How to Use Paper Chains for Greater Focus in Your Homeschool
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Did you know that paper chains can be used in so many ways to boost your homeschool experience?
My boys absolutely love using a paper chain as a countdown for special occasions, holidays, or vacations. We've made these frugal tools for birthdays and to get ready for visitors to stay with us.
Do your kids love to use these simple paper creations like my boys do? If so, have you ever considered using them in your homeschool? Fantastic visual and tactile reminders to help with focus, motivation, and having fun!
Why Paper Chains Can Help You Rock Your Homeschool
Easy to make with simple materials, educational tools made out of paper links can be created in just a few minutes. Your young learners can help by picking out paper colors and maybe adding a special touch with stickers or markers. Your little ones can also practice scissor skills by cutting out the strips. Help those little ones learn patterns by alternating colors, too!
No matter what the age of your homeschool kids, these paper tools are fun. There is something very satisfying about removing a link to signify a task or event has been completed.
You can use these DIY paper tools in your homeschool for a variety of reasons like:
- Homeschool morning routine tasks
- Homeschool morning time tasks and subjects
- Breaking down your homeschool day into subjects or blocks
- By subject (use a link for each task)
- Count the number of days in your homeschool year (and pair it with our free printable track your homeschool year charts)
- Anticipating special occasions like homeschool field trips
- Countdown to holidays, fun days, or breaks
- Learn concepts like the alphabet, counting to ten, addition facts, etc.
- Fun crafts (like our paper chain caterpillar)
These simple tools can also appeal to different learning styles. Visual learners appreciate being able to see their tasks or goals. Kinesthetic learners like forming and physically removing links. Audio learners enjoy saying aloud the concepts, subjects, or whatever else your paper chain represents.
Ideas for Using These DIY Paper Tools in Your Homeschool
Helpful tip: Have a few rules to guide the use of your homeschool focus and motivation tool. Talk with your kids about the reason behind your paper chain, where it will be located, and when it will be used.
If your kids tend to argue over who gets to take down the next link, you could make a paper chain for each child. Better yet, make a paper chain for taking turns!
Consider adding stickers to links. My boys also like to use stamps and markers add a custom touch to their paper links.
How to Make a Paper Chain with Kids
In case you have not yet had the pleasure of making a paper chain, you will need paper, scissors, and stapler or glue. Use these steps to get started:
- Select paper for your chain. You can use colors based on preference, season, or even recycle!
- Use scissors to cut strips that are at least 1" wide.
- Write on the middle of the strips. Use numbers to keep in order, if necessary.
- Wth the writing facing out, bend strip until ends meet with a slight overlap.
- Staple or glue the overlap to hold link in place.
- Insert another paper strip (with writing towards outside of paper chain) through the center. Attach with staple or glue at overlap.
- Continue process until your paper chain is complete.
We made a huge paper chain with 180 cardstock links-one for each day of our homeschool year! Such a fun activity!
Make sure to keep your homeschool paper chain in an area where all can see but up from curious little hands. Refer to as needed to keep everyone focused during your homeschool day!
What other ways would you use a paper chain in your homeschool? Do you have any other ideas for making? Please share your tips in the comments area at the bottom of this post.