Country
Spain

Tale typology
Intercultural traditions

Age Suitability
5

Tale summary
The Moon cake story is about 2 boys: a big and a little one. The little boy had a cake that the big boy wants it only for himself so he tries to convince the little one to give it to him without crying and alarming his mother. He succeeds to eat slowly all the cookie by telling little lies and then he run away, leaving the children without the cookie.

Educational potential / Learning Outcomes
Pupils will understand the following:
- Honesty is about being truthful in what you say and in what you do.
-Honesty includes telling the truth (not lying), not hiding the truth (deceiving), and acting in a way that is morally right (not stealing, cheating).
-Pupils demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health and to create positive personal relationships.

Full Plot
A little boy had a cake that a big boy wanted for himself. Planning to get the cake without making the little boy cry so loud as to attract his mother’s attention, the big boy remarked that the cake would be prettier if it were more like the moon. The little boy thought that a cake like the moon must be desirable, and on being assured by the big boy that he had made many such, he handed over his cake. The big boy took out a mouthful, leaving a crescent with jagged edge. The little boy was not pleased by the change, and began to whimper; whereupon the big boy pacified him by saying that he would make the cake into a half-moon. So he nibbled off the horns of the crescent, and gnawed the edge smooth; but when the half-moon was made, the little boy noticed that there was hardly any cake left, and he again began to snivel. The big boy again diverted him by telling him that, if he did not like a moon so small, he should have one that was just the size of the real one. He then took the cake, and explained that, just before the new moon is seen, the old moon disappears. Then he swallowed the rest of the cake and ran off, leaving the little boy waiting for the new moon.

One Lesson Plan
PROCEDURAL INSTRUCTIONS
Introduction Activity: Gather the participants in circle and play the video The Moon Cake. Afterwards ask the children what happened with the cookie? How the big boy managed to eat the cookie? How the little boy reacted? What was the right thing the big boy could’ve done?
Main Activity:
Ask the children:
Imagine if for five days your friend took your snack and ate it without asking. How would you feel toward him? Then, today he told you he wasn’t going to take your snack. Would you trust him?
Play with the children:
Give each child three cups to put on the floor in front of himself. Encourage children to turn their backs to you. When children are not looking, steal one cup from a child. Give back the cup and then repeat. Each time say that you are not going to steal a cup (but actually take one.) Finally, ask them to turn around again and tell them you won’t steal a cup. Ask them to raise your hand if they trust you. Don’t take a cup and have everyone turn around.
Debriefing
What does it mean to be honest?
How important is honesty?
Explain to children that ‘each time someone steals, they might get what they want but they lose something even more important…trust.’
Follow-up Activities: If you have time, you can try the following activities. From the cups you have played together before you can try to play The Lion Face activity.
Make a lion to help children remember to be honest in all they say and do. Cut 20 strips of yellow paper. Curl each strip around a pen or pencil, and tape the strips to the inside edge of a foam cup so that the strips curl out. Draw a nose and mouth on the bottom of the cup with a black marker. Draw two eyes on a piece of white paper. Cut out the eyes and tape them to the top of the cup. Cut tiny strips of black paper for whiskers. Tape the whiskers to the side of the cup near the nose.
Additional Resources: For Lion face: foam cup; yellow, black, and white paper; pen or pencil; black marker; scissors and tape