JEWELRY
MAKING
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Unit overview
Activities
Supplemental Activities
Integrated Literacy and Other Academic Skills
References
Resources
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Vocabulary Words
Jewelry and Gem Trivia
Beads
Mineral and Rock Definition and Classification
Birthstones: Concept Web, Compare and Contrast, Venn Diagram
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Jewelry Making
Objectives:
 To enjoy the process of creating jewelry by working with at least three different types of
jewelry making styles
 To explore self- identity through the investigation of birthstones
 To learn about the careers involved in jewelry making
 To understand the different ways of testing minerals
Specific Reading Activities:
 Reading books and handouts to gather information about birthstones and types of jewelry
 Reading directions for craft projects
 Reading the short essay on birthstones
 Reading the short essay on identification of minerals and rocks
Specific Writing Activities:
 Writing the KWL or free writing activity in participants journal
 Writing the results of the testing of minerals in their journal
 Writing the letter to their friend about their gift of jewelry
 Writing the compare and contrast information related to types of jewelry
 Writing the creative story about the jewelry
 Writing the description labels for the exhibit
Culminating Events: Jewelry exhibit
Note:
1. Actual jewelry making instructions are not included in this unit. Bring jewelry making
books and check out the web with the participants for ideas for jewelry projects.
2. Provide a variety of jewelry projects including directions and materials that the participants
can choose from. Although this process requires more materials, because you have to be
prepared for different choices, it increases participant involvement and therefore interest in
the activity.
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ACTIVITIES
Prep:
1. Bring in books, articles and website lists about different minerals, rocks,
gemstones, and jewelry from different areas of the world.
2. Find books, websites and articles about birthstones. Many jewelry stores have
pamphlets that provide information about them.
3. Have jewelry making instruction sheets for various jewelry projects. See the
listed websites and other resources for such instructions.
4. Have the materials available for making the different jewelry projects collected
before beginning the unit. Most of the materials are low cost or found objects
and can be used in more than one project. Check the internet for supplies.
Make sure you at least have the following:
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sets of needle nose pliers
beads
findings – earring hooks, clasps, wire etc.
Remember: On the first or second day, hold a meeting with the yearbook
committee that volunteered for the unit. Discuss what they might need to
take pictures of and what stories they will write for the yearbook.
Activity One
Unit Introduction
1. Introduce the jewelry unit and tell them the expectations for the club
2. Have them complete the first two columns of a KWL Chart in their journal using the
headings “What do you know about jewelry?” and “What would you like to know?” See the
tool kit section for description on how to lead a KWL activity) or prewrite activity (see the
tool kit section) responding to the following questions:
a. What kind of jewelry do you like to wear or to see other people wear?
b. Why do you think people wear jewelry?
c. When do you think human beings started wearing jewelry and do you think people in
ancient times wore jewelry for the same reasons they do now?
d. If you could have any piece of jewelry, what kind would you like to have?
3. Play word games with the vocabulary listed on the sheet. You can do these games
throughout the unit. Check out the types of games you can play in the tool kit. Note: If you
want the participants to practice their decoding skills, have a contest between small groups to
see which group can correctly pronounce the words on the list using the “Decoding Summary
Sheet” and “Syllabication Rule Summary Sheet.” Make sure each person in the group can
pronounce all the words independently before awarding the groups their points.
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Amulet: An object that is worn and believed to protect the wearer against evil or as a lucky
piece
Sterling silver: a mixture of silver and copper with at least 92.5% silver
Ornament: decoration
Pendant: a hanging piece of jewelry either on a necklace or earring
Brooch: a pin usually worn by women on a piece of clothing
Gems: A mineral treasured for its beauty, durability, and rarity. Gemstones are often cut,
polished, and used for decoration.
Locket: a pendant that can be opened up. It usually contains something such as a picture, a
lock of hair or some kind of remembrance
Choker: a type of necklace that is worn close around the neck
Precious: valued highly
Birthstone: one of 12 gems that have traditionally been chosen to represent the different
months of the year
Lapidary: the cutting, polishing, and engraving of stones and gems
Gemologist: an individual who studies the characteristics and quality of gems
Luster: a property of minerals that describes how the surface reflects light
Threading: process by which beads or other objects used in making jewelry are slipped
onto a string or wire. Can either be done by hand or using a needle
Clasp: a fastener that holds the two ends of a necklace or bracelet together
Loop: a length of thin wire, thread, ribbon, or other thin material that is curved or doubled
over making an opening
Needle nosed pliers: type of plier that has long, narrow jaws for gripping in confined spaces
or manipulating small objects
Minerals: A pure, solid substance that occurs naturally in rocks or in the ground; every
mineral has distinct characteristics and a unique chemical makeup.
Jewelry Findings: all types of fasteners, clasps, loops and other objects that are used in
completing jewelry. Findings do not include the gems, beads or other objects
Fluorescence: the ability of some minerals to emit a glow when exposed to ultraviolet light
Activity Two
Jewelry Trivia
Break the group into teams. Have the teams compete throughout the time of the unit to find the
answers to the following trivia questions. (Participant handout found in resources)
 What are posey rings? Rings made in the 14th to 17th century that had secret messages
engraved inside that only the wearer knows. Today the process of inscribing initials and
dates inside wedding rings is an example of a modern type of poesy ring.
 What is the name of the largest cut diamond in the world? The world's largest gem
quality diamond, the Cullinan, was found in South Africa in 1905. Uncut, it weighed 3025
carats. The Centenary, found in 1986, was polished from a 599 carat gem. The rough
diamond was cut into various stones, the largest of which bears the name Centenary and, at
273 carats, is the largest modern cut, top color, flawless diamond in the world.
 What gemstone was once described in a song as “a girl’s best friend?” diamond
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 What material is formed from a resin that has become hard and often has fossilized
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insects trapped within it, and is used in jewelry? amber
What metal do people wear around their wrist to make their arthritis get better?
copper
What is your state “gem”? Answers will vary.
What is the difference between "carat" and "karat"? Carat is a unit of weight in
gemstones; karat is a unit for measuring the purity of gold.
What is the origin of the third finger on the left hand as being the "wedding ring
finger"? Ancient Greeks believed the "vein of love" ran directly from the heart to this
finger
Activity Three
Jewelry Making
1. Pass around directions for different types of jewelry projects and have the participants select
one. Initially have participant’s select quick and easy projects.
2. In order to get the greatest literacy development impact for these activities, do not describe
or demonstrate the process described in the directions except if they ask for clarification of
the written directions.
There are instructions for easy jewelry making projects found at
http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/craftsjewel/index.htm
Activity Four
Jewelry Gift
1. Have the participants choose someone for whom they will make a piece of jewelry as a gift.
2. Tell them that after they finish the piece of jewelry, they will be giving the gift to that person
and will write a letter to that person explaining why they choose him or her to receive the
gift, why they choose the colors or beads to form the jewelry, etc., why they chose the
design.
3. Have them make the piece of jewelry and write the letter correcting it for spelling and form;
rewrite.
Activity Five
Bead Making
1. Have participants make clay or paper beads. See the instructions in the resources.
2. Using the beads, have the participants make a necklace, earrings or bracelet.
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Activity Six
Testing Minerals
You can get basic mineral testing kits for under $12.00 that have directions for testing rocks and
minerals that can be used for this activity.
1. Introduce the geological terms used in identification of minerals. See the resources for a list
of these terms.
2. Bring in lots of different kinds of rocks and have the participants test them and chart the
similarities and differences.
3. Have the participants use the chart included in this packet to chart their results or have them
copy it in their journals and complete it.
4. For a complete background material and lesson plans for testing minerals and rocks check
out the website: Curriculum for Rocks and Minerals unit:
http://www.wallingford.k12.ct.us/uploaded/Curriculum/SCIENCE_K8/SCI_GRADE_4/Sci_Gr_4_Rock_Minrls_sci_kit_curriculum.pdf
Activity Seven
Birthstones
1. Hand out the material on birthstones – Talk about the various ways they are categorized, and
have them identify their own personal birthstones.
2. Have them fill out the concept web on their individual stones.
3. Encourage them to use the terms introduced by the kit. Break up into groups of three that
represent four different stones. Have them complete the comparison and contrast form for the
four gems.
4. Make group poster of the birthstones using the webs and the comparison contrast chart.
Download pictures of the stones and jewelry made from them to use as decoration of the
poster.
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Put the summary sheet in the middle of the poster.
Post their webs on a large poster board around the summary sheet.
Activity Eight
Ages and Cultures reflected by Jewelry
1. Bring in books, magazines (National Geographic is a great resource) that show jewelry from
different periods (pre-historic, modern, and medieval) and cultures (African, Native
American, and Asian). Have them look at the pictures and then chose their favorite.
2. Get into groups of three, and then have the group chose one picture to use as a starting point
of the round robin story.
3. Have them write a round-robin story based about a character wearing that piece of jewelry.
They could start with the line, “When I put on the ……., I knew something was going to
happen.” (See the tool box on how to write round robin stories.)
4. Share the stories.
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Activity Nine
Exhibit
1. Prepare the jewelry for the exhibit. Bring in various art exhibit catalogues, print catalogues,
craft sale books and show the participants how these materials describe the products or
exhibit and have them do the same for their exhibit. This preparation includes:
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Mounting the jewelry
Completion of a written description of the jewelry written on an index card that will be
placed near the mask. (See tool kit for suggestions on how to write short descriptions.)
The description should include
 Description of the materials and process used to make the jewelry
 The reasons for the choice of colors and other objects for decorations
 Description of process of making the jewelry
 An explanation of how the jewelry makes them feel when they wear it.
2. Make invitations/posters for family members and others to come to the exhibit.
3. Hold an exhibit open house with refreshments and time to explain their projects.
Activity Ten
Reflection time
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Participants will gather together and do an evaluation of the club. (What went right and
what they would do differently next time?) If you did a KWL chart at the beginning of the
unit, you can fill the last column as part of this activity. Check the tool kit for other ideas on
how to process the unit.
2. Participants will decide what they will put in their “time capsule” from this club, i.e.
pictures, materials, (beads, birthstone charts, yarn and quietly place them in the capsule and
close it.
3. Have the yearbook committee in charge of this club discuss what pictures and stories that had
gathered for the yearbook.
SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES
(See the tools section for ideas on how to prepare for guest speakers or field trip.)
1. Either visit or have a jeweler come and talk to the group.
2. Visit a jewelry store or a museum that has a jewelry exhibit.
3. Visit or have a lapidary enthusiast/gemologist come and talk.
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INTEGRATED LITERACY SKILLS
Reading:
Vocabulary and Concept development
Structural Feature
 Analyze text that uses compare-contrast organizational pattern
Comprehension
 Connect and clarify main ideas by identifying their relationships to other sources and
related topics
 Understand and explain the use of a simple mechanical devise by following technical
directions.
Writing Strategies
 Use a variety of effective and coherent organizational patterns, including comparison and
contrast.
Writing Applications
 Write narratives that relate a clear, coherent incident, event or situation by using wellchosen details
 Write expository compositions involving comparison and constrast
OTHER INTEGRATED ACADEMIC SKILLS
Social Studies
 Cultural understanding of different eras and societies
Science
 Students know that scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and
conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing
the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and
perform investigations
 Students know substances can be classified by their properties, including their melting
temperature, density, hardness, and thermal and electrical conductivity.
REFERENCE
Websites
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Gemstone Index: Information about the birthstones
http://www.gemhut.com/gemidx.htm
Daisy Chains: http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/N050700.htm
Cross-Cross Bracelet:
http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/N021201.htm?once=true&
Wired Beaded Chokers: http://jewelrymaking.about.com/library/n_100499.htm
Friendship Pins: http://parentingteens.about.com/library/sp/sbp/bl-index.htm
Friendship Braclets:
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 http://parentingteens.about.com/library/sp/blproject1.htm?once=true&
Quickie Collar Necklaces: http://jewelrymaking.about.com/library/n_031701.htm
Jewelry Making Project Books
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Mikyla Bruder, Bead Girl:
Chronicle Books, 2001.
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Meryl Doney, Jewelry
25 Sparkly Beading Projects, from Toe Rings to Tiaras.
(World Crafts). Franklin Watts, 1996.
Mickey Baskett, Making Beautiful Hemp & Bead Jewelry. Sterling Publishing, 1999.
Books about Rocks and Minerals
 Sue Fuller, Backpack Books: 1,001 Facts about Rocks & Minerals (Backpack Books).
DK Publishing, 2002.
 James F. Jangl and Alda M. Jangl, Ancient Legends of Gems and Jewels. Prism Press,
1989.
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Steve Parker,
Eyewitness Explorers: Rocks and Minerals. DK Publishing, 1997.
Rocks and Minerals (National Audubon Society First Field Guides).
Edward R. Ricciuti,
Scholastic, 2003.
 R. F. Symes and R. R. Harding, Eyewitness: Crystal & Gem. DK Publishing, 2000.
 R.F. Symes, Eyewitness: Rocks and Minerals. DK Publishing, 2000.
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VOCABULARY LIST
1.
Amulet
2.
Sterling silver
3.
Ornament
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Pendant
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Brooch
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Gems
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Locket
8.
Choker
9.
Precious
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Birthstone
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Lapidary
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Gemologist
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Luster
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Threading
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Clasp
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Loop
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Needle nosed pliers
18.
Minerals
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Jewelry Findings
20.
Fluorescence
Reproducible
JEWELRY AND GEM TRIVIA
1.
What are poesy rings?
2.
What is the name of the largest cut diamond in the world?
3.
What gemstone was once described in a song as “a girl’s best
friend?”
4.
What material is formed from a resin that has become hard
and often has fossilized insects trapped within it, and is often
used in jewelry?
5.
What metal do people wear around their wrist to make their
arthritis get better?
6.
What is your state “gem”?
7.
What is the difference between "carat" and "karat"?
8.
What is the origin of the tradition of using the third finger on
the left hand as the "wedding ring finger"?
Reproducible
PAPER BEADS
Supplies
Scissors
Magazines
Glue
Directions
1. Find colored full page ads in the magazines
2. Cut triangle strips about 1/2 an inch to 1 inch wide at the bottom or 1” by 1”
squares.
3. Roll the square on the stick end of the paintbrush until there is only a little
paper hanging down.
4. Glue the tip and hold down for about 30 seconds and then pull the “bead” off
the stick.
Clay Beads
Supplies:
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¾ cup flour
½ cup salt
½ cup cornstarch
warm water
bowl
spoon
toothpicks
string
paint
Directions:
1. Mix flour, salt and cornstarch in a bowl. Add warm water until mixture forms a
shape.
2. Knead by pulling, stretching and rolling.
3. Form beads by rolling and shaping. Vary the shapes that you make so there will
be variety in your jewelry.
4. Before the “bead” starts to dry, pierce the bead shapes with a tooth pick, so that
you will be able to string the beads for your jewelry.
5. Allow to dry. Paint and string.
6. Seal, if desired.
Reproducible
MINERAL AND ROCK
DEFINITIONS
Gemstone - A mineral that is desired because of its beauty, durability, and rarity. Gemstones are
often cut, polished, and used for decoration.
Mineral - A pure, solid substance that occurs naturally in rocks or in the ground; every mineral
has distinct characteristics and a unique chemical makeup. All rocks are made of two or more
minerals.
Properties
Color
Definition: Visible property of minerals. The same mineral can vary in color, depending on the
presence of different elements.
Hardness
Definition: How well a mineral resists scratching by another mineral. The Mohs scale is the
standard scale used to describe the hardness of a gemstone.
Luster
Definition: A property of minerals that describes how the surface reflects light; minerals can be
metallic, dull, glassy, waxy, pearly, oily, brilliant, and silky.
Streak
Definition: The color of a mineral’s powder when it is crushed or rubbed against another surface.
Two minerals may have the same color, but different streaks.
Cleavage
Definition: When a mineral breaks and a smooth surface is produced, it is said to have cleavage.
In many minerals several cleavages exist in different directions. There can be excellent, good or
poor cleavage in the same mineral.
Other
Taste, odor with friction, magnetism, fluorescence
Reproducible
MINERAL PROPERTIES
Specimen
number
Reproducible
Luster
Color
Streak
Hardness
Cleavage
Other
Name
Colors and
Shapes
Countries
where they are
found
My Birthstone
Names of Gem
Brainstorm ideas for each
circle. Write down one or
two words on each line.
Kinds of emotions
they make you
feel
Reproducible
Methods of
mining
BIRTHSTONES
Compare and Contrast
Gem:
Color
Shape
Countries
where found
Texture
Methods of
Mining
Kinds of
emotions
Group Names:
Reproducible
Gem:
Gem:
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Birthstone:
Birthstone:
Similarities of
characteristics
Reproducible