Dragon Boat Festival
Suitable for Prep, Grade 1, 2 & 3
Ignite Curiosity!
Match these four images to Chinese festivals. Answers on the last page.
A. Tomb Sweeping Festival
B. Chinese New Year
C. Dragon Boat Festival
D. Mid-Autumn Festival
Explore Ideas!
WHAT IS Dragon Boat Festival?
Watch the video to find out more!
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!”
EXPLORE THE FESTIVAL
SEE, THINK, WONDER
Show the worksheet on a projector to the class or give a copy to pairs of students.
Have students examine the pictures on Resource Sheet: Dragon Boat Festival Photo Gallery and discuss the prompts with a partner.
Share their thoughts with the class.
Watch these two videos and ask students what they’ve learnt about Dragon Boat Festival. Use the prompts who, what, when, where, why and how to check comprehension.
Students might choose to learn one of the songs for an assembly or video to share with parents and caregivers.
Zongzi -Rice Dumplings are eaten during this festival. Traditionally, the Zongzi are filled with different fillings, depending on where in China you live. Sweet flavours include Redbean paste. Savoury include salty duck egg or pork. They are then wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Watch the video about new Zongzi flavours. Ask students which flavours they would like to try?
Zongzi Wrapping Competitions
Watch Jiaxing professionals show how to wrap a perfect Zongzi, a traditional Dragon Boat Festival dish. Discuss the festival foods that are often eaten to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival, including zongzi. Ask students if they would prefer to eat sweet or salty Zongzi and why.
Create!
Students complete the Resource Sheet: Dragon Boat Festival Zongzi Matching Game with a partner. Print off one page per student and provide them with scissors to cut their pages. Full instructions are on the resource sheet.
Students can create their own game for the festival following these instructions:
- Divide an A4 paper into 8 even squares
- Draw an image related to Dragon Boat Festival in one square and copy it exactly in another square.
- Repeat for a different image related to the festival.
- Repeat for a third image.
- Repeat for a fourth image.
- There should now be 4 different images, two of each, with 8 images total.
Share!
- 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.
Post!
- 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.