I find that when teaching children in CCD you must be creative and frugal when you attempt to make any craft in class. Craft budgets are limited so catechists must look at objects they come across in a whole new perspective. Before we throw anything out at our house the object in questioned must be inspected by Mom to see if it can be used in some craft in CCD. It has gotten to the point that hubby and my son don’t stop and ask if it is okay to throw something out. They now just put the offending object in a bucket in the garage so it can be thoroughly examined and prodded by “Judge Judy” to see if it is worthy of becoming a CCD craft project.
How crafty are you? Here are some of my favorite religious crafts for various subjects:
*Topics are in alphabetical order.
Advent:
Advent Wreath Craft- No burn, construction paper wreath that is made with your child's handprints. (You can also add a white construction paper candle in the middle of the wreath. Do not cut out a hole in the center of the paper plate so you can glue the white construction paper candle in the middle.)
Angel:
Angel - (a cute craft that children make out of cupcake liners)
Ascension:
Ascension of Jesus Craft- (a cute craft that children can reenact Jesus disappearing into the clouds)
Baptism:
Baptism of Jesus- (craft using the child’s handprint)
Christmas:
Punched Tin Can Holder- (votive candle holder)
Communion:
Jesus in the Holy Eucharist Craft- (to help show students that Jesus is present in the Holy Eucharist)
Easter:
Empty Tomb Craft- (make a tomb that the rock swings open to see inside the empty tomb)
The Colors of Christ Cross- (each of the bead colors are intended to remind us of Biblical truths)
Jesus in the Temple:
Jesus in the Temple Toy/Craft- make this fun toy and try to catch the bead inside the cup
John the Baptist:
Grasshopper- (a cute craft using a clothes pin)
Jonah:
Lunch Bag Fish- (a cute craft with Jonah inside the whale)
Last Supper:
Holy Thursday/Last Supper Craft - (an easy craft based on the famous Leonardo da Vinci Last Supper painting)
Corpus Christi Mosaic Craft - (make a colorful chalice)
Lent:
Butterfly- (a cute craft showing how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly to remind us that we are to change during Lent and become more like Jesus)
Moses:
Stand Up Crocodile- (What is in the Nile River that could have eaten baby Moses? A crocodile.)
Mother’s Day:
Mother’s Day Heart Picture Frame with Card- (a cute keepsake craft with a card)
Noah:
Noah’s Ark Craft- (To show the 40 days and 40 nights of rain, have the wheel with the rain showing. Turn the wheel again to see the sign that God did that promised that He would never flood the whole Earth again.)
Pentecost:
Tongues of Fire Headbands- (a fun craft to remind children what flickered around the disciple’s heads, but did not burn them)
Pentecost Windsock- (make your own Pentecost Windsock using foam, ribbon, and some glitter)
Plagues:
Puddle Jumping Frog- What plague hopped into all the Egyptian’s homes? I adapt this craft with my students to make it extra special. By taping a red party blower underneath the frog you can blow on it and watch the frog try to catch flies
Samson:
Plant Pals- Make Samson and grow back his hair to get his strength back.
Thanksgiving:
Pumpkin Pie Spinner- This pumpkin pie may look good enough to eat, but it's actually an interactive spinner that reveals things your child is thankful for. For younger students you can have them draw what they are thankful for instead of writing.
Valentine’s Day:
American Sign Language I Love You Craft- (craft using the child’s handprint)
More crafts coming soon!
