
Paper chains – Ngā mekameka pepa Activity
Why do it?
Why do it? — He aha e mahi ai?
Making paper chains means that tamariki can:
- have an opportunity to create decorations the whānau can enjoy
- make something that can contribute to whānau celebrations
- use and strengthen the fine motor skills used in drawing, cutting and stapling
- enjoy making something simple using everyday materials.
How to do it
How to do it — Te tikanga mō tēnei mahi
- You’ll need some paper. Wrapping paper works well, so remember to save any from birthday or Christmas presents.
- You also need a ruler, pencils, a stapler or sticky tape and some child-safe scissors.
- If you’re using wrapping paper, turn it over and help your tamaiti to rule lines, marking strips about 1–2 cm wide.
- Help them to cut along the lines to make the strips.
- Measure and cut the strips into lengths of about 20 cm.
- Have a practise at using the stapler. Talk them through it by saying something like, ‘Press hard with two hands and listen for the “click”.’
- Remind them about using the stapler safely. Stapled fingers aren’t much fun.
- Now turn the strips into links by folding the strip into an overlapping loop. Put the stapler across the overlap and staple.
- If stapling isn’t suitable, use sticky tape to secure the chain links.
- Loop another strip of paper into the previous one and keep going like this to make a chain.
- Make the chain for as long as your tamaiti is happy to keep going.
Using more reo Māori
Christmas paper |
Pepa Kirihimete |
Birthday paper |
Pepa rā whānau |
Strip of paper |
Ngaku pepa |
Ruler |
Rākau ine, rūri |
Scissors |
Kutikuti |
A straight line |
He rārangi hāngai |
Cut |
Tapahi(a) |
Cut the paper into strips |
Tapahia te pepa hei ngaku |
To staple together |
Tēpara(tia) |
Staple the ends together |
Tēparatia tahi i ngā mutunga |
Link |
Hononga |
To join |
Hono(a) |