Kai-lan Dragon Table Topper Puppet

For a spectacular centerpiece, cut out these printable pieces and secure them end to end. A long dragon will appear before your eyes.

Watch Kai-lan every day on Nick Jr.

Materials

• One standard size (9 in.) white paper plate
• Chinese Dragon templates
• Heavy card stock paper for printing
• Glue stick or tape
• Scissors
• Green crayon

Directions

1. Step 1: Print out and cut out the pieces

   On card stock, print out the printable templates for the face, body, and tail pieces. Cut out the pieces, using the dotted lines as a guide.

2. Step 2: Make pop-up eyes (optional)

   Gently fold the green face along the solid line down the middle of the white eye. Try to crease the paper gently so as not to leave a seam. Then, cut along the curved dotted line, open the paper back up, and fold back the eye so it stands straight up.

3. Step 3: Create the face

   Trim the plate by one inch, cutting around the edge. Have your preschooler color one side green with crayon. Fold the paper plate in half. Pick which side of the folded plate will be the top and attach the green semi-circle face so it matches up with the edges of the plate.

4. Step 4: Make the ears

   Glue or tape the ears onto the opposite sides of the face. Tape to the inside of the plate half, facing up.

5. Step 5: Make the eyes

   Glue the eyes on top of the white semi-circles on the face. If using the pop-up option, attach the eyes to the front of the pop-up (see above).

6. Step 6: Make the nose and tongue

   Attach the nose just below the middle stripe on the face. Attach the tongue to the bottom of plate half, centered.

7. Step 7: Assemble the body and attach to the face

   Attach the body and tail pieces together where indicated. Fold accordion style, from front to back, folding at each yellow ridge. You should have eight folds when you're done. Match up the top fold of the body to the back of the face plate and tape together so the tail extends directly behind the face. You're done!

8. OPTIONAL; Make it a puppet

   To make your table topper into a puppet, simply poke two holes at the front of the body for your preschooler's fingers to poke through. For grown-ups: a pointy pencil should do the trick!