Hands On Crafts for Kids

1307-4 China
Dragon Dance Stick
Designed by Kim Thomas

Join the New Year celebrations and chase the “sun” with your own dance stick. If the sun was ever caught, the Chinese believed it would go out! The dance is to celebrate the sun and spring rain.

Age Range: 7 to 12

Grade Range: 1 to 6

Skill Level: Moderate

Appropriate for These Special Events:
Chinese New Year
Every Day and Rainy Days

Supports Subject Area(s) of:
Social Studies
Language Arts – e.g. step by step instructions
Visual Arts
Math- e.g. measuring

Time Needed for Project:
1 hour plus drying time

Main supplies:

Tissue paper – yellow, orange, and red
18” of ¼” dowel rod
White foam sheet
Two 20mm wiggle eyes
Seven 1” glitter pom poms and 5 metallic chenille stems – assorted colors
STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam4 ½” egg or 4” ball
STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam - two 1” balls
STYROFOAM™ Brand – 1 ½” ball
Elmer’s® Glue-All™

Basic Supplies:

Scissors
Toothpicks
Serrated plastic knife
Pencil
Marker
Disposable cup or bowl

Instructions:

1. Press the pointed end of the Styrofoam egg(ball) against a hard surface to flatten. Cut a 1” x 1 ½” piece from the flattened end. This will create the mouth. Use the piece of Styrofoam cut out for the ears.
2. Cut the 1 ½” Styrofoam ball in half then squeeze each piece into a football shape for the cheekbones. Flatten opposite sides of two 1” Styrofoam balls for nostrils.
3. Glue the dowel rod into the base of the egg(ball). Flatten area for forehead with fingertips. Glue ears and nostrils in place. Use toothpicks to hold pieces in place until the glue dries. Make the holes of each nostril with a paintbrush handle.
4. Cut tissue paper into 6” x 8” squares then tear into small pieces. Brush with a mixture of 2 parts glue and 1 part water onto the Styrofoam. Using orange for the ears and nostrils, red for the mouth and yellow and orange for the head, completely cover the Styrofoam with pieces of tissue paper. Brush the surface liberally with the glue and water mixture.
5. Cut a 1” x 6” strip of red tissue then glue down the center of the head.
6. Twist the ends of the glitter stems together, then wrap around a pencil to curl. Glue the twisted ends into the mouth. Cut the remaining glitter stems in half. Set one piece aside then glue a pom pom to the end of each of the seven stems. Glue the stems into the back of the dragon’s head for a mane.
7. Cut eight teeth and two fangs from the white foam and glue to the mouth. Paint inside the nostrils with the black marker.
8. Cut the remaining tissue into 2 ½” x 30” streamers. Group the ends together and secure the remaining piece of the glitter stem. Glue the end of the stems into the Styrofoam below the mane.

Sponsored by FloraCraft
www.floracraft.com

Sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company
www.styrofoamcrafts.com

Sponsored by Elmer’s® Products, Inc.
www.elmers.com

Series 1300 Crafts Around the World is now available as a DVD set for $49.99 plus $6.00 shipping and handling . Travel around the world and experience the culture, arts and traditions that make the world unique. Visit Peru, Italy, Canada, USA, Australia, Japan, China, Russia, India, Mexico, Ghana, Egypt, and Scotland.
Click here to order now!