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Dragon Drums

The dragon is an important symbol of Chinese culture. Students will learn about its significance and create a hand drum replica featuring this iconic creature.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Craft Materials
  • Paper
  • Paper Plate(s)
  • Sticks
  • String

Steps

  • Step 1

    In Chinese culture dragons symbolize wisdom, power, and wealth and are believed to bring good luck. They adorn drums, kites, lanterns, costumes and other items. One version of a Chinese hand drum consists of a small drum on a stick with a string on either side that holds a bead that serves as a knob or mallet. Ask students to look at images of dragons in Chinese culture and learn about some of the traditional celebrations. What do they represent? How are they celebrated?

  • Step 2

    Have students create a hand drum using two paper plates. They first paint the plates. Then while the paint dries they can draw and cut out features for the dragon's head making two sets - one for the front and back of the drum. When the plates are dry, they can glue on the features and attach the drum to a stick. They can make two "mallets" that will hit the drum face and back as the stick is twirled. The mallets could be large beads tied to some string. One end of the string is glued to each side of the face.

  • Step 3

    Students can play the drum by quickly turning the stick in their hands to make the beads hit the plate.

  • Step 6

    dges.

Standards

ARTS: With guidance, explore and experience music concepts (such as beat and melodic contour).

SS: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture.

Adaptations

Have students investigate some other symbols in Chinese culture, such as the panda, lotus flowers, bamboo, etc.

Have students learn about some of the movements performed in a dragon dance. Then have them create and perform an original dragon-inspired dance.