Year of the Dragon

LESSON 4

Children explore Chinese zodiac signs and create a dragon to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. 

  • White cardstock paper or watercolor paper

  • Colored paper

  • Crayons or watercolors

  • Tissue paper (optional)

  • Big popsicle sticks

  • Glue

  • Scissors

  • Traditional Lunar New Year music for play 

Materials

  • Gather materials.

  • Have book ready to recall the pages where the animals of the Chinese Zodiac appear as well as the pages that show the parade with dragons.

  • Have all craft materials ready in a workspace. 

Preparations

  • Help children recall the animals associated with the Chinese zodiac.

  • Foster discussion among children about the Year of the Dragon and the characteristics associated with people born in this year.

  • Provide support during the creation of the dragon craft.

  • Encourage play as the children use their creations to pretend, they are part of a Lunar New Year parade. 

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children learn about the Chinese Zodiac animals and their importance in the Lunar New Year celebrations.

  • Children expand their vocabulary as they learn the meaning of words used to describe people born in the Year of the Dragon.

  • Children further develop their fine motor skills as they create their dragon craft.

  • Children participate in pretend play where they enjoy using their new creations. 

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • Practice saying the poem “Lunar New Year Dragon Rhyme” with the actions indicated. 

Lunar New Year Dragon Rhyme

There is a great big dragon coming our way,

A great big dragon on this holiday.

(Children wave up and down like a dragon bobbing up and down)

Let’s grab our lanterns and follow along,

Dancing and waving and singing a song.

(Children dance and wave)

There is a great big dragon coming our way,

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

(Children jump up and down)

Activity Flow

  1. Begin by recalling the story “Lunar New Year,” with your child and ask if they remember the animals associated with the Chinese zodiac. To help them remember, make it a game by creating the sound of the animal and letting them guess. Return to the book and name each animal on the second page together. There are 12 animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

  2. Explore the concept of the Chinese zodiac by explaining that each year is represented by a different animal. Tell your child that their Chinese zodiac animal depends on what year they were born. Discover the Chinese zodiac animal associated with each child and family member by looking up their respective birth years. Turn it into a fun and interactive activity for everyone to enjoy.

  3. Share the exciting news that the upcoming year will be the Year of the Dragon. The Year of the Dragon is considered to be particularly special. Explain that the Dragon symbolizes strength, power, and good luck. Discuss the characteristics associated with people born in the Year of the Dragon, such as being ambitious, energetic, and creative: 

  • Ambitious: Explain that being ambitious involves setting high goals and putting in effort to achieve them. Ask if they can recall a goal they set and successfully accomplished. Connect this idea to their earlier goal of maintaining a clean and organized home, emphasizing the hard work they put into keeping their living space neat and tidy.

  • Energetic: Share with your child that being energetic means enjoying movement and being active. Ask about their favorite way to move and encourage them to demonstrate it-whether it's running, jumping, dancing, or another activity.

  • Creative: Explain to your child that being creative involves having new ideas and thinking outside of the box. This can happen during play, crafting, problem-solving, storytelling or anywhere. Reflect on instances when your child displayed creativity and celebrate those moments, recognizing and encouraging their imaginative abilities. 

4. Remind your child that while these characteristics are associated with the Year of the Dragon, people not born in the year of the dragon can also have these characteristics.

5. Turn to the end of the book "Lunar New Year" and talk about how the last day of Lunar New Year is celebrated with a lantern festival and parades. Ask the children what animal they notice is being celebrated. Point to the Lion and the Dragons. Tell them that during the parades people dress up as dragons, especially during the year of the dragon.

6. Engage children in a hands-on activity where they create their own dragon craft.  

  1. Print the dragon template and color it using crayons or watercolors.

  2. Cut out the dragon parts, offering assistance for younger children if needed.

  3. Fold the colored paper accordion-style, with help for younger children.

  4. Attach the dragon's head and tail using glue to the accordion paper body.

  5. Glue a large popsicle stick to the dragon's head and tail. 

Dragon Craft: 

7. Have the children play with their dragon craft as if they were in a parade. Play some traditional music and play with the dragons for as long as they would like.