Dragon Boat Racing

These are called Dragon Boats!

Every year in China people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a holiday celebrated in China on the 5th day of the 5th month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar! This year it falls on June 25th.

The festival is celebrated by having boat races where the boats are in the shape of dragons. Competing teams row their boats forward to a drumbeat, racing to reach the finish.

In this video, you can see a fast race in the water.

Watch out for the man beating the drum in each boat!

Can you see the Dragon faces on the boats?

You could try to make your own colourful paper dragon boat:

Here is a list of what you need:

Sheet of sturdy cardstock or paper (approx. 21×21cm)

boat dragon face

6 straws
Scrap paper for paddles
Tape
Markers or crayons
Glue stick
Hole punch

And here is the method with pictures and instructions:

Instructions:

Step 1: Grab your 21×21cm square of cardstock/paper.
Step 2. Fold the cardstock in half so that fold is on the bottom.
Step 3. Fold it in half again, then open back up to form a crease in the middle.
Step 4. Fold the bottom corners in.
Step 5. Fold the first layer of top corners in.
Step 6. Turn it over.
Step 7. Fold the top corners down.
Step 8. Fold the flap down.
Step 9. Turn it over and fold the other flap down. Secure flaps with glue stick.

You  can now decorate and add the two dragon heads from above.  Once you have glued them to the front of the boat, punch three holes into each side of the boat for the straw oars. Finally, cut some paddles from scrap paper and stick these to the straws.

For more information you can visit : https://www.littlepassports.com/blog/craft-diy/diy-chinese-dragon-boat-activity-for-kids/

Finally, a song to finish:

Enjoy your Summer holidays!

See you in August,

Linda and Ana.