This Christmas my prekinders are making jingle bell necklaces! We will be using these to practice fine motor skills, math skills, and to enjoy them with music.
To make the necklaces, you will need:
- jingle bells
- green and red pony beads
- green craft cord
I bought all of my materials at Hobby Lobby, but any craft store would have these items. I decided to use the craft cord instead of yarn because most children don’t like the feel of itchy yarn on their neck.
The first step is to clip something on one end of the necklace so the beads will not fall off as the children are stringing them on. I use a snap hair clip. Some children will push the beads so hard, they push the hair clip off and beads scatter everywhere. I’ve found its best to wrap the string around the bottom side of the clip a couple of times and then snap the clip closed.
Step 2: String a jingle bell on the cord and stop in the middle. The craft cord frays easily, so it helps to wrap the end with a piece of clear tape. That makes it easier for children to string things onto the cord.
Step 3: Have your prekinders string some pony beads onto one side of the bell. Here’s where the math comes in. We’ve been working on AB patterns, so we made an AB pattern with the red and green pony beads.
Step 4: Move the clip to the other side of the necklace and have the children string beads on the other side of the bell.
Step 5: Remove the clip, tie the ends, and you have a jingle bell necklace!
Now my prekinders can enjoy the necklaces during the month of December as we sing Jingle Bells! We enjoy Jingle Bells by Raffi and SuperSimpleSongs, and Jingle Bell Rock by Greg & Steve. Children can ring the bells as they sing.
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Thank you for the fun idea! I have made bell bracelets with many more bells than that. This will be more fun and more reasonable in cost!!
jingle all the way!
I loved it!!! very easy for my 3rd graders. thanks a lot for your great ideas.
I love this simple idea. We are working on AB patterns also. I am going to have this be the project at our class Christmas party. Thanks!!
Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to have my students do this activity. How wonderful!
I have done this activity many times over the years, and the kids love it! I have always used yarn, though. The last time I did it, I bought yarn that had those little plastic tips already on the ends, which was great! I got it at a discount store. The only thing is that the yarn itself was really cheap- and as the children played with the bells around their necks during the day, the yarn started to fray and then it began to disintegrate… and then… CRASH! We had beads and bells and yarn all over the floor, not to mention teary children that wanted to start over and remake their jingle bell necklaces! So I just want to say- do NOT use cheap yarn, no matter what! You’ll regret it! :0
Heidi Butkus
This is really great! I love the math aspect and I cant wait to get my children to do this. Thanks for letting me in on this.
Love the fact that it’s creative, helps fine motor skills, math skills, music, and it’s fun. I like your website. You are such a creative, amazing teacher! Thanks, for sharing. My preschool class will definitely make these. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
My students are going to be so excited! Its really a super idea.
Thanks for sharing this activity with me!!!
Catherine
Thank you so much for this brilliant idea. It caters for most of the educational needs for my lovely kids and its fun as well. thank you
Thank you so much. I love it and i will go to buy the material to start doing it tomorrow . Thank you.
My kids are excited about making these at our holiday party! Thanks for the great idea!
Jan C.
My prekinders will be making these next week! I was so inspired I went out and collected all the materials right away.
Thanks for sharing.
This is just what we need.We have made a reinder now all he needs is a jingle bell! Thanks!
You always give such fun, easy, ideals. I will be using this for our k2 class this week. will be getting materials now thanks for making my job a lil easier
Thanks for simple yet beautiful activity. Will definitely make with my class for Christmas.
Going to try this for my 2nd grader’s class and their Polar Express PJ party! I am in charge of the craft and this will be just PERFECT. Thank you for the idea š Cheap, easy and non-messy. I LOVE It!
I will definitely try this project with my 5 yr old grandson. He had his birthday at the end of October and in Maryland you have to be 5 by the end of September. I watch him 2 days a week and we do reading, writing and math along with crafts. He will be the smartest kindergartener next year!
Hi Mary, That’s great that you’re working with your grandson to get him ready for Kindergarten. I’m glad my site has been helpful to you. Don’t worry that he didn’t get in this year — time is a wonderful gift!