Submitted by Jerrilee Shuman, Kansas
Idea posted December 16, 2002
I made some great streamers with the plastic surveyor's tape that comes in many colors. I used some wooden dowels (anywhere from 1/4" to big, thick 1" wide ones, even used some old lummi sticks once) and cut them to foot long sections. Get a package of small eye screws at a hardware store. Also pick up some of those swivels used for fishing (they should be fairly small, I can't remember the exact size I used, and they should have the little safety pin type closure on one end).
The eye screw is inserted into the end of the dowel. A pliers will help save your fingers. I even had to pre-drill holes when I used the old lummi sticks - must have been made of real hard wood. Remember to keep in mind your students' height when you determine the streamer length. I have two sets, short ones for primaries and longer ones for the older, bigger kids. After you cut your streamers, fold the end over a couple of times to reinforce it and stick the "safety pin" end of the swivel through the plastic. To get the swivel attached to the eye screw you will have to use your handy pliers again to pull the eye open enough to get the swivel over the metal of the eye screw. Voilá! Streamers with wooden handles.
I've also noticed that if your streamers get all wrinkled, just let them hang straight down in a warm place. We used the streamers for a performance and choreographed motions to some Mozart. I had a very small class of 3rd graders that weren't the best singers by themselves, so we performed with the streamers. They loved it.