This simple craft uses paper and a pair of chopsticks. Just a few minutes of your time and you will have a dancing snake puppet in time to celebrate Chinese New Year.
You will need:
thick paper ( I used a gold wallpaper sample.)
glue
googly eyes
a pair of chopsticks
optional: jingly bell
If you are painting your paper, do this first and leave to dry.
Firstly, cut out your paper. It’s essentially a very long U-shape.
Turn your paper over so that you are working on the ‘wrong’ side. Holding the head of the snake (curvy end of your U) in one hand, fold one of the paper strips at 90 degrees across the other piece*.
Next, fold the other strip over the first.
Fold the first back over the second and then the second over the first. Repeat, creating a concertina, until you reach the end of the paper. If you want a longer snake, you can add in further strips of paper, that have been cut to size. Just layer them over the existing strips (tape them in place for strength if you want) and keep folding.
Secure the end pieces by folding them back in on themselves and gluing in place.
If you are using the bell, you can stick this on the tail of your snake now. At this point you can also add eyes and a snake tongue.
Once your snake is finished, then insert two chopsticks in the folded edges at the front and rear ends of your snake. Secure with tape.
Then, enjoy making your snake dance and jingle.
*This was such an easy craft we made it whilst on holiday. There are pictures of the construction process which will be added when I have a new SD card reader. It’s helpful to see the images of the folding process if it doesn’t make sense. *
Thanks! I’m hoping to do this at school tomorrow!
I don’t really understand how to cut and fold the paper. Any more pictures or tips for me?
Thanks
I shall add more pictures Tara.
I will be making this snake with my Brownies next week. Thank you for your help
delighted to help Night Owl 😀 do email a picture and I shall add to the post!
I’m making these with 100 kids next week at our school. Thanks SO much for the great idea.
no problem Shannon. Email me a picture when you are all done 😀
Hi there! I am featuring this in this Thursday’s Kid’s Co-Op on Triple T Mum. Thanks for sharing it with the Kid’s Co-Op 🙂
I am a big fan of puppets, so I totally love this!
Oooh I love your snake it is adorable!
Cool! Is it wrong that I want to pimp it to be a dinosaur?!
Not the Year of the Dinosaur though Annie 😀 Pimp by all means: I expect to see finished results soon.
That is very nice and I love the idea of using chopsticks, sort of makes it even more Chinese, dare I say authentic!
You are right Emma, although that is luck rather than judgement: it was all I had to hand to make them dance.