Cereal necklaces are kind of a right of passage as a child. My class loves them, and we make them every year during our 100th Day of School celebration. I have battled with these necklaces before (fraying string, fruit cereal everywhere, regretting the decision!) so here are some helpful tips I have learned along the way for fruit cereal necklaces MADE EASY!
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Fruit Cereal Necklaces Made Easy
Perhaps you are a cereal necklace master, in which case, you won’t need this post. I was not a fruit cereal necklace master! This year I was about to scrap the whole thing because when I was making the sample, the string I had was NOT working, but didn’t want to go out and buy special string, etc. It was taking me forever, and if it takes ME forever, how long would it take my students???
I called up my mom, a preschool teacher and she said “Don’t you wrap scotch tape around the ends?” Uh… no, no I don’t. Am I supposed to? If you have taped the ends for 100 years and if this is some ancient art of cereal necklacing then please excuse me for acting like a caveman who just discovered the internet.
So here’s how it works… I simply wrap scotch tape around the end of the string real tight and the fruit cereal slides onto the string smooth like butter! The first time I tried it I actually cheered out loud. No more frayed edges or stuck cereal, all thanks to a teeny piece of tape.
I also tape the other end of the string directly to the table. This holds it in place nicely and NO cereal pieces fall off during the making!
I tape the string down in groups of two at the table with plates of the fruit cereal. The stations are now ready for the students to come to when it is their turn to make a necklace.
100th Day of School Twist
I like to make these fruit cereal necklaces each year for the 100th Day of School! We use this fabulous 100th Day necklace chart, which is a freebie from Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station.
The students place their 100 fruit cereal pieces on the chart before adding them to their string. This helps them keep count and makes the whole thing a smooth process!
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Yes, when we are done there are some stray cereal pieces on the table. But, this is Kindergarten, so I would be more worried if there weren’t!
You can see how nice they string on the pieces and how well it works to have the strings taped to the tables.
I will now forever tape down one end of necklaces to the table. It seriously makes it so much easier!
When they finish stringing their cereal pieces, I tie the string, and VOILA – necklaces!
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I am concerned (maybe needlessly) about the children putting the string/ribbon in their mouths when they are eating the cereal. Is there one that is safer to use than the other?
Linda,
You could try having the children string the fruit loops on pipe cleaners! Or, if you would like to skip the stringing part of this activity, the kiddos can still practice their counting skills by filling up the hundred chart with fruit loops. 🙂
How long should the string be?
Susan,
Hi! About 24-30 inches should be plenty to give the kids enough room to thread 100 fruit loops. 🙂
My biggest question is, how many fruit loops are in the box? Any tips? Having a hard time figuring out the math & what size of box to buy! 🙂
Hi Kirsten,
2 large boxes should be plenty if you have a class size around 20. 🙂 Enjoy the activity!
I have taped for many years, but kids also pull the string out of the tape that is anchoring it to the table. Then I started using masking tape around the bottom end and tie a knot. Write their name on the tape. Tie ends when completed. Now you have the tape “needle”, their name on the necklace and no more spills.
Hi Karen,
What a great method for stringing fruit loop necklaces!
Thanks for sharing with us.
Have a great week!
In my class of preschool class I glue the end of the string or yarn. Let it dry overnight and you are good to go!
Hi Collette,
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing with us. Have a wonderful rest of the school year!
Never thought of using the chart before! Love it! I haven’t done this since my first couple years of teaching b/c I gave up on it out of frustration. With this new trick, I’m thinking of trying it again. How many boxes do you need? I can’t remember…
Thanks for posting!
Okay, I am going to make this even easier. Use curling ribbon, the kind we use for wrapping Christmas packages. No.Prep.Needed! Cut, tape to the table, and you are good to go. It does not come unraveled.
Another easy step. I have my kids do 10 of a color then switch to another color. Then we count by 10s until they get 100. Secret–there are 5 colors in Froot Loops so we do each color 2X. No counting mats needed and it incorporates counting by 10s.
It's only taken me 8 years to figure this out. Hopefully this helps some of you figure out the shortcuts sooner.
Wonderful advice. Thank you!
I usually dip the ends of my yarn in glue to help with the unraveling, but I’m kind of liking the curling ribbon idea. I think I will give that a try this year. Just cut the length I need and tape it down to the table. Super easy. I also use the same 100 chart. What a life saver!!
I use the plastic lanyard string. It is harder to tie (I end up doing 5-6 square knots to ensure it will stay), but I love that it doesn't fray, no taping ends, and it doesn't get soggy if they put it in their mouths. Taping down the string is essential, and I taped down their 100 charts this year (I used the same one as you this year, and my kids loved it!) and that was fab, because they knocked their loops off much less. I copied it with a writing activity about something we did on the 100th day on the back so my early finishers had something to do (we all made out necklaces at once).
I love that chart! It makes everything so much easier. I also use boondoggle string. It's more expensive, yes, but it was worth it!
Hi Stephanie! Isn't the chart a lifesaver? So glad I found it! I have never even heard of boondoggle string! I will definitely put that on my list to try! Thanks for the tip!
I love the assembly line you have going there! What fun! That is a great idea to tape down the end of the string on the table. I have not ever made the fruit loop necklace, though it does seem fun.
The kids definitely love making them! Mine surprisingly wore them the whole afternoon without breaking them or eating them! They were excited to show their parents. 🙂