Fireworks are traditional Chinese New Year fodder -- in fact, the Chinese invented fireworks. Make your own "frozen fireworks" to celebrate the new year.

This Chinese New Year Golden Dragon puppet has a special trick -- when you curl your fingers to make him look at somebody, his ears stand up.

The Chinese dragon represents wisdom, strength, benevolence, and good fortune. Invite your students to learn more about this symbol by creating a miniature version and by reading stories about dragons. Begin by passing out the Reproducible below. Have students decorate their dragons with bright colors and glitter. Next help kids to fold a piece of 8" x 11" paper in half vertically and cut along the fold. Accordion-fold each piece and join together to create the animal's body. Attach the head at one end and the tail at the other. Tape chopsticks to the head and tail. Use your puppets as props for a read aloud of A Time of Golden Dragons, by Song Nan Zhang (Tundra, 2000).