle Books; ISBN: 0811826767; (July 2000)

  • If you are a Small Creation's student -- this book can be found in our Mooncake Take-Home Pack.
  • This book can be found at your local library. *Southeastern Massachusetts See Information Below*
  • If you are a southeastern Massachusetts resident, visit the Sails Library Network.
    SailsInc.org is an online service for locating and ordering books from local participating libraries.
  • This book may also be purchased at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.
Choose one or more of the following activities to reinforce some of the concepts and ideas found in Round Is a Mooncake.
Refer to Pages Activity for Preschooler
(2.9 - 5 years of Age)		 Learning Concept
1 - 2Look at the picture. See the lanterns light the neighborhood.
Look out your window. How is your neighborhood lit?		 Diversity; and
Shape Identification
5 - 6Take a peek inside your cupboards. What types of bowls do you have?
What other shapes can you find in your cupboards?		 Diversity; and
Shape Identification
5 - 6This book is a rhyming book with an ABCB pattern.
That means the words in the 2nd and 4th sentences rhyme.
Using buttons, beads or homemade flashcards, help your child create an ABCB pattern. Be sure to try other patterns too - ABAB, AABB.		 Identifing and
Creating Patterns
5 - 6Have a tea party - invite all your stuffed animal friends, cut your sandwiches into fun shapes, drink from various size cups. Pretend play is an important part of children's development of communication and vocabulary skills, as well as self-esteem. Dramatic Play;
Self Esteem; and
Shape Identification
9 - 10Go on a CIRCLE Hunt. You can have one anywhere
home, outside, a store, or waiting in a restaurant!		 Shape Identification;
and Communication
11 - 12Play a board game. Is your board square?
Can you find other squares on your board? Fun examples: Checkers,
Candy Land, Boggle, Jr., Scrabble, Jr.		 Social Skills,
such as taking turns;
Critical Thinking skills
11 - 12Online Fun: Connect the Dots to make SQUARES: SuperKids.com Game of Dots
Or Try some of these Connect-the-Dots games at FunBrain.com		 Shape Identification;
Counting; and
Computer Use
11 - 12Make your own Shape Stampers. Use sponges, potatoes, and recyclables.
Cut or etch in shapes or designs, then use with washable paint or ink.		 Visual Arts; and
Shape Identification
13 - 14Cook up your own Square Bars!
Don't have your own recipe?
Try some of these Bar Cookie Recipes or KidsRecipes		 Shape Identification;
and Science
17 - 18Make a keepsake box with your child. Find an old shoebox and decorate it!
When you've finished - cover with contact paper to make your creation
last longer and be stronger! Fill with memories, things that are square, objects whose names rhyme, or start with same letter.		 Visual Arts;
Vocabulary; and
Shape Identification
19 - 20Go on a Square Hunt! Try a rousing game of I SPY!
Look around the room, restaurant, or outside the window and state,
"I spy a ???" -- after your child locates the objects it is their turn to 'spy' an object.
LIKE I Spy! … Try this site: Play I Spy! 		Shape Identification;
Communication Skills;
Vocabulary Development;
and Visual Discrimination
23 - 24Does your child have a Poh Poh, a Memere, or a Gram Gram?
Grandnames is an article about the traditions of addressing grandparents.
Use Google.com to search for the origins of the names your family uses.		 Diversity;Vocabulary;
and Using the Internet
as a Research Tool
23 - 24Prepare a pencil case with a variety of writing materials.
Encourage your child to 'write' often!		 Fine motor skills;
and Language Arts
25 - 26For young children, an Abacus is a great way to learn one to one correspondence
objects to numbers. Have children move one bead at a time while you count them together. Don't happen to have an Abacus handy? Try Java Abacus		 Math - One to
One Correspondence ;
and Counting
27 - 28Make your own puppets. Puppets can be made from socks (old or new),
felt, paper bags, photocopied images, wooden spoons, and recyclable materials.
Decorate them in cultural garb or shape clothing? Reenact the story, or create a story of your own - or do both!!
Print this page of shapes, add a craft stick and decorate: Puppet Shapes 		Shape Identification;
Dramatic Play; and
Visual Arts
29 - 30What exactly is Lucky Money?
Visit Fatming.comto find out!
Then take a peek at all the beautiful designs available
on the Fatming.com website: More Red Envelopes		 Shape Identification;
Math - Currency;
and Diversity
31 - 32Go on a rectangle hunt! Shape Identification
31 - 32Read this book - just one more time right before you go to bed!
Find one more rectangle shaped book to read when you are done
…another before bed book: Goodnight moon by Margaret Wise Brown 		Pre-Reading Skills --
Reading to children is
the best way to help
a child learn to read!


Developed by Allison Gingras, M.Ed. -- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED