1. Beaded Jewelry
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We're starting with the basics here, because anytime anyone ever thinks about making jewelry this is one of the first techniques that come to mind. It isn't your cheapest option, because beads and other materials can begin to add up price wise especially if you want a good stock for the kids to have options. All kids love choosing the type of jewelry they want to make, then picking the perfect beads, and finally, engaging in friendly fellowship with their peers as they complete their crafts. The possibilities of bead choices are endless. If you are able to get your hands on enough supplies for the students, this is a great activity to plan for practicing patterns in math or pairing with a related book. Beads with letters are also great for spelling their names and other important words to learn. Let's not forget about the historically inspired paper beads that are easy and fun to make for all ages. They can be cut and rolled up using old ads and magazine pages (which make really cool effects) or they can be colored, painted, and decorated by the kids. It's a great way to get the younger kids involved in jewelry making too! We all love the finished products! They make great gifts and look awesome on the kids. They also especially like wearing beaded jewelry if they get to make it themselves.
2. Friendship Bracelets
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/friendship-bracelet-patterns-4780552
This jewelry making activity is another fan favorite for the kids. They really enjoy learning how to make the bracelets and eventually learning how to perfect the patterns over time. True lovers of friendship bracelets even add charms and detailed designs. They can be made with so many different materials such as string, yarn, and embroidery floss. Kid especially love giving them as gifts or trading out for their favorites. I think this is a wonderful activity to share with your older students. You can combine it with an economics unit on goods and services and allow students to make and sell bracelets for the project. The good thing about making friendship bracelets is once you teach students how to get started they can continue the craft after school when they get home. This is especially good if you are pressed for time. There are so many different patterns to learn that it's even possible to find something for your 4th or 5th graders to do. I've included a website where you can find several friendship bracelet pattern ideas that use different materials and the video will walk you through the steps for a few of the most commonly made braclets for beginners!
This jewelry making activity is another fan favorite for the kids. They really enjoy learning how to make the bracelets and eventually learning how to perfect the patterns over time. True lovers of friendship bracelets even add charms and detailed designs. They can be made with so many different materials such as string, yarn, and embroidery floss. Kid especially love giving them as gifts or trading out for their favorites. I think this is a wonderful activity to share with your older students. You can combine it with an economics unit on goods and services and allow students to make and sell bracelets for the project. The good thing about making friendship bracelets is once you teach students how to get started they can continue the craft after school when they get home. This is especially good if you are pressed for time. There are so many different patterns to learn that it's even possible to find something for your 4th or 5th graders to do. I've included a website where you can find several friendship bracelet pattern ideas that use different materials and the video will walk you through the steps for a few of the most commonly made braclets for beginners!
3. Crocheted Jewelry
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/free-patterns-and-tutorials-for-crocheted-jewelry-978241
Not many people know how to crochet, but kids tend to pick it up quite easily, especially if they are making something they will enjoy. However, it does take time to learn and is probably more suited for the older students, but if you plan and prepare appropriately, this can be a great jewelry-making activity. The website listed above has 10 different crochet jewelry patterns that seem very simple and the video will show you how to crochet a very simple neckless for beginners. They end result is beautiful and the technique can be used to make very unique and creative jewelry. You can crochet virtually any type and style of jewelry, which is what makes this activity so great for sparking the creativity in your students. The materials aren't very expensive and you might even have a ton left over from previous activities. Crocheting is an art that has been around a long time and is still very common in many cultures, so this can easily be combined with a history or social studies lesson!
Not many people know how to crochet, but kids tend to pick it up quite easily, especially if they are making something they will enjoy. However, it does take time to learn and is probably more suited for the older students, but if you plan and prepare appropriately, this can be a great jewelry-making activity. The website listed above has 10 different crochet jewelry patterns that seem very simple and the video will show you how to crochet a very simple neckless for beginners. They end result is beautiful and the technique can be used to make very unique and creative jewelry. You can crochet virtually any type and style of jewelry, which is what makes this activity so great for sparking the creativity in your students. The materials aren't very expensive and you might even have a ton left over from previous activities. Crocheting is an art that has been around a long time and is still very common in many cultures, so this can easily be combined with a history or social studies lesson!
4. Using Paper Clips
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Paper clips are one of those things that any crafty person always keeps on hand, because they know how valuable they can be. The three videos above show us how we can take basic paperclips and turn them into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Paper clips can be bent, shaped, and combined with beads to make one of a kind necklaces, bracelets, rings, and even earrings. Sometimes it requires a little hot glue or a pair of pliers for bending and cutting, so it definitely depends on how detailed the jewelry is for determining which age group this activity is appropriate for. However, if you can find just the right level of difficulty, you can definitely awe and surprise your students with a jewelry making craft they will love. What I really enjoy about this jewelry is, it can be made to look like it sold in a store, but all the while sporting that homemade creativity that only comes from making things yourself. Paper clip jewelry can be made with one clip per piece, or if you are really feeling crafty, students can combine many clips with beads to make really cool pieces, like the one shown in the photo above!
5. Jewelry Made of Straws
I like this idea because straws are so easy to collect. There are so many different things you can do with them. They can be cut up and used as beads for bracelets and necklaces. Because they come in so many different sizes and colors, they make really cool and unique effects with jewelry. This is also a jewelry craft that can be shared with kids of any ages, as long as you trust them with scissors. The plastic material is also easy to attach to things by simply using Elmer's glue. Probably one of the easiest and most creative ideas I found using straws is demonstrated in the beginning of this video. The crafter simply cut their straw with a standard pencil sharpener in a spiral until the entire straw was cut. Because of the way it was cut, it's super easy close back up and slide on your wrist. This idea can be used like that for bracelets or you can cut many tiny spiral straws, punch holes in them and use them for cool homemade beads. The options are really limitless here and the students can be almost totally independent in this jewelry making technique.
6. Resin Pendants
This is my absolute favorite jewelry making activity that I've found so far. Epoxy resin is a liquid that can be placed in molds, allowed to air dry, and then removed as a shiny plastic material. The video above show us how super cute and creative jewelry pendants can be make using epoxy resin. The crafter places tiny charms, glitters, wires, stones, and any tiny object you can think of to make this jewelry. Color dye can be added to resin as well to create an even better look. After they dry they are easily extracted from their molds where they dried, a small wire is attached, and it is then hung to a string that can be wore as a necklace. This activity can even be used to make charm bracelets. There is a small catch however, you will have to purchase the epoxy resign and molds. I'm sure you can probably use any mold that is commonly sold in almost any store, but you will then be tasked with making a hole for the pendant to hand to the jewelry string. I'm thinking you could easily use a small drill or even a sharp tool, but the students will not be able to do that part, so it will be left up to you. Either way, this is fun, unique, and the students can make personalized jewelry with items and designs that mean something to them. They are also durable, so they can last a long time!