If you’re looking for a colourful and fun paper craft to enjoy with children who love mythical creatures and beasts, then why not try to make a dancing dragon? While adult supervision is recommended, particularly for youngsters, this craft is relatively straightforward and ideal for wet summer days indoors. You could also make a dancing dragon to celebrate Chinese New Year or for other festivals. Here are some instructions:

Equipment List

For this mythical beasts activity, you will need:

1. Coloured construction paper or craft paper (red, green, yellow, or any other bright colours)

2. Scissors

3. Glue or tape

4. Googly eyes or markers (for eyes)

5. Pipe cleaners or straws (for handles)

6. Markers, glitter, stickers (optional for decoration)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Make the dragon’s head

The first thing you need to do is make the dragon’s head. You can do this by printing and drawing round a template onto a piece of coloured paper. You can also do this freehand but it might be a little more challenging. Cut it out and have fun decorating the dragon’s head with felt tips, glitter, stickers, streamers, foil and anything else you think looks good.

2. Make the Body

Making the body requires concentration and some paper folding skills. If you’re up for the challenge, cut several strips of paper about one-inch wide and 8-10-inches long. They don’t all have to be the same colour, this is totally up to you. Accordion-fold each strip. To do this you will need to fold it back and forth like a paper fan. It’s not as hard as it sounds and there are plenty of tutorials for accordion folds online - so don’t worry. Connect the folded strips end-to-end with glue or tape to form a long, flexible body. As you’ve probably already realised, the paper folds will make it easier for the dragon to dance.

3. Add the Tail

Cut a dragon’s tail out of coloured paper and attach it to the end of the paper strips. You could make it zig-zagged, curved or straight with a triangle shape on the end, depending on your imagination. You might even want to cut out bits of coloured paper to decorate the tail.
 

4. Attach Handles

Attach pipe cleaners or straws to both the head and tail of the dragon using tape or glue. You can also use a glue gun, but make sure children are supervised using this at all times. These handles will let you hold and move the dragon.

5. Make It Dance!

Your dragon is now complete. To make it dance, simply hold the handles and wave your arms up and down from side to side. The accordion-folded body will expand and contract, making the dragon dance. If you want to really bring your dragon to life you could always add small bells which chime whenever the dragon dances.

To see a mythical beast live on stage, book your tickets to Dragons and Mythical Beasts Live. This spellbinding show, complete with exceptional puppetry, is great for the whole family.