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 | Costumes, Games, Party Favors, Songs for the New Year
by Katherine Rockwell |
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From Adoption TODAY, December/January 2001 issue Dragon Costume
Materials needed: Construction paper, wrapping ribbon, a paper plate, glue, 2 pipe cleaners, crepe paper streamers, stapler, small styrofoam disks, markers.
The dragon head: To make the mask for the head of the dragon, cut a strip of the construction paper (approximately 1 inch thick), wrap it around the child’s head and staple the sides together when it fits snugly. Then glue the strip to the paper plate.The paper plate will be the dragon’s head. The child who is going to be the dragon’s head, in the front, can color the styrofoam disks and then paste them to the plate (dragon’s eyes). Markers can be used to draw the dragon face on the plate. Pipe cleaners can be either glued or stapled to the paper plate for dragon “horns.” Wrapping ribbon can then be tied to the horns to “float” behind in the wind while the children march.
The dragon: Cut the remaining construction paper into long strips for the arm bands. Glue crepe paper streamers to the ends of the strips. Then fit the strip around the child’s arm and staple ends together.
The dragon body: For the children that form the dragon body, follow the same directions for the dragon head, making a paper strip that fits around each child’s head. Then glue a giant construction paper triangle onto the strip, making a dragon “scale.” Let the kids can decorate each with their individual creative whims! Crepe paper arm bands may also be worn by the kids in the dragon body. The dragon tail: The child who is end of the dragon can have the same “scale” headpiece and arm bands as those who comprise the body of the dragon. Attach a long strip of decorated construction paper (complete with pointy dragon-tail cuts) to the back of the headband.
Dragon Hats
Materials: Construction paper, scissors, markers, glue, staples, styrofoam disks.Staple three or four pages of construction paper together so that they form one long strip. Cut a zigzag pattern on one side, so that it resembles dragon points. Then wrap the paper strip around the crown of the head and staple together when it fits snugly (the remaining paper should hang down the child’s back). The styrofoam disks (eyeballs) can be glued to the front of the hat. Let the kids decorate with markers, beads, ribbon, glitter or construction paper pieces. New Year Lanterns
Materials needed: Red construction paper, scissors, glue. Fold a sheet of construction paper widthwise. Draw straight lines, from the fold of the paper to one inch from the edge, spacing each line one about inch apart. Have the children cut along the lines. Unfold paper. Crimp each cut strip by bending in the center. Then glue or staple the ends of the paper to form a tube. Make a paper handle and glue to the top of the lantern for easy carrying. Red Banners
Materials needed: Red construction paper, glue, gold glitter, tongue depressors. Cut paper into signs or banners. Children can either come up with their own phrases and words to celebrate Chinese New Year, or the Chinese characters (on page 27) can be traced by an adult. Children can then go over the lines or fill in the characters with glue, sprinkling with gold glitter. Glue tongue depressors to the bottom of the signs so that kids can hold them when they march in the parade. Medallions
Materials needed: String, yellow construction paper, scissors, canning jar lids, markers.Cut yellow construction paper into circles and punch holes in the canning jar lids for the kids. Let them trace Chinese characters or write their own sayings on the yellow circles, then glue to the tops of the canning jar lids. Hang each medallion on string around the child’s neck. Firecracker Favors
Materials needed: Scissors, red tissue paper, cardboard tubes from paper rolls, red wrapping ribbon, and confetti.Cover cardboard tube with red tissue paper. Tie one end with red wrapping ribbon while leaving the remaining side open. Put confetti, glitter, fortune cookies and any other “surprises” inside and tie the other end up with the ribbon. “Catch the Dragon Tail” Game
Great for a large party! The first child in line wears the dragon mask and acts as the dragon head. The other players line up behind him and place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. The dragon head has to tag the tail (the last one in line) without causing the line to break apart. If he fails to catch the tail, he becomes the tail and the next person in line takes his place as the head. Chinese New Year Song
Sung to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” Little dragons dance along, Celebrate and roar, It’s Chinese New Year once again, Let’s welcome the Year of the Boar! ______ For more resources or Chinese New Year e-cards, visit the following Web sites: http://peacock.tnjc.edu.tw/ADD/TOUR/keep1.html http://deil.lang.uiuc.edu/web.pages/holidays/ChineseNewYear.html http://www.123greetings.com/chinese/ |
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