How to make a Hemp Necklace

Grades 3 to 5 Objective To give students a first-hand look at one way hemp can be used for making products, to illustrate the value of this natural alternative for American industry. Background Before starting on the project, it may help to just quickly compare and contrast cotton and hemp from a historical perspective.  Studying the detailed history of hemp may not be applicable for younger students, who don’t have fully formed ideas about some of the very complicated history around hemp use.  Teachers can simply stress that hemp is a wonderful plant with a lot of different possible uses. Reading Up Beforehand Teachers can get a look at some of the possible uses of hemp before the lesson in order to have some basic comments for telling students about the plant.  One major use of hemp, in recycled paper, can probably fit into your lesson, with an explanation that hemp can be grown to provide fiber for paper and as an alternative to cutting down trees. The other major preparation is to figure out how to teach the tying and knotting process.  Gather some basic diagrams of the standard knots for tying a hemp necklace.  A common one includes four strands, where the two end strands take turns tying around the two center strands to create a tight weave.  Find diagrams to distribute to students. Materials Hemp twine (1mm or 20lb is recommended) Colored beads Metal clasps Tying diagrams For the best image that will stick with students, use the regular tan colored hemp twine variety. Setting Up While handing out materials to students, talk about the above topics and elicit suggestions from students on other ways hemp could be used. Distribute a length of twine and diagrams to each student.  Go through the basic process. Monitoring As students work on beginning their necklaces, roam, observe and help where necessary.  Hand out beads to students who have demonstrated their proficiency.  Coach others. Finishing When a student finishes their necklace, help them tie the ends off and add metal clasps.  Allow time for this process before wrapping up. Follow Up As a follow up activity, students can do a show and tell where they talk about how they designed their bead necklaces.  Also, when students have a basic grasp, they can draw up “blueprints” for more complex necklaces.  This is helpful for the students who have finished first, and staggered end times will allow for each student to have a finished necklace by the end of the class.