This activity works for kids making the necklaces on their own, at a sleepover or birthday party, in camp, or even in the classroom. Kids look through magazines for words that show off their likes and dislikes, express their personality, or combine to create a mini poem, etc. They mount the words to plastic tabs and then string them on a necklace or bracelet in one of a few different ways.
Create a Charm Bracelet or Necklace
Materials Needed:
• Old magazines and catalogs
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Colored plastic lids from coffee cans, etc.
• Clear packing tape
• Single hole punch
• Key rings and ball chain necklace or bracelet
• Craft thread or cord
Read the directions through as there are a few options for how the final piece can look.
- Cut words from magazines and glue them onto the plastic lids. Cut out the word, leaving enough of the lid so it can be hole punched at one or both ends of the words later on. If desired (and only if planning to punch one hole in the tag – see directions below) put a word on both sides of the plastic.
- Seal each word tag in packing tape. Trim away excess tape.
- Punch a hole or two in each charm. If the tags are punched at one end then they will hang down from the chain or cord. If there is a hole on either side of the word then it will run parallel to the cord. (Just make certain to thread the cord so it lands behind the word).
- Set each charm on a key ring that is slid over a ball chain necklace or bracelet. Or, just slide the tags over a cord. In either case, this necklace will be most comfortable if it hangs a few inches below the collar bone.
Getting-to-Know-You Game
The children in a group or class make the necklaces as described above. Beforehand, explain that others will be looking at the words on the necklace and asking the kids why those words are important to them. After making the necklaces, have the students mingle.
When the teacher calls stop, they pair up with each child thirty seconds to explain. Mingle and then switch to another partner, continue until the students have had a chance to talk to five to eight other people in the group or class. The instructor should keep things timed so the children don’t become bored.
Poetry Craft Project for Kids
Students select a few words that they use to create a miniature poem. Suggest that they look for a phrase that can start their one-line poem, such as ‘I am,’ ‘Today is,’ ‘Once,’ etc. If the students are overwhelmed by the idea of writing such a short poem, suggest that they try creating a haiku that runs in one line instead of the traditional three. Each charm of their necklace is one word/short phrase to their poem.
This word-charm necklace or bracelet allows kids, tweens, and teens to create a piece of jewelry with personality – theirs. Kids can make this necklace on their own or adults can use it as a craft project in a writing class or even as a way to get kids to open up and talk to one another about themselves.