Chinese New Year Dancing Dragon Craft

Let your kids re-create the dragon parade for Chinese New Year by making their own dancing dragon puppet. This easy craft works well in classrooms, after school care, party activities or as a fun craft to make at home.

First, discuss with your students or children traditions followed on Chinese New Year. Talk about the fireworks, bright colors and, most importantly, the dragon parade. Tell your children how the dragon is thought to bring good luck and frighten away bad spirits which bring bad luck.

Start with a piece of heavy cardstock in red or gold. Draw the profile of dragon's head and a tail shape on the cardstock. Provide photos of dragon parades for your children to look at as they draw their dragons, and encourage them to use their imaginations when creating their dragon crafts.

Cut out the head and tail shapes. Provide a variety of craft materials for children and students to decorate their Chinese dragons. Feathers, glitter, paint, metallic decorations, textured papers, and buttons all add color and texture to the dragon crafts.

Also provide a few small craft jingle bells. Glue two or three on the tail and top of the head so the dragon will make noise when he dances.

As the dragon's head and tail dry, prepare his body. Cut a piece of red or gold construction paper so it is about four inches by 11 inches. Fold this strip of paper accordion style. Fold one inch up from the bottom. Fold that section back one inch in the opposite direction. Continue alternating directions until the entire strip has been folded.

Glue the dragon's body to his head on one end and his tail on the other. Allow the craft to dry before moving it. Add a pencil to the back of the head and tail. Show children how to use the pencils as handles for the Chinese New Year puppet. Make the dragon dance around the room and listen to the noise the bells make as it moves.

Play some traditional Chinese New Year parade music and let every child dance their dragon craft around the room. If this is a Chinese New Year party activity, have a judging and give a prize on the best decorated dragon craft.