Show kids how to create a pull-along dragon toy out of paper cups. It's an enjoyable way to learn about Chinese culture and a great craft to make for the Chinese New Year.

Paper cups or yoghurt cups
Construction paper or printable
cardstock
Poster paint or acrylic paint
Paint brush
Crayons or oil pastels
Jingle bell
Beads
String
Glue gun

Hole punch
Scissors
Scotch tape
Pencil
Small coins

Trim 4 paper cups to about 2 inches in height. You may also use yoghurt cups as an alternative.

Punch a pair of opposite holes along the middle portion of three of the cups.

Using the tip of a pencil, punch a small hole at the center of the fourth cup's bottom.

Paint the paper cups with your desired color of poster paint.

If the surface of your cups is glossy or waxy, use acrylic paint.

Use a dry brush to apply gold or silver paint streaks on each red cup. 

Click on Printables out this dragon head template on cardstock or draw your own version of a dragon's head on construction paper. The head should be slightly bigger than the paper cup's mouth. Color the dragon's head with crayons or oil pastels.

Cut out the dragon head.

Cut a long piece of string and make a knot on one end. String a jingle bell and 2 to 3 large beads through the string.

Cut drinking straw into three 1-inch long pieces. String the three paper cups through the string, with a drinking straw in between cups.

String the fourth cup through its bottom hole.

Make a knot on the string from the inside of the fourth cup. Cut the excess length of string.

Punch a hole on the top portion of the dragon's head.

Use glue gun to attach the dragon's head to the fourth cup's mouth.

Tape a small coin below each hole on the cup adjacent to the head. These coins will provide the weight to stabilize your dragon as you pull it along. 

Attach a long string through the hole on the dragon's head. Once the glue and paint are completely dry, you can take your pull-along dragon toy for a walk.

This craft is reprinted courtesy of FirstPalette.com.