Paper Chain Calendars

Materials

calendar

Instructions

* Easter is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon
following the vernal equinox (the first day of Spring). This can fall
between March 22nd and April 25th.
1. Small children have difficulty assessing time, so this is one method of
helping them judge its passing.
2. On a regular calendar count the number of days until Easter (or other
appropriate holiday), a class concert, a child's birthday, or another
upcoming event.
3. Show them the paper strips and explain that each strip stands for one
day. Give each child enough strips for the amount of days until the event
or holiday.
4. Help them make a paper chain by taping
or gluing the paper strips together to
form a "chain."
5. Every day, each child can cut or tear
off one link from her chain. This
provides the children with a visual
image of how much time is left
until the holiday.
6. If desired, use much larger strips
of paper to make a group chain
calendar, rather than individual ones. Have
children take turns removing the links.
Talk about all the different ways we measure time.
Math: Children can use paper chains to learn the sequence of the days of
the week. Designate a different color paper link for each day of the week.
Write the sequence on a chart (for example, Monday is blue, Tuesday is
green, and so on). Help the children make a monthly chain.
More Math: For older children, removing each link also provides good
practice in counting backwards. After removing the day's link, count
backwards to the end of the chain.