Creating Our First Reggio Chandelier

I love, love, love the look of the "Reggio" chandeliers.  

It was one of the must-do projects with my new class.

I wanted to start with a "natural" base.  Well . . . it just so happened that my son had a big pile of dead bushes in his backyard.  Viola!  A chandelier base!

Materials Used:

• assorted beads
• jewelry wire
• a bush branch

 A couple children in my class helped to select our bead palette - silver, clear, and white.

 I found the best times to work on the chandelier with the children was during arrival and after nap.  It is a perfect activity for soft and gentle moments.  Stringing beads is a lovely way to sit and talk.  

I put down black construction paper "work" mats to help the children "see" their beads and constructions. I prepared the wire strands by putting a bead at the end and wrapping it. I would lay these on the black mats - ready for little hands!

 I let the children build and create their own strings of beads.

 They loved deciding where to put their strand.  

After we completed the chandelier, I let the children decide where it would be hung.  They voted to have it above the block center.   Beautiful!

Reggio Inspired: Chandeliers

The construction of chandeliers is a regular center in the Reggio Inspired classrooms.  The chandelier hangs in the room once it is complete. Two teachers I work with, Ms. Schouten and Ms. Winters, have some amazing chandeliers their children have constructed.  

This is a chandelier center in progress.  The base of the chandelier typically hangs over the working surface.  If you look, you can see containers of beads beneath the bicycle wheel (so dang cool) that is the base of this chandelier. 

A chandelier built on lattice wood.  I love the combination of white and clear beads.  

 This one is built on an old lamp's wire base.  Love it!

 Oh my word!  What fun!  A chandelier made on the wire base of an umbrella!!  Too cool!

 A chandelier built on a metal wire shelf.  I love the diversity of materials the children used for the dangling pieces.

 A chandelier constructed from a wicker lantern shaped basket.  Lovely.

 I have seen so many of these large flat baskets at garage sales.  Look how fabulously it works as a chandelier base! 

Chandelier built on a branch.  Notice the pieces of lace woven into the beads.