Get ready to add some colorful fun to your Lunar New Year celebrations with this interactive paper chain dragon craft for kids. This cheerful dragon craft is such a fun way to bring creativity, and excitement into your Chinese New Year activities.
Kids will have so much fun holding the dragon from both ends, wiggling it around, twisting it, and making it dance through the air. Even better, this craft comes with a free printable template, making it easy for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary school kids to join in the fun.
This Chinese New Year craft is wonderful for home, classrooms, story time, or library activities. Dragons are believed to bring luck, strength, and prosperity. This makes this festive dragon craft a meaningful way for kids to celebrate Lunar New Year traditions.
If you are looking for more fun dragon crafts for kids, you may also want to check out our accordion folded paper dragon puppet craft.
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Supplies You Need to Make a Paper Chain Dragon Craft
- Paper chain dragon printable template (Enter your details in the form within the instructions below to access the template)
- Two colored construction papers (We used red and yellow)
- One paper roll
- Scissors
- Glue
- Two paper straws
- Markers
- Hot glue (to be used by grown ups only)
- Paper glue
- Googly eyes
- Acrylic paint
- Tissue paper (We used red and yellow)
Steps to Make a Paper Chain Dragon
Making this paper chain dragon craft is a great hands-on activity for kids to practice cutting skills and creativity. Kids will also love transforming a simple paper roll into a fun dragon head.
Let’s start making it step by step.
Step 1
Let’s start by painting the paper roll. We used red acrylic paint for this step. Set it aside and allow it to dry completely.
Step 2
Download the paper chain dragon template and print the paper chain strips on red construction paper. Print the dragon head spikes template on white construction paper.
Simply enter your details in the form within the instructions below to access the template and join our newsletter.
Step 3
Now it is time to decorate the paper chain strips. Let the kids draw all over the paper chain template using their favorite markers and patterns.
We used black, golden, and silver markers to draw little shapes and details on the strips. Kids can add dots, swirls, stars, zigzags, or any fun patterns they like. This is such a fun step where little ones can get creative and make their dragon look unique and colorful.
Step 4
Now cut out the paper strips and the two pieces from the dragon spikes template.
Next, we will take a piece of yellow colored paper and fold it in half. Then we need to place the dragon spike template along the folded edge of the paper and cut it out carefully. This will create a folded spike shape when opened.
Make one large folded spike using the bigger spike template. Then make two smaller folded spikes using the smaller spike template piece.
Step 5
Now let’s get to the main part of the craft and start making the paper chain dragon body.
First, take one paper strip and glue or staple the ends together to form a loop.
Step 6
Next, take a second paper strip and slide it through the first loop. Then glue or staple the ends together to create another loop connected to the first one.
Step 7
Continue the same process with all the remaining paper strips. As you connect each loop together, you will slowly create a long paper chain for the dragon’s body.
Step 8
By this time, the paint on the paper roll should be completely dry. Gently press one end of the paper roll and flatten it to create the dragon’s mouth shape.
Now, cut out a small piece from each folded edge of the flattened paper roll. Then carefully cut small V shapes along the edges while holding the edges together on each side. This will create the dragon’s teeth when opened up.
Step 9
Let’s stick the spikes onto the dragon’s head now. Apply glue along the outside crease of the bigger spike shape and stick it onto the top of the dragon’s head.
Next, apply glue along the outside crease of the smaller spike shapes and stick one onto each side of the dragon’s face.
Then stick on two googly eyes to bring the dragon to life.
Next, cut out a few tissue paper strips to create the fire inside the dragon’s mouth. Stick the tissue paper strips inside the mouth one by one to give the dragon a fiery look.
Step 10
Let’s assemble everything now using hot glue (grown-ups only).
Stick one paper straw behind the dragon’s head. Next, stick one end of the paper chain onto the straw behind the dragon’s head. Then attach the other end of the paper chain onto another paper straw.
Our paper chain dragon is now ready to play with. Kids can hold the paper straws on both ends and wiggle, twist, and move their dragon puppet craft around for lots of playful fun.
More Chinese New Year Crafts for Kids
If you are looking for more Chinese New Year crafts for kids, be sure to check out some of these fun and festive craft ideas below. They are perfect for celebrating the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Appreciate a Dragon Day, or even St. George’s Day with kids.
Handprint Dragon Puppet: This cute handprint dragon puppet craft is perfect for Chinese New Year. It comes with a free printable template and uses handprints and paper fasteners to create a fun moving dragon puppet kids will love playing with.
Paper Dragon Puppet Craft: This paper dragon puppet craft is a fun and easy Chinese New Year craft for kids. Made with accordion folds and paper straws, this playful dragon puppet dances and moves as kids wiggle the straws. This dragon craft also uses a recycled toilet paper roll for the dragon’s face and comes with an optional printable template.
Simple Chinese Lantern Craft for Kids: This round Chinese lantern craft is a fun and colorful Chinese New Year craft activity for kids. Made with paper and a recycled paper roll, these lanterns are easy to assemble and look beautiful hanging around the home or classroom. The craft comes with a free printable template that kids can cut out, fold, and stick onto the paper roll.
Chinese New Year Books for Kids
Pair these books with your Chinese New Year crafts for a fun and festive Lunar New Year activity time with kids.
Peppa’s Chinese New Year: Celebrate Chinese New Year with Peppa Pig in this fun and festive storybook. Peppa and her friends learn about Chinese New Year traditions by hanging lanterns, eating fortune cookies, and performing a dragon dance together.
Ruby’s Chinese New Year: This charming picture book follows Ruby as she journeys to deliver a special Chinese New Year card to her grandmother. Along the way, she meets all twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, including Rat, Ox, and Rabbit. It is a lovely Lunar New Year story for kids and also introduces children to the Chinese zodiac animals in a fun and engaging way.
Dragons Love Tacos: This hilarious read-aloud story is all about dragons and their love for tacos. Kids will laugh as they discover what happens when dragons accidentally eat spicy salsa at a taco party. Filled with silly fun and playful storytelling, this dragon-themed book makes a wonderful addition to your dragon craft activities with kids.
How to Catch a Dragon: This fun dragon book for kids follows the How to Catch crew as they try to catch a dragon during Chinese New Year celebrations. Filled with paper lanterns, fireworks, red envelopes, and playful traps, this story is full of adventure and laughter.
The book also includes bonus educational content and Mandarin translations, making it a great read for Lunar New Year story time with kids.
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