Dragonboat Racing

The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching and it's time to have some fun with a dragonboat race!

Using the magic of magnetism, we make the boats race using an invisible force with a wave of the magnetic magic wand. 

Credit to @mummyiwanttoplay for this great idea!

What you need

magnet wand (psst.. this provided in the Magnet Mania Box) 

painting materials 

metal paper clips

Step by Step 

1. Prepare a cardboard. Draw and colour the background.  

2. Draw and colour the boat on another piece of cardboard. Cut it out.

3. Stick a safety pin behind the boat. 

4. With the magnet wand under the cardboard, you are ready for the race!

Have fun! Continue exploring the properties of magnets and discover their uses through hands-on craft and activities in the Magnet Mania Box.

Learn

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Jie (端午节) originated traditionally to remember the patriot poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Milou River more than 2000 years ago. It is a festival with a focus on the themes of patriotism and sacrifice.

To prevent the fish from destroying his body, people threw rice wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river to feed the fish; they also went on boats in the river, beating drums to drive the fish away.

The festival is commemorated with dragon boat racing. 20 paddlers sit along the length of the boat, with a drummer at the bow and a steerer at the rear form a team. During the races, dragon boat teams paddle harmoniously to move the boat forward in competition with the others. The sound of beating drums makes the race exciting. It is believed that the winning team will have good luck in the following year.

Chinese families also enjoy Zongzi, rice dumplings on this day. Rice dumplings are parcels of sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. They symbolize the rice balls the villagers tossed into Miluo River to feed the fish after Qu Yuan drowned himself.