I found this idea somewhere (I thought it was on here!) a long time ago and saved it. A couple of weeks ago, I bought my beads and all the supplies and we're going to do this on the first day of school. I'm really excited about it, and I bet the kids like this activity!
This is just the type of back to school ideas I like. Creative, simple, fun! I can't wait to use it. Hopefully I can find the supplies at Walmart. I better go now - you know how we teachers on this board makes runs on Walmart
What a great project! The kids wil enjoy doing this, and will enjoy showing off the necklace. I always have some very sentimental kids (and parents) who keep everything forever.
I made these last year with my third graders. It was a HUGE hit!!! They wore them all year long and at our end of the year lunch, every single kid who had made one wore it to the lunch. Not a single student had lost it. I was amazed!!
I got all my stuff at Walmart. Last year I used that plastic craft cord and it was okay but this year we made them at summer school and I used soft nylon cord and they worked so much better!!
I also still have almost enough stuff to do it again this year! I only have to buy more alphabet beads and that is all.
My computer crashed the other day and i do not have access to open a word document. My daughter has to come over next week to put it back on the computer. The idea sounds really cute. Would it be too much to ask to post this document with the directions on how to make it. i would love to be able to go buy the materials needed. If it is too long, then i understaND. tHANK-YOU.
Hi,
What is this getting to know you necklace?? I have no clue!! Can someone give me a website for it! It's not fair, as I can't download the document even as a new member.
Here it is j.c. I copied it - I found it on another site yesterday, "SMILE"
Name ____________________________ #______
GETTING TO KNOW YOU NECKLACE
The chart below tells you what each color bead means. Read the chart carefully and choose your beads.
RED – if you are a girl
BLUE – if you are a boy
ORANGE – how many sisters you have
GREEN – how many brothers you have
WHITE – how many pets you have
BLACK – how many different elementary schools you have attended
YELLOW – if you like reading (0=don’t like, 1=a little, 2=a lot)
PURPLE – if you like math (0=don’t like, 1=a little, 2=a lot)
SPORTS ~ pick 1 bead to show which sport you like the best
SMILEY FACES – if you like third grade (0=don’t like, 1=a little, 2=a lot)
* Once you have your beads, get your initials and make a cool pattern. Please bring your necklace to me when you are finished and I will put the end on it.
Fill out the questions below. Just look at other students’ necklaces to find your answers!
1. Name one person who has the same number of sisters as you: ______________
2. Name one person who has the same number of brothers as you:____________
3. Name one person who has more pets than you do: _________________________
4. Find two people who have gone to more than one elementary school:
___________________________ _____________________________
5. Find one person who likes reading the same as you do:_____________________
6. Find one person who likes math less than you do: _________________________
7. How many people in your group like third grade a lot? ________
8. How many people in your group have pets? ________
9. How many people in your group like reading and math a lot? ________
10. How many people in your group have only gone to one elementary school? __
11. Write your own question! _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________ Answer: _________________
Getting to know you necklace - DIRECTIONS
1. I buy the beads (colored, sports, and smiley faces), string
(black stretchy necklace cord), and clasps in the craft section of
Wal-Mart.
2. Before the day of the activity, cut the necklace cord and
attach the clasp to one end. Make sure you make it the right length
for your kiddos!
3. Copy the paper and fold it in 1/2 below the smiley faces. Let
the kids choose their beads using the chart. They get a cord,
arrange the beads in a pattern of their choice, and bring it to you
to attach the other end of the clasp. It's very helpful to have
another adult or two to help you tie! I usually don't have
help, so I plan the activity so that I can tie the necklaces while
they are in specials or at lunch and then we continue the activity
later...
4. When everyone has a necklace the kids should all put them on.
Then they flip their papers over and go around the room answering
the questions by looking at everyone else's necklaces.
5. Helpful tip --> Tell the kids that they will probably want to
wear them again, especially at the end of the year. (For some
reason they always do...although some will wear theirs throughout
the year). Anyway, I always tell them to find a safe place to hang
it at home so they won't lose it.
!
Yesterday when I found the directions to make this necklace I haven't had a chance to go to Walmart to get all the supplies. For those that might have made this before or are very creative - please tell me which clasp would you recommend to buy. I plan to go this weekend to get everything. Thanks so much. "SMILE"
Jo-Ann's is having a 60% off sale. I purchased a pack(36)of the Brass barrel Clasps, then a Mega pack (400ft) of Craftlace-beautiful colors all for under $5.00...I tried putting the lace through and tying -it will work for me...thanks again Pamnpr smile
I'm so happy this was a good idea for you all too! I liked the post that mentioned you could do a bracelet instead of a necklace. We teachers are the BEST! "SMILE"
I just returned from Walmart--smiley and sports beads are 1.96 each pack. The asst pack of colored beads were 1.26. (I bought two of those) just incase we lose a few! I am excited, the students will be too!
Thanks again!
Hi! I used the plastic craft lace last year and found it very difficult to keep tied. They kept coming undone. I used regular clasps last year and it just did not want to stay tied to it.
I found some soft black nylon cording in the jewelry supply aisle at Michaels (any craft store should have it). I got the barrel clasps and tied one onto the end of the cord I had cut. This way the beads could only fall off of one end. I just made them last week in summer school and it went so much better! You just have to double knot the cord really tightly and they have lasted so far.
It is a bit tedious. What I did to help that process was give each student a box lid or shallow pie pan to do their necklaces over. We sat on the floor next to our desks and did the necklaces over the boxes/pans. This way when some of the kids let the beads slide off (and I won't lie,,, it happened a few times!!) they mostly go in the pan or box. I also divided up all the beads into little cups and called the kids back in small groups with their box/pan to collect the beads they needed. This made things run much more smoothly. I had them leave the necklaces in their box/pan when they were done until I could get to them to tie it closed. When some of the kids tried to tie it themselves, they broke after a few minutes.
I hope this makes it a little more clear. They really do turn out great, and although they partly made me want to pull out my hair, it was well worth it.
Thanks, this will really help all of us especially if we haven't done this before, including ME! I can't wait to try this in my class this year. "SMILE"
I made a sample bracelet. I double knotted the craftlace onto barrel type clasp...it held. My girlfriend made one--she suggested a dot of hot glue just to be extra safe...
Walmart also had a little plastic organizer for $1.00 to separate the beads in. Each color has their own spot! smile
I love this idea!! What a cool first day of school activity! I plan on making one this weekend! Thanks for all the ideas from those that have made one already!
This will be my third year of doing this necklace. I organized the beads in ice cube trays that I got at the dollar store. One ice cube tray for each table of kids. (Refilled them when I was done and wrapped them in plastic wrap and stored them for this year)
I also put little baggies with the kids initial beads and the plastic cording for the necklaces so I knew each child would have their initials without searching. I just stuck a post-it with their name inside. I know this is a little more work but the less confusion on the first day the better. The first year I had a bit of trouble finding one or two of the beads for the glyph so I just altered the glyph to go with the beads I found. Also, I handed out plain white paper plates for the kids to do their bead work on so it wouldn't fall all over the floor - seems like I use them for most crafts. (if they are not dirty, I collect and save them for the next craft)
This is an awesome getting to know you activity that the kids remember. It often comes up at the end of the year as "one of their favorite things"
Good Luck with it
I looked at beads for just a minute at Michaels but then I got too confused. The holes in the beads look so small. Can they really thread the beads alone? Do you buy special beads with bigger holes? How expensive does this get? I was going to gift my two teammates with the supplies for this project but it looks like it might be pretty expensive. Thanks!
I posted the prices above...it is not bad...besides the look on their faces will be as they say in the commercials "priceless" What a nice way to make them feel the first day of school!
You could also adapt the directions/meanings a bit--for example leave out the sports or smileys 1.96 a bag and make it just the color beads...just a thought... smile
I used this a couple years ago and had been trying to find it since. When I did it, we used ice cube trays to sort the beads. That worked really well for small groups.
I have gone to 2 WalMarts and cannot find the "Smiley Face" beads or the Sports beads ... HELP! any suggestions of where to lookwould be much appreciated Also, whata size beads should I be looking for? As I already stated, I am so craft challenged it is pathetic, but my kiddos would really love this idea! Thanks much
Are the initials for the getting-to-know-you necklaces purchased at a craft store also? This is the best, most helpful website. Wish I would have had time the previous 3 teaching years to locate it! Although, I'm feeling a little like a 1st year teacher all over again with my upcoming 3/4 split. Thank you!
Maybe a coffee filter to contain all the items - cheaper than plates. Haven't been to the store yet so those of you who have made these would know better than I.
Thanks to everyone who posted suggestions to this adoreable activity! I can't wait to see the kids light up while making thier necklaces on the first day of school.
Love this site! I have learned so many new ideas. Thanks!
You know. Thanks so much for this idea, pamnpr! Yesterday I was helping out at a local school on their very busy first day when the principal nabbed me and said "We have no art teacher!!! I'd like you to teach her two classes this afternoon. Can you help?" Well, I'm no art teacher and the art room was in total disarray. As I scurried around just trying to find SOMETHING to do I found some beads and strings....the rest is history. The students LOVED IT!!!
My team partners and I have had our students make these for the past few years at the beginning of the new school year. Just thought I'd add a few more tips about how I've done this with my own groups. I read through most of the suggestions made here, but if I repeat something, I apologize in advance. We have done some of the things that have been suggested here, in addition to the following:
Some of the craft stores sell bags of assorted colors of 'pony beads' which tend to be easier for kids to handle.
I have bought leather cord or even just small bundles of 'cord'. I'm not sure what its official name is but I've purchased it in small bundles -like embroidery thread is packaged (but don't use embroidery thread!) Another team partner used thin 'jute' which she bought on a roll. Frankly, the kids seemed to be okay with anything we've chosen. They just love doing the activity!
When I haven't been able to find a particular bead like, maybe the happy face, I look for something else to substitute and change it accordingly on the directions page.
As for the clasps, we don't use any. We just tie them with a simple knot.
I'm not sure if someone else mentioned it, but we also allow our students to decide on a bracelet as opposed to a necklace, but actually, they (boys and girls) seem to prefer wearing them around their necks.
One more thing-A little anecdote: Last year, we got a new principal. As she was walking around observing, the kids invited her to make her own which she wore for the next two weeks. It was fun to watch the kids go up to her and tell her what they learned about her as a result of the colors she chose! It helped give them something to talk about with her...and it helped her get to know them, too!
I'm the HOSTS Reading Coordintator at my campus, which is a mentoring program. We're getting ready to start up again for this semester. I'm always looking for new ideas for the students and mentors to get to know each other. I'm excited about this one!
Tis is a thread from last year, but the idea is great and some may want to try it this year
We did this in VBS with some modifications. One of the main ones is that we bought lanyard hooks and rings so they could attach them to their back packs. Not too many boys are "into" necklaces.
PS: Buy the larger beads. They are easier to thread.
I like the idea of making it into something that they can clip onto their backpacks. I was also wondering about the boys wanting to wear a necklace. Thanks for adding that idea!
Love these ideas! I think I'll give the kids a choice of lanyard or necklace! I'll experiment first since lots of you have tried difference sized beads.
07-12-2006, 12:26 PM
I think I'll give the kids a choice of lanyard or necklace! I'll experiment first since lots of you have tried difference sized beads.
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