Number Necklace

Make a delightful big bead necklace that's perfect for practicing counting and numbers.

Materials Needed

  • Large plastic or wooden beads
  • String
  • Drinking straws
  • Pipe cleaner
  • Craft foam
  • Sorting container (palette,
    muffin tins or small bowls)

Number Necklace

Safety Guidelines

  • Keep the lighter out of children's reach.
  • Watch out for this sign Ask for an adult's help. It means you need an adult's help for the particular step.

Steps

Step 1 Number Necklace 1. Cut drinking straws into 1-inch long pieces.
Step 2 Number Necklace 2. Sort beads by color and number (e.g. 1 purple bead, 2 pink beads, 3 green beads, 4 blue beads and 5 red beads). Give your child a sorting tray and let him/her sort and count independently.
Step 3 Number Necklace 3. Cut a piece of string. Measure the string around your child's neck.
Step 4 Number Necklace 4. Make a knot on one end of the string.
Step 5 Number Necklace Ask for an adult's help5. If necessary, use a lighter to slightly singe the other end of the string. Press on the burnt end as it cools. This would make it easier for your child to string the beads.
Step 6 Number Necklace 6. String about five drinking straw pieces.
Step 7 Number Necklace 7. String the beads by number, in ascending order. First string 1 purple bead, next 2 pink beads, 3 green beads, and so on.
Step 8 Number Necklace 8. String five more drinking straw pieces.
Step 9 Number Necklace 9. Make a knot after the last piece of straw. Trim off the excess string.
Step 10 Number Necklace 10. Cut the numbers 1 to 5 from craft foam or paper.
Step 11 Number Necklace Ask for an adult's help11. Cut pipe cleaner into five 1-inch long pieces.
Step 12 Number Necklace Ask for an adult's help12. Make a link at the top of each number using the 1-inch piece of pipe cleaner.
Step 13 Number Necklace 13. Clasp the pipe cleaner link of each number onto the corresponding area of the string. Put the number "1" beside the single purple bead, the number "2" between the two pink beads, the number "3" between the three green beads, and so on.
Step 14 Number Necklace 14. Let your child wear the number necklace.