What you do for this ZOOMdo:

1. Koinobori is Japanese for a flag that's shaped like a kind of fish called a carp. Every year on May 5th, Japanese families fly these flags in front of their homes to celebrate a holiday called Children's Day. That's when children thank their parents for the care they give them and parents celebrate the healthy growth of their children. The flags are shaped like carp because carp are very strong fish and can jump high out of the water.
2. Cut out a piece of fabric 20 inches long and 18 inches wide.
3. To start, fold the 18" side in half. Now your fabric should measure 9" X 20".

4. Using a pencil, draw a fish design on the fabric. Make sure the opening for the mouth is at least six inches wide. Cut along your pencil lines.

5. Paint the body of your carp with fabric paint. You can use different things to paint it like a paintbrush or a toothbrush. The designs on your Koinobori can represent things important to you and your family.

6. When your design is dry, glue your fish together. Make sure that you glue it inside out so that when you press the pieces together the painted design faces in. Spread a small amount of glue on the edges of your fish, but don't put any glue on the mouth or the end of the tail. You'll want these to be open so the wind can flow through and make your flag swim in the breeze!

7. Let the glue dry. When it is dry, turn it right side out.
8. Now you get to add ribbon to your flag. Using glue or a stapler, hang ribbon off of the tail of the fish.

9. Next, cut a piece of cardboard 1 inch wide by 13 inches long. Form the cardboard into a circle and fit it into the mouth of your carp. Then take the cardboard out keeping it in the same size circle and staple the ends together.
10. Slide the cardboard ring back into the mouth and fold about an inch of fabric over the ring. Staple the ring in place.

11. Punch a hole through the fabric and cardboard ring on either side of the fish mouth.
12. Tie one end of a piece of string or ribbon to each hole.

13. When the paint and glue are dry, you can hang your Koinobori outside. Japanese families fly Koinobori in front of their homes to make a wish that their children will be strong and healthy like the carp.