Craft · Colouring · Talking
Strength in unity paper chain
Everyone decorates one paper link with their name, and the class joins them into a single long chain.
- 25 minutes
- Whole class, Small group
- Ages 5–7, Ages 7–9
- Classroom or at home
- Printable: paper-chain strips
What to do
- Read the meaning: there is strength in unity. Ask: what does unity mean? Together, as one.
- Give everyone two strips. On one, they write or draw their name. On the other, they draw one thing they are good at.
- Show how to make one strip into a loop with glue or tape. Then tear a spare strip in half: one strip is easy to tear. Hold five spare strips together and try again. Which is stronger?
- Join the loops one by one, passing the chain around the room, until everyone's links are in.
- Hold up the long chain together. Ask: how is our chain like the five strips held together? What happens if one link is missing?
- Hang the chain in the room. At home, make a family chain with a link for each person and pet.
Questions to talk about
- What can our class do together that one person could not do alone?
- What is the thing you are good at that helps the group?
You will need
- The printed chain strips, or strips of coloured paper about 3 cm by 20 cm, two per person, plus a few spares for tearing
- Crayons or felt-tip pens
- Glue sticks or sticky tape
- Child-safe scissors, or strips cut in advance by an adult
Make it fit
Simpler: An adult makes the loops and children decorate the strips and pass them along.
More of a stretch: Add a third strip with a way you helped someone this week.
Printables
The instructions card is for the adult running the activity; the worksheet is for the children. Prints on A4 or US Letter at 100% / actual size; colour is optional.
The paper-chain strips
Strength in unity paper chain
On each strip, write your name or draw one thing you are good at.
Cut along the dashed lines. Decorate each strip, then glue the ends into a loop through the last one.
The instructions card
How to run it · Craft · Colouring · Talking
Strength in unity paper chain
Everyone decorates one paper link with their name, and the class joins them into a single long chain.
25 minutesWhole class, Small groupAges 5–7, Ages 7–9
What to do
- Read the meaning: there is strength in unity. Ask: what does unity mean? Together, as one.
- Give everyone two strips. On one, they write or draw their name. On the other, they draw one thing they are good at.
- Show how to make one strip into a loop with glue or tape. Then tear a spare strip in half: one strip is easy to tear. Hold five spare strips together and try again. Which is stronger?
- Join the loops one by one, passing the chain around the room, until everyone's links are in.
- Hold up the long chain together. Ask: how is our chain like the five strips held together? What happens if one link is missing?
- Hang the chain in the room. At home, make a family chain with a link for each person and pet.
You will need
- The printed chain strips, or strips of coloured paper about 3 cm by 20 cm, two per person, plus a few spares for tearing
- Crayons or felt-tip pens
- Glue sticks or sticky tape
- Child-safe scissors, or strips cut in advance by an adult
Talk about
- What can our class do together that one person could not do alone?
- What is the thing you are good at that helps the group?
Make it fit
Simpler: An adult makes the loops and children decorate the strips and pass them along.
Stretch: Add a third strip with a way you helped someone this week.
Goes with the printable paper-chain strips.