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22 Creative Paper Chain Activities For Kids

February 7, 2023 //  by Laura Spry

There are so many amazing, creative activities out there involving just a sheet of paper. Working with simple materials is a great way for kids to learn basic engineering skills. As well as often being a challenge for students, it can help them develop great teamwork skills as well. Making paper chains is perfect for little hands and gets learners working on their bilateral coordination skills. Repetitive actions are soothing for kids and they love to see their creations come together in this simple, creative way. Here we’ve compiled a list of some creative ideas to bring paper chains into your learning space.

1. Make Your Own Wall Hanging

This contains an image of: Paper Chain Wall Hanging

This beautiful wall hanging is perfect to brighten up any learning space and is so simple to achieve. It’s also a great activity to encourage student communication and following instructions. Can you believe this is made from just strips of paper? 

Learn More: Woo Jr.

2. Thankfulness Paper Chain

This contains an image of: Thankfulness Paper Chain | Kids Activity

Reminding your students to be thankful is a great way to slow down your day and bring mindfulness into your space. Cut a piece of paper into strips and ask your students to write a short thankful note. Link them together for a lovely decoration.

Learn More: Hustle and Homeschool

3. Paper Chain Caterpillar

Great for little ones, these super simple paper chain caterpillars and so cute and easy to create. You will need some colored paper and a pair of scissors for the antenna, then glue each paper strip together to create your chain.

Learn More: Glued to My Crafts Blog

4. STEM Challenge 

Challenge their engineering skills with this classic paper STEM challenge. You can use plain or colored paper for this activity, but remember to give a prize to your winner! A great activity for slightly older kids and fantastic for developing STEM skills.

Learn More: STEM Quick Wins

5. Paint Chip Paper Garland

You may already have lots of these paint chip strips from the DIY store stashed in a drawer. Put them to good use by creating this super cute paper garland. Extra points for recycling too!

Learn More: Pretty Life Girls

6. Learn the Alphabet

This contains an image of: Learn the Alphabet! Plus, How to Make a Paper Chain Reusable

Create your very own alphabet paper chain; perfect for strengthening those fine motor skills in little fingers and helping little ones learn their alphabet as well! 

Learn More: Hands-On As We Grow

7. Christmas Themed Paper Chains

Christmas countdown craft kit  paper chain  advent calendar image 1

These adorable little guys are made from just sheets of paper! Perfect as decorations this holiday season or to give as gifts! Either way, you will have lots of fun creating these Christmas-themed paper chains.

Learn More: Etsy

8. Number Bond Paper Chain 

This contains an image of: Teacher Mama:  8 Fun Ways to Teach Number Bonds {After School Linky}

This math activity for kids is a great way to sneak in extra math practice in a fun, creative way. Let them link together pieces of paper to create their own number bond paper chains. Challenge students to see who can make the most number of bond chains.

Learn More: Boy Mama Teacher Mama

9. St Patrick’s Day Garland

All you will need for this is some green paper and you will have a gorgeous, simple decoration for your St Patrick’s Day celebrations. Perfect to get all the kids involved with, give a prize to whoever makes the longest chain!

Learn More: The Purple Pumpkin Blog

10. Paper Chain Octopus

This contains an image of: Easy Paper Chain Octopus Craft | Woo! Jr. Kids Activities

This cute guy is ready to bring heaps of fun to your learning space! He is super easy to create for little hands and opens up discussion for animals, sea creatures, and wildlife.

Learn More: Woo Jr.

11. Food Paper Chain 

Teach them about the food chain with this adorable food paper chain. A great way to introduce food chain activities with students and is perfect for little fingers. You will need some rolls of tape or glue to stick the strips together.

Learn More: Lily Rae

12. Slinky Dog Paper Chain

This contains an image of: Slinky Dog Paper Chain: An Easy Toy Story Craft - The Chirping Moms

If you have fans of Toy Story in your house then they will love this simple activity. This sweet slinky dog paper chain can be easily made independently by kids, but why not join the fun too? Repetitive actions are proven to calm and relax the body, so enjoy! 

Learn More: The Chirping Moms

13. Christmas Paper Chain

A super cute DIY Christmas paper chain filled with fun Christmas activities for kids! This is a fun way to make a Christmas bucket list and makes a great DIY Christmas garland too. Includes 48 family holiday activities to try! #Christmasforkids #DIYChristmas #Christmasbucketlist #Christmascrafts

This free printable festive chain is a creative and fun way to bring some holiday cheer into your home, and perfect to involve little ones in the decorating process! Kids love to watch the chain get longer and longer, make it so the longest chain wins!

Learn More: Sunny Day Family

14. DNA Sequence Craft 

A perfect school STEM activity for slightly older kids. teach them about DNA with this brilliant activity using a paper chain.

Learn More: DNA Learning Center

15. Rainbow Paper Craft

This super easy and colorful construction paper activity will bring joy to any room! Perfect for teaching about the environment and weather and quick and easy if you have time constraints too.

Learn More: Brilliant Little Ideas

16. Make Fun Party Decorations

If you don’t have a reason to have a party, then find one quickly! These super cute paper chain party decorations are too good to pass up. Perfect for getting everyone involved in the decorating process, even little hands.

Learn More: Pretty Life Girls

17. Paper People Chain

A super traditional paper chain craft that is so much fun for kids. Great for opening up discussion about our families, different types of families, differences between us, and what makes us happy. Great scissor practice for little hands too, working those fine motor skills.

Learn More: Mamalala DIY

18. Valentine’s Day Paper Chain

Celebrate Valentines Day in style this year by creating these beautiful Valentine’s paper chains with your little ones. All you need are some strips of different colored paper to make the links and follow the instructions to create these pretty heart shapes. 

Learn More: Raising Hooks

19. Paper Chain Pythons

Kids are fascinated by snakes and these paper pythons are super fun to make! Experiment with different colors of paper and designs and see which you like best!

Learn More: The Craft Train

20. Paper Chain Jewellery

This is a perfect idea for keeping little hands busy and a creative end-of-lesson activity if your kids are getting a bit restless. All you need to do is cut up some small strips of paper and enjoy the peace!

Learn More: How Wee Learn

21. Recycled Paper Chain

In this inspirational video by Kids for Peace, they demonstrate how they created recycled paper chains. Bring some of their ideas into your learning space and teach kids the importance of recycling.

Learn More: Kids for Peace USA

22. Paper Chain Countdown

writing numbers on links of paper chain

A great way to get kids excited about a birthday, Christmas, or a family vacation! Remove a link in the chain each day and watch it get smaller and smaller!

Learn More: Happy Hooligans

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