Submitted by Mary Michael, Elementary Art Teacher,
Tiskilwa Grade School in Tiskilwa, IL. (USA)
Grades: 6 - 8th grade
Lesson: Chinese Parade Lions or Dragons

Materials:

• Scissors
• Glue or glue sticks
• Construction paper (assorted)
• 6"x18" colored tissue paper (assorted)
• Scraps of other papers such as foil paper

Procedure:

Show video or picture of the Chinese Lions or Dragons that are used in Chinatowns in the USA or in China for celebrations of holidays or other special occasions. Glue a 4"x6" construction paper into a cylinder. Flatten it and flatten again to form a square tube. Cut it shorter if desired. Cut a slot on 2 sides for the open jaw. Cut teeth of white paper and glue to an open end. Design all kinds of interesting features, tongue, bulging eyes, scales, ears, etc. from the various papers and glue to the basic head.

Create the body by cutting several 1"x6" strips and gluing them into rings. Glue these, well-spaced, to the tissue paper. Glue one end of the tissue paper to the back of the head around the three upper sides inside the head.

Make an interesting tail. Attach Popsicle sticks or stiff cardboard strips to the rings under the tissue paper to make your Chinese Parade Dragon move.