Materials
construction paper in colors associated with the chosen "big day"bell patternpencils or markersscissorsglue or staplerglitter
Instructions
1. Give each child a piece of construction paper in colors associated with the upcoming special day or holiday (for example, orange and black for Halloween).
2. Help the children trace the bell pattern on their paper and cut it out. You may need to provide precut bells for younger children.
3. Attach the following rhyme to each bell:How many days 'til (holiday/special day)?It's mighty hard to tell.Take a link off every nightWhen the sandman casts his spell,And (holiday/special day) will be hereBy the time you reach the bell.
4. Encourage the children to decorate the bell using glitter and markers.
5. Cut 1" strips of construction paper in holiday colors.
6. Children make a paper chain (with enough loops for however many days until the special day) by looping the strips of paper through each previous loop.
7. Have the children glue the loops as they link them, and encourage them to count to 10 while holding the loop for the glue to dry. (You can also use a stapler to speed the process.)8. Attach the chain to the bottom of the bell.
9. For younger children, you may want to complete half of the loops of the chain first.
