Blue Mountain Math

Making Math Fun with Engaging Activities

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Free
  • Videos
  • Links

How Paper Chains Can Enhance Student Collaboration

If you are old enough, you might remember seeing paper chains on the Christmas Tree. If you are older, you may have made some of those paper chains. Strips of colored paper taped, glued or stapled together to make a continuous chain which signaled the holiday season.

Most people will not remember, that’s Okay, because they have made a comeback in the classroom.  I have been using the idea of paper chains in the classroom as a partner activity (or with trios) for several years.

What is a Paper Chain?

Paper Chains are strips of paper that form links. The idea of a paper chain in the math classroom is to start with one strip of paper, solve the problem and then find the strip with that answer for your next link to the chain. 

In many respects, it is similar to a scavenger hunt but all the pieces are on the desk. It is an ordering activity that asks students to solve problems, find the answer and continue until the chain is complete. It is like a multiple choice question with 15 choices (at least to start). 

What are the Benefits?

The paper chains make a great partner activity. Students have involved academic conversations about math as they work to solve each of the problems. They discuss the answers and must come to an agreement in order to proceed. The chains are linked together in order, they cannot have two branches.

Kids are intrigued by the process as though they are solving some puzzle. They are driven to complete the activity in a way that they are not driven to complete a worksheet.

Getting Started

Whenever I use paper chains in the classroom, I do all the printing, cutting and sort the strips ready for the students. I do not have students cut their own strips. Anyone who has had students use scissors in the classroom will understand why. This activity could easily be stretched to a weeklong project if students do their own cutting. And there would be lots of cutting mistakes.

Pass Out Cut Stacks

I pass out the stack of strips (stapled together) to each pair of students. I then show them how to remove the staple without tearing all the strips (grab half the strips and quickly separate). This removes the staple from half the strips and leaves the staple loose and easily removed from the rest. Then I have the students could the number of strips.

Count the Strips

Some of my paper chain activities have 16 strips and some have 15 strips. If students count any number other than what they should have tells me that I may have made a mistake when assembling. But it is a mistake easily fixed. I always have extra strips, sometimes to fix my error and sometimes students tear a strip.

Model the Process

I am a firm believer that the first time (or maybe the second and third time) you do any activity you need to show it, say it, have an example and start the students off. I have a finished product (not the one we are working one) available to show students what the finished product will look like.

Begin with Start

I begin by showing that in each stack there is a strip marked “start” and ask the pairs to find that strip. When they all have it, I have them hold it up and show the class.

 I point out the problem on the strip and then I ask them to solve it giving them a few minutes. When students have the answer, I show them that their correct answer is on another strip on their desk. I wait until everyone has it and holds it up.

First Link Done

Then I show how to fasten the first strip into a closed circle and tape it, glue it or staple it closed. Some students will prefer tape, some glue (glue stick)  and others will insist on staplers. I let them use whatever they like as long as the job gets done. What does not work is liquid glue, it doesn’t dry fast enough and makes an ugly mess.

Students then take the second strip, work that problem and find the answer. Slip the second strip into the circle of the first strip and fasten it closed. Then they work the problem on the third strip and continue until all the strips are fastened together.

After the first time we have done a paper chain activity, I tell students to lay out the strips for me to check before assembling. Half students resist this idea and want to assemble as they go. It is probably more fun to assemble than to solve the problems and I am ok either way, as long as they understand if they have a mistake, they will have to fix it.

Early Finishers

Like any other activity in the classroom, some students will finish early. Other students, understanding students are faster will go look at their strips to see the order. So a teacher watchful eye is needed.

I check and collect the chains as they are completed with student names on the start strip. The paper chains I use have a word or phrase on the strips to make checking easier. Then finished students are declared math ambassadors and are now available to offer helpful advice (no answers) to struggling students.

Paper Chain Activities

I find the best paper chain activities are straight forward content with a simple question and answer. Most effective are those topics where students can solve in a few minutes. You can see the variety of Paper Chain activities I have available here.

I currently have 70 different paper chain activities available in a variety of topics. Everything from Middle School topics to Algebra, Geometry and Consumer Math.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Slope-from-Tables-Paper-Chain-Activity-4158358
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calculate-Simple-Interest-Paper-Chain-Activity-3732372
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Triangle-Midsegment-Theorem-Paper-Chain-Activity-4113269

Other Helpful Tips

I have never had a pair of students not finish a chain. Sometimes, they come in late that day, run out of time and take the chain home to finish and bring back the next day (yes, i have extra stacks that can go home with individual students). Everyone finishes.

I like printing them on colored paper. I furnish the colored paper for the school copier but colored paper is not necessary. White paper and a few colored pencils will still engage students and review math at the same time.

I display the chains everywhere. Students see them, remember the activity and often ask when we can do a paper chain again. Other teachers come in my class, ask how to use a paper chain activity. Visitors comment on the paper chains. The display is always a conversation when people come in the class.

One Last Thought

I have had colleagues from elementary school visit and compliment the display but are curious why high school students would do this activity. “It seems so childish” she said. I suppose it does, but even high school kids like to have fun.

I only know that my students enjoy this activity. Other high school teachers who have used this activity have the same experience. The kids like working together, having discussions and making these paper chains. I guess if they were a lot older and had done this for their Christmas Trees, it wouldn’t be such an exciting activity.

Try a paper chain activity in your classroom and let me know how it goes. Better yet, send me a picture of your students working on a chain and email to bluemountainmath@gmail.com.

Filed Under: activities, checks for understanding, math review, review Leave a Comment

« What You Wish You Had Known About Boom Cards
How Partner Activities Can Increase Student Engagement »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search

Categories

Boom Learning

Teachers Pay Teachers

Amazon Disclosure

Blue Mountain Math is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The links that are indicated as "affiliate links" mean I will be paid a small sum at no additional cost to you. Blue Mountain Math uses links to provide a service to the reader about products that have been used.

Latest on Pinterest

  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice every day skills In this deck, students practice finding combination and permutations. This set of Boom Cards features 35 different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!)
  • Students practice using the distributive property, both in distributing and combining like terms, in these 2 puzzles in google slides. There are 2 puzzles--one in each simple level and challenging level. In the simpler level, the outside edges are blank, so if students are having difficulty, have them arrange the pieces so the blank sides are on the outside.
  • Sector Area in a Circle Paper Chain is a fun, engaging  activity that is self-checking, collaborative. Set of 15 problems that need to be cut apart, reassembled in the correct order and fastened together like a chain until the end is reached. Great worksh
  • This is a twisted trivia game where students (either in groups or playing individually with white boards) practice identifying solutions and writing inequalities from graphs. Check out the video preview to see the type of questions included.
  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice every day skills In this deck, students practice tipping using a percentage and finding the total meal cost. I use this in my teen finance course during the budgeting unit. This is great reinforcement of rounding and using percents. This set of Boom Cards features 35 different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!) #bluemountainmath #boomcards
  • Great practice, worksheet alternative, formative assessment for students that you can HEAR if they are successful.  No printing, no laminating.  A Lifetime tool for the classroom.
  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice solving one step equations and assessing their understanding. This will give students a challenge in solving equations. Students will see 6 different equations and need to select the two with the same answer. This set of Boom Cards features 40 different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!)
  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice every day skills In this deck, students practice adding expenses from a budget, finding savings on budget choices and finding budgeted amounts. I use this in my teen finance course during the budgeting unit. This is great reinforcement of rounding and using percents. This set of Boom Cards features 35 different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!)#bluemountainmath #boomcards
  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice every day skills In this 20- card deck, students practice solving quadratics using the quadratic formula This set of Boom Cards features different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!)

Latest on Instagram

Bow Ties send a signal that you are smarter and mo Bow Ties send a signal that you are smarter and more tech savvy than people who wear neck ties.....just a thought..... #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
My cat is upset that dogs have a day until I expla My cat is upset that dogs have a day until I explained that National Cat Day is October 29. So Happy Dog Day to all your fur family. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
And for my southern relatives, have some fried chi And for my southern relatives, have some fried chicken with those waffles #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
AT last, a day for those of us who are over a cert AT last, a day for those of us who are over a certain age. Although, the picture does not reflect many of us. We are not sitting with our hands folder, we are still active and making a difference. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
I still love radio, mostly music. I used to listed I still love radio, mostly music. I used to listed to a lot of talk radio, but it got so negative that I noticed it was influencing my day. Are you a talk radio person and do you notice that? #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
Did you know that the Wright Brothers who are cred Did you know that the Wright Brothers who are credited with the first airplane flight were not funded by the government? The government had funded several others, who failed. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
Why can't we have a fajita day each week like Taco Why can't we have a fajita day each week like Taco Tuesday?  We could have Fajita Friday each week  So today enjoy the fajitas and think about having them weekly--like tacos. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
We have already used our colored markers and penci We have already used our colored markers and pencils.  Yeah, I love color. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
Did you know that left handed people have brains t Did you know that left handed people have brains that work differently? Their brains communicates differently and have greater verbal skills....⁣
#teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt

Latest on Facebook

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
You have to do what makes you comfortable, however it is not feasible or even necessary to grade line item on every single paper and still remain sane.Read more 👉 lttr.ai/rkwv#minimizeclassroomdisruptions #savetime #seatingchart #seatingcharts #routines;TimeSavingTips #completenoncompletedassignment ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
Engaging Activities for Math Class after Spring Break: lttr.ai/vBby#familiaractivities #feelsafe #activities #famousthinghappened #blanktaskcards #doesntbelongworks #familiarclassroomstructure ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
It takes a long time to get a bingo, sometimes the entire class period is spent trying to get just one.Read more 👉 lttr.ai/jVPW#greatpractice #increasesengagement #bingo #playbingo #reviewmathwithbingo ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
Algebra tiles offers a great way to see an expression or what makes a variable different from an integer.Read the full article: Ways to Get Started With Algebra Tiles▸ lttr.ai/tLkj#concreteexamples #algebraicconcepts #algebratiles #manipulatives #activities ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
After students finish the worksheet, and the work is shown, have them scan to see if their answers were right.Read the full article: Save Time Grading▸ lttr.ai/sjen#homework #collectedclasswork #grading #selfcheckingactivities #partneractivities #activities ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

Insert/edit link

Enter the destination URL

Or link to existing content

    No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.