As part of our commitment to creating a classroom that celebrates the beautiful diversity of the world, this week we are learning about the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday filled with vibrant customs, exciting stories, and fun activities.
Many of our children may have never heard of the Dragon Boat Festival before, and that makes it a wonderful opportunity to explore a new culture together — through storytelling, art, music, and hands-on play.
What Is the Dragon Boat Festival?
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is celebrated in China and many other parts of Asia.
It usually falls in late May or June and is known for its exciting dragon boat races, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves), and rich cultural traditions.
The holiday honors the memory of a famous Chinese poet and minister, Qu Yuan, who lived over 2,000 years ago.
His story teaches us about loyalty, bravery, and the importance of caring for our community — all wonderful lessons for young children.
Why We Celebrate in the Classroom
Introducing the Dragon Boat Festival in preschool helps us teach children about respect, empathy, and curiosity toward different cultures.
For our Chinese and Asian students, it’s a chance to connect with their roots and share a tradition that may be celebrated at home.
For others, it’s a fun and enriching way to expand their worldview through food, crafts, music, and storytelling.
Learning about cultural festivals encourages open-mindedness and helps build a classroom where everyone feels seen and celebrated.
Ideas to teach
Here are some ways to celebrate this festival:
- Reading a simple story about Qu Yuan and the dragon boats- here are a few recommendations:
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- Making paper dragon boats and having a mini race in our sensory water bin
- Talking about the meaning of friendship and community
- Exploring shapes and textures with a pretend zongzi wrapping station
And attached in this post is a free colouring in page and cut and glue activity for your children.
A Celebration of Curiosity
Learning about festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival helps spark children’s curiosity about the world and teaches them that differences are something to be explored and celebrated.
Happy Dragon Boat Festival!
(Duanwu Jie Kuai Le!)
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