As part of our study of China, we decided to make a Chinese Dragon, because why do geography lessons have to be just books? Why not a fun Chinese dragon craft to finish off our China Unit. China believes that dragons are good luck, so you can find Chinese Dragons everywhere, particularly during Chinese New Year.
Future Ticia 2022 2023 is updating this super old post, wow, it’s almost 13 years old. Sadly I don’t have the originals of the pictures to give you a nice pretty picture of the craft, so you’re stuck with what I have.
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Chinese Dragon Puppet supplies
egg carton (I recommend cardboard egg cartons because the paint will stick better, also you can construct two puppets from a dozen egg container), construction paper, paint, yarn, hole punch, tissue paper, glue, scissors, crayons
How to make a Chinese dragon puppet
1. Cut your egg carton off with 4 of the egg holes. Also, cut off 2 of the segments to make the eyes.
Now cut apart the top and bottom of the carton. This lets you use it as a puppet. Future Ticia 2022 2023 (It’s January 2, I have not gotten this through my head yet) shakes her head at Past Ticia 2010 With no pictures like this. I no longer buy eggs by the dozen, so I may need to buy a carton just for the pictures, much to my husband’s frustration. You would not believe how long it took me to train myself to take pictures of each step, rather than a picture after the step was done.
2. Paint your egg cartons. Of course, this requires insanely large amounts of paint and colors.
3. From the construction paper cut out and glue on flames, or whatever cool shape you want.
4. Glue on the eyes. I used markers to draw eyes in the middle. I think the boys did more paint.
Hmmm, I have no clue how Superman got the injury on his chin.
5. Punch a hole about an inch in on both sides on the top and bottom. Cut a piece of string about six inches long, and feed it through both holes. Then tie it off. This will let your kids use it as a puppet when it’s all dried.
6. Cut a piece of tissue paper in half, and then glue it around the top of this. This step is rather tricky and is a “Mommy step,” unless your kids are much older and more careful than mine.
Then have an awesome Chinese dragon flight.
Hey Future Ticia 2023 (I remembered to say 2023 on the first try) wanted to let you know I have a whole Asia unit where all of our Asian country studies are.
Some more early elementary learning ideas
These are all lessons we completed in first or second grade, or maybe even a preschool lesson or two.
Very cool! This makes me think that we should probably make a dragon when we do our castle/princess/knight theme in the next week or so. I don't know why I didn't think of this before!
Oh, those look like so much FUN!!! Amazing what you can make with an egg carton! 🙂
Oh come on Ticia – you didn't give your kids the tissue paper, and glue, and let them have at it!?!
Very cute dragons 🙂
What flightful fantasy…
Love it – I've never seen a dragon craft before, can you believe it? This one is really neat!
Love it. A fun craft that you get to enjoy while you play with your creation. I am forever keeping egg cartons, plastic bottles, lids etc. The time has come to start crafting and repurposing these recyclable goodies.
Playing in the rain looks like such a blast. This is the stuff that precious memories are made from. Our weather forecast is for rain this week, so I plan on getting us out amongst it with some food colouring on paper plates and seeing what wonderful creations the rain will make for us.
These look so neat, and your boys look like they are having so much fun playing with them. Note to self: save egg cartons!
Leah's comment cracked me up. These are cool dragons – I loved the pictures where they actually play with them.
My kids love dragons- we will have to make these!
Mine do too, I should let them make these again.