Tanabata Crafts: Making Bamboo Decorations

This article looks back at a Tanabata activity in July 2016.

July 7 is Tanabata, the Star Festival in Japan. The children celebrated by making decorations together.

This time, we made paper decorations to hang on bamboo branches. Before starting, we sang a Tanabata song and read a picture book. The children pointed to the bamboo and asked, “Sarasara?” while using gestures to show the leaves swaying in the breeze. Others pointed out the sparkling decorations, saying, “Kirakira!”

To make the decorations, the children glued triangular pieces of construction paper together. Small circles marked the tips of the triangles, helping them see where to apply the glue and join the pieces. Getting just the right amount of glue on their fingers was a little tricky at first, but with help from their teachers, they gradually became more confident. When they finished, they began counting how many pieces they had joined and proudly told us their totals.

Then, with their teachers' help, the children hung their decorations on the bamboo. Each child chose a spot, saying, “Here!” They all looked pleased when their decorations were in place.