Make a Dragon Puppet for the Lunar New Year
During the Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, Asian cultures celebrate the beginning of a new year. Asian families celebrate Lunar New Year by eating noodles and dumplings, exchanging gifts, setting off firecrackers (like Americans do on the 4th of July!), and watching dragon dances. Each Chinese year is associated with an animal sign according to the zodiac cycle. These animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
Dragon dances bring good luck for the new Chinese year. You can create your own dragon puppet in this fun activity, and have your dragon puppet “dance” to bring your family good luck!
Materials
Directions
Cut your paper in half, length-wise or “hot dog” style. With one half of the paper, fold it in half three consecutive times, so that your strip of paper looks like an accordion.
On the other half of the paper, get creative and draw the head and tail of a dragon. Use your imagination! You can draw spikes or fish scales on the tail, or you can draw bright eyes on the head or a fire-breathing mouth!
Cut the border of your tail and head.
Color the head, body, and tail of the dragon. Color your folded half-sheet of paper any way you prefer. This will be the body of your dragon.
Using tape or a glue stick, tape or glue the head of the dragon to one end of the body. Tape or glue the tail of the dragon to the opposite end of the body.
Turn your dragon over, so that the non-decorated side is facing you. Tape one chopstick to the front end of the body. Tape the second chopstick to the back end of the body. You can make your puppet dance with the chopsticks!
Practice your dragon dance! You can move the chopsticks in and out, up and down. Have fun and remember that dragons bring good luck for the new year!
Explore Further
Turn this activity into a fun game of “Dragon Says,” a spin on “Simon Says.” Help your child practice using their memory and active dance moves!
In this game, your child will give one dance movement with their dragon puppet. Now it’s time to change leaders! The second movement leader will add to the first dance movement by adding one additional move. Each subsequent dancer must remember all the moves to completely finish the game. The game ends once each player has added a move and completed the full dance with all players’ moves.
Want more “Let’s Go Luna” activities? Check out the Make a Mosaic craft and the Go on a Safari at Home activity to continue the fun!
Author: 
- Activity Type
- Craft