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Paper Chains

Material

• Scissors
• 1" strips of colored paper
• Plastic or paper drinking straws
• Push pin and pad
• Large-eyed needle and thick thread
• 2 baskets for holding cut paper and straws

Presentation

1. Show children how to:
2. Cut the strips of paper into approximately 1" squares. The children judge where to cut by eye as opposed to using a ruler.
3.  
4. Cut drinking straws into 1" segments.
5.  
6. Punch a hole in the center of each square, using a push pin and pad.
7.  
8. Thread a needle by holding the end of the thread between the thumb and forefinger and bringing the eye of the needle to the thread; then bring the ends of the thread together and make a knot at the end, looping the end of the thread twice around the forefinger and pulling taut with the middle finger and thumb.
9.  
10. Alternately string a square of paper, a segment of straw, another square of paper, etc., forming a chain. Ends of the chains can be formed together to make longer ones.This makes a very effective Christmas chain, using red and green paper, which is easily adapted to other festivities by changing the colors.

Caution: Whenever children are sewing, they need to sit at opposite sides of a table to avoid injuring someone seated beside them.