Maggie's Earth Adventures

Maggie’s Activity Pack!

Name ______Date ______

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival

Imagine you are standing in a his people. He was not only a crowd of people on the bank of a popular leader, but he wrote many river. In front of you are many long important documents and poems boats with a dragon head at the bow. about his country. When Qu Yuan A man stands here lighting realized that corrupt officials were firecrackers and tossing rice into the coming into power, he took a stone river. He seems to be looking for and jumped into the river on the fifth something. day of the fifth lunar month. Do you know where this Fishermen tried to save him but festival takes place? If you guessed could not. His body was never China, you’re right! Every year the found. The people threw rice, Chinese people celebrate the zongzi, and eggs into the river to Upright Sun Festival. It is celebrated “feed” their hero. Folklore says that around the Summer Solstice when one year, he came back and told the the hot mid-summer days are just people that a huge reptile was living around the corner. This festival in the river, too. This reptile was started as a way to drive off the evil stealing all the rice the people had spirits that seemed to arrive with the been throwing into the river. He told hot summer days. They wanted to the people to wrap the rice in silk drive away sickness, insects, and and tie it with five different colored pests. When foreigners visited threads before they threw him these China and saw all the beautifully offerings. carved boats, they began to call it People love to eat zongzi the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. It during the celebrations today. This is celebrated every year on the fifth is a special dumpling. Traditionally it day of the fifth lunar month. had a rice filling and was wrapped In southern China where there with bamboo leaves. Doesn’t this are many lakes and rivers, the sound like the food Qu Yuan told the people began the tradition of racing people to throw into the river? dragon boats. Stories are told of an Today there are many kinds of ancient Chinese official, Qu Yuan. zongzi. Taste this dumpling and you He was very honest and beloved by may bite into meat, eggs, or dates.

© Maggie's Earth Adventures, LLC 2007. Teachers may reproduce for classroom use. Fish and rice dishes are also eaten Chinese people of their long tradition on this special day. This is done to of working together cooperatively. remind the people of the importance The festival also has traditions of healthy eating habits. designed to bring luck. During the Today people enjoy this festival, many people hang herbs on festival by racing big boats that are their doors. Children are given herbs painted red, white, black, and yellow. to wear around their necks. At The bow has the head of a dragon exactly twelve noon, many people and the stern is the dragon’s tail! draw water. This is done for luck. The head and tail of the dragon are People also try to balance an egg on fastened each year to the boat and its end for extra special luck! Have “brought to life” in a special you ever tried doing this? At noon ceremony. You might wonder why on June 22, 2004, take an egg and the boats are “dressed up” as attempt this impossible feat. Maybe dragons. It is because long ago the you will be lucky! Chinese people believed dragons If you want to see dragon boat had power over the rivers and racing, you don’t have to travel all control of the rain. As with many the way to China. Today many cities holidays around the world, there may hold these races. In the United be many reasons behind the States, Boston and San Francisco traditions of this celebration. Some host races. If you’re in Australia, you believe the dragon boats symbolized can watch the races in Sydney. a fight between dragons that was Many Canadian cities sport active happening in the heavens. This fight dragon racing boat teams. From brought heavy rains. Remember Singapore to London, you can enjoy that the festival happens after the these colorful Chinese inspired spring planting and right before the events! long, hot summer when rains are needed to grow the crops? This is why many people believe the dragon boat racing was first done - to bring on these needed rains. Today many people must row each boat. The captain stands at the bow and waves a flag so the men can row in unison to the beat of a drum. There is much pageantry and noise. Competitions are held between organizations and villages. But each dragon boat, with the teamwork of the rowers, reminds the

I. Understanding What You Read Fill in the circle beside the correct answer.

1. What answer describes how the Dragon Boat Festival originated?

.People told stories of how Qu Y uan jumped into the river and drowned ס

The people wanted to feed him so they threw rice to him.

Dragons had control of the rivers and rain. The people needed rain ס before the hot summer for their crops.

.Both of the above ס

2. Who was Qu Yuan?

.A Chinese official who did many evil things and then drowned ס

.A Chinese official who helped the people and wrote poems ס

.A Chinese official who herded dragons ס

None of the above. ס

3. What is zongzi ?

.The herbs the Chinese hang on their doors ס

.The Chinese word for bamboo leaves ס

.A Chinese dumpling filled with rice, dates, or meat ס

.All of the above ס

On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month ס

June 22 ס

May 5 ס

.None of the above ס

5. What is the main idea of this article?

.There are Chinese dragon boat races in many parts of the world ס

Cultural festivals all over the world can have many legends that help ס contribute to the ways they are now celebrated.

The Chinese Dragon Boat Races remind people of the importance of ס teamwork and cooperation.

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a fun way Chinese people ס celebrate cultural traditions and remember the legends surrounding a national hero.

.All of the above ס

Answer each question in complete sentences to show your understanding of the article.

1. Why do you think the Chinese people still celebrate the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival?

______2. Describe why the dragon boats remind people of the spirit of cooperation and teamwork.

______

III. Applying What You Have Read Imagine you are in a Chinese city for this festival. Use all your senses and describe the scene. ______

© Maggie's Earth Adventures, LLC 2007. Teachers may reproduce for classroom use. Dear Colleague, As you read this, I am packing to go to China and hopefully will see the Dragon Boat Festival while there. I’m sure this trip will allow me to bring you back many new activities and pictures for the 2004-05 school year as I know many of you study China. If you want an extension for the entire class or for just a few students, why not give each student an identity: Qu Yuan, a rower on a boat, a woman making zongzi, a tourist on the riverbank, etc. Then use Multiple Intelligences and have the children write a journal entry, prepare a soliloquy, make a diorama, create a model of their boat, make some zongzi, record a “You Are There” on a tape recorder, etc. to share with the class. You’ll have a meaningful Chinese Dragon Boat experience!

Happy teaching, Kathy

Answers to multiple choice questions: 1. Both of the above. 2. A Chinese official who helped the people and wrote poems. 3. A Chinese dumpling filled with rice, dates, or meat. 4. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month 5. The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a fun way Chinese people celebrate cultural traditions and remember the legends surrounding a national hero.