Try a tradition from another culture
Make and decorate a paper lantern inspired by another culture, learn about its meaning, and safely display it at home.
Step-by-step guide to make and decorate a paper lantern inspired by another culture
Virtual Crafts for Kids - Native American Basket Weaving
Step 1
Gather all the materials on the list and put them on a clear workspace.
Step 2
Choose one culture whose lanterns you want to be inspired by.
Step 3
Ask an adult to help you learn about what that culture's lanterns mean.
Step 4
Pick two or three colors and one or two simple symbols from that culture to use as decoration.
Step 5
Fold a sheet of colored paper in half lengthwise (long edge to long edge).
Step 6
Use a ruler to draw evenly spaced vertical lines from the folded edge toward the open edge leaving about 2 cm unmarked at the open side.
Step 7
Cut along the lines you drew, stopping at the unmarked margin to make slits.
Step 8
Roll the paper so the cut slits run up and down and the folded edge becomes the bottom of the lantern.
Step 9
Secure the short edges together with glue or tape to make a cylinder shape.
Step 10
Cut a strip of paper about 2 cm wide to use as a handle.
Step 11
Glue each end of the strip to the top rim of the cylinder to make a handle.
Step 12
Decorate the outside of your lantern with the colors and symbols you chose using your colouring materials.
Step 13
Place a battery-operated tea light or LED light inside the lantern.
Step 14
Ask an adult to hang or place the lantern somewhere safe away from curtains and flammable items and to turn on the light.
Step 15
Share a photo of your finished lantern and write what you learned about the tradition on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a battery-operated tea light or hard-to-find colouring materials?
If you can't find a battery-operated tea light or LED, use a small flashlight or glow stick that fits inside the paper cylinder, and swap markers or stickers for colouring materials to decorate the outside.
What should we do if the paper tears when cutting slits or the lantern won't hold its shape?
If the slits tear or the lantern collapses, fold the sheet lengthwise, use a ruler to draw evenly spaced vertical lines leaving about 2 cm unmarked at the open edge, stop cutting at that margin, use sharp scissors and reinforce the glued or taped short edge and top rim before adding the handle and light.
How can this lantern activity be adapted for different age groups?
For younger children have an adult pre-fold and pre-cut the slits and let them pick colours and stick simple symbols, while older children can draw precise lines with a ruler, cut accurately, create cultural symbol stencils and write a longer explanation of the tradition for DIY.org.
How can we extend or personalize the lantern beyond the basic instructions?
To personalize, layer coloured tissue paper behind the slits for stained-glass effects, use stencils to add culturally inspired symbols, string several finished cylinders into a garland, or choose a flickering LED before sharing a photo and your research on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make and decorate a paper lantern inspired by another culture
Native American Crafts For Kids - Tipi
4 Videos
Native American Crafts For Kids - Tipi
Cultures of the World | A fun overview of the world cultures for kids
Understanding Traditions and Cultures for Kids
How Can Younger Generations Learn Traditional Crafts? - Worldwide Traditions
Facts about paper lantern traditions
🏮 Paper lanterns have been used in Asia for over 2,000 years to celebrate festivals and light the night.
🎆 The Lantern Festival marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations on the 15th day of the lunar month.
🌕 The Mid-Autumn Festival includes sharing mooncakes and carrying lanterns to celebrate the full moon with family.
🎈 Thailand's Yi Peng festival is famous for releasing sky lanterns that fill the night sky—some places now ban them because of fire risk.
✂️ You can make a beautiful paper lantern using just paper, scissors, and tape—or try folding techniques from origami for no glue!
How do I make and safely display a paper lantern inspired by another culture?
What materials do I need to make a cultural paper lantern at home?
What ages are suitable for making and decorating paper lanterns from other cultures?
What safety and cultural respect tips should parents follow when making lanterns inspired by another tradition?
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