Dragon Boat Festival

Suitable for Grades 4-6

With over 2,000 years of history, the Dragon Boat Festival is one of the oldest festivals ​in China. It is a lunar festival, which means the date changes each year. It falls on the ​fifth day of the fifth lunar month each year - landing anywhere between late May to late ​June. According to legend, the Dragon Boat Festival is said to remember the Chinese ​poet Qu Yuan.

On the day of the festival, you can say, “端午安康!” (Duānwǔ ānkāng!) which means, “I ​wish you health for Dragon Boat Festival!”

Watch these videos and ask students to ​discuss what they’ve learnt about Dragon ​Boat Festival. Complete the Quick Quiz at ​the end of the first video to check ​comprehension.

Dragon Boat races are held across China ​and the world. Ask students to discuss why ​they think Dragon Boat racing is popular ​around the globe?

TASK:

After watching both ​videos ask them to ​complete the 5W's and ​H worksheet for ​Dragon Boat Festival.

Zongzi, or Rice Dumplings are eaten ​during this festival and are filled with ​different fillings, depending on where ​in China you live. Sweet flavours ​include redbean paste. Savoury include ​salty duck egg or pork belly. They are ​then wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Watch the video about new Zongzi ​flavours. Ask students which flavours ​they would like to try?

Watch Jiaxing professionals show ​how to wrap a perfect Zongzi to ​learn more about Zongzi, a ​traditional Dragon Boat Festival ​dish. Ask students to discuss why ​they are wrapped in bamboo leaves ​traditionally and why they are still ​wrapped in bamboo leaves?

Dragon Boat Festival is based on the ​legend of the ancient philosopher and ​poet, Qu Yuan.

Qu Yuan's poems are famous throughout ​China and during Dragon Boat Festivals, ​there are poetry writing competitions ​held and poetry readings.

Students may wish to write their own ​poems about Dragon Boat Festival or ​another festival, using poetry formats ​and techniques you've been practising in ​class.

Use our Global Learning Card: Poetry for ​Dragon Boat Festival to guide this ​activity.

If you are able to have eggs ​in the classroom or students ​have access to eggs at their ​home, have students partner ​up to play the Standing Egg ​Game which is traditionally ​played at Dragon Boat ​Festival!

Students might like to write ​instructions for others to try ​this game too from other ​classes!

• Share your students’ fantastic work with your school community to show them the great ​intercultural learning taking place in your classroom!

• Prepare an assembly item to share about this holiday.
  

• Create a Learning Wall about the festival.
  

• Display students‘ work on the festival on the Learning Wall or around the school.
  

• Tag @MegGlobalEd on school posts so we can celebrate your students’ wonderful work. Find ​Meg on Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and Instagram
  

IGNITE Answers: A4, B2, C1, D3.