Handprint & Fingerprint Christmas Crafts

I'm a sucker for handprint and fingerprint crafts!  I love capturing those sweet memories while they're still little, because as we all know, they sure don't stay that way long!
Here are links to some cute Christmas crafts:

http://dltk-holidays.com/xmas/mxmashands.html

http://dltk-holidays.com/xmas/mfingerprint-holly.htm 

What does God Want for Christmas?

A friend shared this idea and I just LOVED it!
Use as a craft project or object lesson.
Get a gift box and glue a small mirror to the inside bottom.  On the outside lid, write "What does God want for Christmas?".  When child opens the box and looks inside, they see their own reflection!
What does God want for Christmas?  YOU!

Advent Devotions

Advent:  (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for the Second Coming of Christ. (Wikipedia)

Through the years I have written my family's advent devotions and I would like to share them with you to use either at home with your own families or at church with your children's ministry.  There are many options for the advent wreath itself.  For ideas, see the following link:


http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=%22advent+wreath%22&N=0&Ntk=keywords&kw=advent%20wreath&event=PPCSRC&p=1018818&cm_mmc=Google-_-Seasonal-_-christmas-advent-_-advent%20wreath&gclid=CIWO1-zmpaUCFdJf2godbHNtJw


My advent devotions can be found by clicking on the Advent link under Pages (see in column to the right).
They are divided by titles Advent A, Advent B, etc...  Choose which one fits your needs and do each week under that title.  In other words, don't combine A's with B's or B's with C's, etc.  Some were written to build upon the previous week, so all A's should be done together or all B's...you get the idea!
Some were written when my children were younger and some when they were older.  All can be adapted to fit your needs.

I would love to hear your Advent ideas!  Please SWAP by commenting below!

Israel's Thanksgiving Feast

This is such a great lesson!
http://ministry-to-children.com/israel-thanksgiving-feast-lesson/

Scroll of Remembrance

Supplies Needed:
Large Binder with clear pocket on the front to slip a cover sheet into
Sheet Protectors
Scrapbooking paper and supplies


A wonderful way to count your blessings is by making a class or family Scroll of Remembrance.

Make a cover sheet for the binder with Malachi 3:16 "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.  A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name."

I love that it says "the Lord listened and heard".  When we recount what God has done in our lives, He listens and I can just imagine the delight it gives Him to hear His children telling of His glory.

Encourage children to write or draw pictures of ways God has blessed them, miracles He's done in their lives, things they are thankful for, etc. and place them in sheet protectors in binder.  Another option would be to take pictures throughout the year and include them in your scroll of remembrance as reminders of God's blessings and faithfulness.

What suggestions do you have for recording what God has done in your children's ministry or family?

Blessing Boxes

Supplies Needed:
Small boxes, such as shoebox size for each student (or family member if doing at home)
Plain wrapping paper 
Tape
Scissors
Markers
Stickers
Small paper slips
Pencils


Wrap boxes and lids separately.  Students may decorate with stickers and markers.  Cut slit in lid large enough for slip of paper to fit through.  Make sure everyone puts their names large enough for everyone to see.  Place somewhere in the classroom where they will be easily accessible but not in the way of other activities or if doing at home, place in bedrooms or other designated spot.

Encourage children (and adults) to bless one another by writing encouraging notes or words of thanks on the paper slips and placing them in the recipients' boxes.  Do this over a certain time period, then designate one day as Count Your Blessings Day!  If doing at church, perhaps you could spend time each week for a month allowing students to bless one another, then set aside some time on the last Sunday of the month for everyone to read their blessings.  If doing this at home, maybe you could designate Thanksgiving Day as the day you read your blessings.  Of course, this is a wonderful activity to do all through the year - not just around Thanksgiving time!

What are some other ways to help children demonstrate encouragement and thanksgiving to one another?

Thanksgiving Cards

Supplies Needed:
   paper or cardstock
Thanksgiving themed stickers
markers, crayons
other card making materials


Exchanging Christmas cards is a tradition, of course, but how about surprising someone with a Thanksgiving card this year!   Everyone enjoys being thanked for something.  What a fun blessing to the recipient!  Encourage students to make cards for family and friends, but it might also be fun to have them think about people they don't know as well, but who provide services for them.  For example, the church custodian or tech guys...the bank teller...the cashier at the grocery store...the school bus driver...the pizza delivery guy...the nice man who holds the door open for them and greets them every Sunday at church...you get the idea!  To make it even more fun, tell the students to get creative and try delivering the cards anonymously!

What are your ideas for expressing gratitude to people in our lives?

Thanksgiving Basket

Supplies Needed:
    basket, box, or other container
paper slips
Prepare Ahead:
You can decorate the basket or box as elaborately or simply as you want.  We have made them before to resemble turkeys or cornucopias.  Use your imagination!
In class or at home:
Encourage children to write things or draw pictures of things for which they are thankful on the paper slips and place them in the container.  At the end of class or on Thanksgiving Day, pull out the papers one at a time and thank God for each.
Option:  One year at our homeschool group's Thanksgiving Feast, each family created one of these Thanksgiving baskets as the centerpiece for each table.  Maybe you could have each Sunday School class work together to create a basket to put on display somewhere in the church building and encourage other church members to write what they are thankful for on the paper slips.


I would love to hear your ideas for cultivating attitudes of gratitude in our children's hearts!  Please comment below.

Give the Gift of Scripture Memory this Christmas!!

I love the Seeds CD's for helping kids hide God's Word in their hearts!  Check out this great deal for their latest project, Seeds of Character!  These CD's make great gifts and stocking stuffers!!

http://www.seedsfamilyworship.net/character/

THANKSGIVING TREE

Supplies Needed:                                                                                               
brown butcher paper or poster board
fall-colored card stock or construction paper
Die cut letters or homemade sign with a scripture about giving thanks printed on it.
scissors
pencils
markers
Prepare Ahead:
Cut butcher paper or poster board to look like tree trunk and branches.  Hang on wall.  Hang Thanksgiving scripture above it.


In Class (or at Home if doing with your own kids)
Assist children in tracing their hands onto the card stock or construction paper.  Tell them that these will be the leaves on our Thanksgiving Tree.  Encourage them to write or draw as many things as they can fit on the leaves for which they are thankful, then attach them to the tree.  To really make it look like a fall tree, attach some of the leaves as if they are falling from the tree or have already fallen to the ground.  Do this each week (or each day if doing at home) between now and Thanksgiving to remind your class or family of all the blessings God freely gives us.

Do Everything Without Complaining...

Supplies Needed:

flashlights (1 per child)

Go around the circle and each student (and teacher!) must complain about something in their whiniest voice. Demonstrate in your whiniest voice by using some of the following examples or making up some of your own: “My sister ate the last Pop Tart for breakfast!  That’s not faaaiiiirrr!!!!” , “It’s soooo HOT (or COLD or RAINY, etc.) this morning!!!”, “Why do these chairs have to be soooo hard and uncomfortable???!!!”.  After everyone has had a turn, pass out the flashlights and ask students to turn them on (but not shine in each others’ eyes!).  You may want to turn off classroom lights to get the full effect.  Go around the circle, complaining and whining again, but this time as each student complains, instruct him/her to turn off his/her flashlight.  By the time everyone has had a turn, all lights should be turned off.  

Say, “In today’s Bible lesson, we will read some verses in Philippians that say, ‘Do everything without complaining or arguing.  Then you will be innocent and without anything wrong in you.  You will be God’s children without fault.  But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you.  Among them you shine like stars in the dark world...’.  When we whine, complain, and argue, we are not shining our lights in this dark world.  In fact, when we do those things, we are acting just like people who don’t know Jesus.  Instead, when we choose to be thankful and allow God’s joy to come out of us, we shine our lights (instruct students to turn their lights back on) in this dark world.  So, next time you’re tempted to complain, remember your flashlight and shine like stars!”


You could continue this illustration by going around the circle again, but this time instead of whining and complaining, each person says something for which they are thankful or a word of encouragement as they turn on their flashlight.

How do you teach the children in your ministry to choose thankfulness and joy over whining and complaining?

Teamwork Silly Story

Supplies Needed:

Bag with random objects in it

Scripture Reference:  Philippians 1:27

Say, "Paul encourages the church to work together as a team.  Our class will work together as a team to tell a silly story. The story may be as silly as you’d like, but you must avoid adding anything inappropriate or scary when it’s your turn. Remember, we are working as a team, so let’s all be encouraging of one another.” 

Instruct students to pass around bag with objects in it.  Without looking inside bag, each student must pull out the first object they touch.  Choose a student to begin the story.  He/she must begin with “Once upon a time, there was a...” and he/she must include the object in his/her portion of the story.  For example, if an apple is drawn from the bag, he/she might say, “Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack who found a magic apple...”.  At your signal, the next student will pick up his/her portion of the story where the first student left off and will include the object he/she drew from the bag.  Story continues until all students have had a chance to add something.    


There are LOTS of ideas out there for teaching teamwork.  What are some of your favorites?