Ash Wednesday & Lent

Ash Wednesday & Lent

Ash Wednesday- activities, coloring, crafts, games, puzzles, quizzes, etc.

Lent- activities, coloring, crafts, games, puzzles, quizzes, etc.

Stations of the Cross- references, activities, coloring, crafts, games, puzzles, etc.

Lentopoly Game

I saw this game online by Michelle, Marnie, and Minette and thought it was so neat! It looked like so much fun and the kids would really enjoy it! Such a great learning tool for Lent too! The game is not posted online, but I got permission from them to expand upon it and post for others to use for free.

Lentopoly is a game that is meant to incorporate the 3 aspects of Lent: prayer, fasting & almsgiving. By doing the charitable acts each day the child “earns” tokens (nails, pennies, beans, etc.). You can have a container full of tokens and each child has their own jar to put their ‘earned’ tokens into each day. On Easter the tokens are replaced with jelly beans or other candy/item of your choice. Parents can play too! If you decide to use money, you should decide what organization will get your money on Easter – your parish, pro-life group, rice bowl, etc.

Everyone begins on the space marked “GO.” Each day of Lent, roll the dice & move the amount shown. If you complete the task indicated on the space, you receive a token. Whenever you pass or land on “GO” you receive 2 tokens. If you land on an “Extra Blessing” space & complete the task on the card you draw, you receive 2 tokens. If you land on an “Extra Sacrifice” space & complete the task on the card you draw, you receive 4 tokens. If you do not complete the task, you do not receive any tokens. Play the game each day from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday (you do not have to play on Sundays). On Easter, everyone wins!



This game is free, however it is only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on the activities or games are not my own and are from various internet sources.


Lentopoly- Rules/Directions, Game Board, Title, Extra Blessing Cards, Extra Sacrifice Cards

Lent

loyolapress.com- Lent Resources

cin.org- All About Lent (questions with answers about Lent)

4catholiceducators.com- Lenten resources including readings, puzzles, clip art and text, etc.

kencollins.com- The Season of Lent
Information about the Season of Lent, including what it means, when it starts and ends, how it originated, and how it sets the theme for Christian worship.

sundayschoollessons.com- The Season of Lent

textweek.com- Online Resources for Lent
General resources, worship planning, art and music, devotionals, articles, etc.

christiancrafters.com- Ash Wednesday and Lent lesson with craft

catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com- Lent Activities Pack

catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com- 40 Ideas for 40 Days

fairfieldcounty.citymomsblog.com- Lenten Activity Calendar for Families {Free Printable!}

callherhappy.com- 40 Simple Lenten Activities for Kids

catholicicing.com- Simple Lenten Traditions For Families {With Little To No Prep Work}

reallifeathome.com- 50+ Lent Ideas Paper Chain Printable: Things to Add and Things to Give Up for Lent

catholicicing.com- Lenten Activities for Children

reallifeathome.com- 10 Lent and Holy Week Activities for Catholic Families Printable

kindercraze.com- Sharing Lenten Love with Good Deeds (a printable good deeds chart for children)

reallifeathome.com- 40 Lenten Activities for Catholic Families {Free Printable}

thereligionteacher.com- Lent Activities

thereligionteacher.com- Lent Project and Lesson Plan Ideas

Lent Lapbooks- Make a Lent lapbook to celebrate the Lent season.

catholicicing.com- Printable Lenten Calendar for Kids
This is my Printable Lenten Calendar for Kids. It’s free for everyone to print! This year, I’m offering it in black and white, in color, and also as a blank page so you can fill in any language! I have also updated the file to include Lenten calendars that readers have submitted in different languages.

celebratingholidays.com- 40 Day Cross Countdown

walzingm.com Lenten Calendar to count down the 40 days of Lent based on a 40 days in the desert theme with an oasis on each Sunday (scroll down to this).

zephyrhillblog.com- Printable Calendars for Lent

stclements.surrey.sch.uk- Lenten Calendar (several languages posted)

catholicsprouts.com- Free Lenten Countdown Worksheet for Children (Updated with all of the Feast days!)

kellygillanjohnston.blogspot.com- Lenten Journey

thecatholickid.com- Kids Lent Calendar Coloring Page

sundayschoolnetwork.com- Prayer Pretzels Activities

reallifeathome.com- Host a Pretzel Play Date: 10 Pretzel Activities for Children During Lent

traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com- Pretzel Prayer Pals

catholicicing.com- Lenten Pretzel Recipe (And A Printable Pretzel Prayer Poem)

Ash Wednesday & Lent- (Pre K – K) lesson plan with: Objectives, Word Wall, Bible Story with questions, Songs and/or Finger Plays, Activities, Crafts, Games, Snacks, Coloring/Puzzles, etc.

Ash Wednesday & Lent- lesson plan for 1st grade on up with: Objectives, Review, Vocabulary Words, Bible Story with questions, Activities, Crafts, Games, Snacks, Puzzles/Mazes/Worksheets, etc.

Stations of the Cross- activities, coloring, crafts, games, puzzles, worksheets, etc.



Bulletin Boards or Door Decorations:

ehow.com- Lent Bulletin Board Ideas

pinterest.com- Lent Bulletin Board

pinterest.com- Lent Bulletin Board Ideas

catechismangel.com- Lent Bulletin Boards

looktohimandberadiant.com- Lent Looks Different: Classroom Decorations

catholicyouthandchildren.blogspot.com- Bulletin Board for Lent

srstefaniesabcsblog.smmsisters.org- A Lenten Project for Preschool



Crafts:

lbrummer68739.net- Lent to Easter: Start and Finish Strong (craft)

freekidscrafts.com- Lenten Prayer Chain

childrensministry.com- Use this Blooming Cross Craft throughout the Lent season and people will enjoy pointing out their flowers on the cross.

catholicinspired.com- Lenten Prayer Chain
Remove one link each day and pray for the people who are mentioned on that link. The neat thing is it doubles as a countdown to Easter!

pinterest.com- 340 Best Lenten Ideas



Introduce craft: We as Catholics focus on what 3 things during Lent? Praying, Fasting, and Giving Alms.

catholicicing.com- Pray, Fast, Give Alms– a Lenten Craft for Kids
Use a paper plate, plastic silverware, and real pennies for that extra special touch.

looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com- Lent Notes Foldable

looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com- Lent: Pray, Fast, Give Printable
I created a printable that easily makes three pockets to hold ideas for these three marks of Lent. I also brainstormed a list of possible kid-friendly ways they can pray, fast, and give. You (or your kids) could also create your own ideas and write them on small cards or strips of paper. I would suggest that then each child pulls one idea from each pocket each morning and has the goal of completing that sacrifice or prayer by the end of the day. Then, the next morning, they choose three new things. I think this short term focus can help them be successful over the course of the long 40 days, and it also can stretch them in a new way each day, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.

faithandfabric.blogspot.com- Family Lent Promise Card

faithandfabric.blogspot.com- Lenten Prayer Stained Glass


Introduce craft: What happens to a caterpillar? He changes into a butterfly. What are we supposed to do during Lent? We are to change. We are going to make something to show us how the caterpillar changed into a butterfly to remind us that we are to change during Lent and become more like Jesus.





Caterpillar to Butterfly Craft







enchantedlearning.com- Egg Carton Caterpillar
This is an easy way to make caterpillars using egg cartons, crayons or markers, scissors, and pipe cleaners. You could also have the students decorate the caterpillar by gluing small objects like beads, craft foam, cut out paper shapes, etc. Googly eyes are a nice touch also. I use this craft to emphasize that they are to change during Lent. I then at Easter use a butterfly craft to show how the caterpillar changed and became a butterfly.

theprimaryparade.com- 25 Caterpillar Crafts

mommymadethat.com- Pom Pom Caterpillar Craft

iheartcraftythings.com- Caterpillar Craft


Introduce craft/activity: What are alms? Long ago money given to the poor was called alms. We are going to make an Alms Jar to take home to remind us the importance of almsgiving and giving to the poor.

Alms Jar

Need: Jar with lid, sticker with “Alms Jar” printed on it, various things to glue on jar, glue

Directions: Have students decorate alms jar. Have them put sticker “Alms Jar” on the jar when they are finish decorating the jar.

The whole family can enter into the spirit of saving for alms. A glass jar is placed at the center of the table on Ash Wednesday, and all the money each family member saves as a result of self-denial from smoking, eating candy, going to movies or similar activities is put into it. Whatever you are sacrificing during Lent, that money you would of spent goes into the jar. The mother, buying simpler and cheaper foods for Lenten meals, puts the difference into the jar at meal time — so all can see where the cost of the dessert went! The children spend the first weeks of Lent investigating needy causes and charitable organizations and missions. They will have the responsibility of determining who gets the alms-fund. (Print this out and glue on an index card. Attach it or put inside the Alms Jar for the students to bring home for family to read).

catholicculture.org- Lenten Sacrifice Beans
A wonderful way to help younger children remind them to do penance during Lent, lima beans in a jar record each Lenten sacrifice.

Prayer Jar by paperdali.blogspot.com- Instead of just writing down a petition for our Lenten prayer jar, paperdali decided to draw the little petitions. Each strip has a picture and the beginning of a prayer for a child (or adult, actually) to finish. To enjoy, just download the page, cut along the dotted line, put them in a jar, and then put it in an accessible spot. During Lent, a child (or adult) can take out a strip during breakfast and begin the day with a prayer.



Games:

ehow.com- Lent Games for Religion Class

young-catholics.com- Could You Give It Up Game

christiancrafters.com- Bible Tic Tac Toe
Scroll down near the bottom for directions. Use Lent questions from above to play this game.

Bible Bowl- Students will test their Bible knowledge as they bowl their way to win. Use Lent trivia questions to play this game. (The Super Bible Game Book by Linda Standke, page 121 - 127).

Hangman- (Players try to solve the Lent mystery word). The teacher picks a Lent word that is written on a piece of paper out of a bowl. The teacher then starts the hangman game by writing a blank line for each letter in the word. Teacher then picks someone to guess a letter. (Write on the chalkboard the letters that were guessed that were not in the mystery word). If a letter is guess correctly, it is written in the appropriate blank(s) and that person who guessed correctly gets another turn. They can guess another letter or guess the mystery word. If the person is incorrect, another player gets a turn. Whoever guessed the mystery word gets to pick a Lent word out of the bowl and start the hangman game.



The following activities are free, however they are only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these games are not my own and are from various internet sources.


Journey Through Lent Game- A fun way to review Lent. The objective of the game is to get the most points by answering questions about Lent. Make a die out of a large juice carton and put a ? mark on some (at least 3) of the sides of the die. Set a timer for a specified time. Have a player roll the die on the floor in front of the class. If the die lands on a blank space, they do not answer a question. If the die lands on “?”, they are asked a question by the teacher about Lent. If the player answers correctly, they receive a point (you can use tokens, write it on the board, etc.). If they are not correct, they do not receive a point. Players must collect as many points as they can. The game is over when the timer goes off. Whoever has the most points, wins. You can play this game individually or in teams. For an added challenge, you can also have “Lose 1 Point” and “Take 1 Point” on one or a couple of the sides of the die. When a player rolls “Lose 1 Point”, they must lose 1 point. If a player rolls “Take 1 Point”, they may take a point from any player they choose.

Journey Through Lent Board Game- Here is a neat and easy way to review Lent using a Lenten Calendar. Just print out a Lenten Calendar (suggestions are posted). You can play this game individually or in teams. The players take turns answering questions correctly to throw the die and move from space to space according to the throw count. The first player to Easter Sunday is the winner.

Lentopoly- is a game that is meant to incorporate the 3 aspects of Lent: prayer, fasting & almsgiving. By doing the charitable acts each day the child “earns” tokens (nails, pennies, beans, etc.). You can have a container full of tokens and each child has their own jar to put their ‘earned’ tokens into each day. On Easter the tokens are replaced with jelly beans or other candy/item of your choice. Parents can play too! If you decide to use money, you should decide what organization will get your money on Easter – your parish, pro-life group, rice bowl, etc.






Stations of the Cross Bingo- Students play regular bingo, but they answer questions about the Stations of the Cross. The teacher asks one student at a time a question about the Stations of the Cross. The student answers the question and the class looks for the word on their bingo card. The first student who gets three in a row (up, down, across, or diagonal) on their bingo card first, wins.

Stations of the Cross- The objective of the game is to go through all 14 Stations of the Cross by answering questions about each station.





Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

sacredhearthouston.org- Follow the maze below to complete the prayer that praises Jesus. (Grade 3)

wordmint.com- Word Searches

cool2bkids.com- Word Search

stedscathedral.org- Word Search

teachervision.com- The Season of Lent (Word Scramble)

sacredhearthouston.org- Prayer of Sorrow
Unscramble the words to complete the prayer. The words are in order. (Grade 4)

wordmint.com- Crossword

teachingandlearningresources.co.uk- Crossword

cdn2.hubspot.net- Crossword

drawn2bcreative.com- Crossword

reallifeathome.com- Crossword

catechist.com- Crossword

teacherspayteachers.com- FREE Ash Wednesday Worksheet for Lent

sacredhearthouston.org- Our Path During Lent
Each day you say a prayer, draw a † in a stone. Color a stone each day you help someone. Each day you accept help from someone, draw a smiley face. (Grade 1)

sacredhearthouston.org- Here are ways to serve others. Choose three things you will do during Lent. (Grade 2)

sacredhearthouston.org- Go to the Liturgical Calendar – Lent at blestarewe.com. Use the information there to fill in the blanks. (Grade 5)

sacredhearthouston.org- Lent and the Liturgical Calendar
To find out about them, go to the Liturgical Calendar – Lent at blestarewe.com/litcal/index.html. A church calendar or Bible will also help. (Grade 6)

dosmallthingswithlove.com- Lenten Worksheets for Kids

tes.com- A worksheet that gets pupils thinking about the Christian tradition of giving something up during Lent.

thecompassnews.org- Scroll down for Lent worksheets

reallifeathome.com- Planning For Lent Printables

sdc.me.uk- The Lent Season (scroll down to this for worksheets for Year A)

sdc.me.uk- The Lent Season (scroll down to this for worksheets for Year B)

sdc.me.uk- The Lent Season (scroll down to this for worksheets for Year C)



These activities below are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.

Ash Wednesday (Worksheet)- Put number one through seven on the board. Read each question and write the correct word by the number after the student has answered the question. Have the students fill in the blanks on their paper with the correct answer from the word bank.

Ash Wednesday- Word Search

How Much Do You Know About Lent?- 20 true or false with answers



Skits or Puppet Shows:

christiancrafters.com- Observing Lint? (skit or puppet show)

youtube.com- Lent Puppet Show

*You can always record the puppet show on a audio tape and play it during the puppet show to make it easier for the children to do by themselves.



Songs:

catholicicing.com- Lent Song for Kids (with actions and youtube.com video)

Lent Lapbooks

Make a Lent lapbook to celebrate the Lent season. You can adjust each of them to fit your needs.

hfclassicalacademy.blogspot.com- Planning a Lent Lapbook (ideas and suggestions on what to put in lapbook)

diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com- Our Lent Lapbook

hsiswheretheheartis.blogspot.com- Lent Lapbook

rosarymom.blogspot.com- Lenten Lapbook



Lent activities to put in Lapbook:

Lent- activities, coloring, crafts, games, puzzles, quizzes, etc.

catholicicing.com- Free Lent Lapbook Ideas

Lent- word wall, Bible story with questions, songs and/or finger plays, activities, crafts, games, coloring, puzzles, etc.

Ash Wednesday and Lent- vocabulary words, Bible story with questions, activities, crafts, games, puzzles, mazes, worksheets, etc.

Stations of the Cross- activities, coloring, crafts, games, puzzles, worksheets, etc. Scroll down for Stations of the Cross (file folder game)

Make Your Own Mini Books- templates to make your own mini books to put into your lapbooks

Lesson Plan- (Pre K - K): Ash Wednesday & Lent

Ash Wednesday & Lent


Objectives: The children will be able to:
- discuss what happens on Ash Wednesday and where the ashes come from
- discuss what abstinence and fasting is
- discuss what we are supposed to do during Lent and why



Review:
Prayer and questions from last week’s lesson.



Vocabulary Words:

The activity below is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.

Lent Word Wall- Word wall templates are large flash card printables that you can hang on the wall to aid children when they are learning or using new vocabulary words. (Explain each card to the children. Example: Ash Wednesday- What is happening in this picture? The priest is putting blessed ashes in the shape of a cross on the boy’s forehead. This happens on Ash Wednesday. Pray- What is happening in this picture? We pray more during Lent. Fast- What is this a picture of? Would you normally have more than a hotdog for lunch or dinner? What would you have? To fast means to eat less or to go without certain foods. Give- What is happening in this picture? The boy wants to give his teacher an apple. During Lent we should try and do more good things for others.)



Plan:


Circle Time:

1. Ash Wednesday (write it on the board or hold up Word Wall card)

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, blessed ashes are put on your forehead in the shape of a cross. These ashes are made by burning palm leaves which have been saved from last year’s Palm Sunday.

Ash Wednesday is also when we begin to do penance for Lent. Penance is something that you do or are given to do in order to show that you are sad or sorry about doing something wrong. We do this to improve our relationship with God and others. The Church suggests three special practices of penance for Lent:

(Write the bold words on the board or hold up Word Wall card).

Pray- go to Mass more often, pray more often.

During Lent the Stations of the Cross are said at our church every Friday. My family goes to this every Friday during Lent.

Can you think of other ideas?


Fast- going without food or eating less. It can also mean giving up a certain food or treat.

My husband is giving up Diet Coke during Lent. My son is eating less sweets during Lent.

Can you think of other ideas?

During Lent people older than you must do abstinence which means not to eat meat. They do not to eat meat on Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday. What can they eat? They can eat fish and other seafood, vegetables, eggs, milk and other dairy products.


Almsgiving- means doing good for others. That can be giving gifts of money or help to others.

The money my husband does not spend for Diet Cokes he will collect. At the end of Lent he will give the money to the poor.

Can you think of other ideas?



Activities:

kindercraze.com- Sharing Lenten Love with Good Deeds (a printable good deeds chart for children)


Introduce activities: What are we supposed to do during Lent? (We are to change and become more like Jesus.)

Read the story “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle and ask questions from below.

What happened to the caterpillar? He changed into a butterfly.

Which life do you think is better, the caterpillar of the butterfly life? Why?

During Lent we are to try to “change”. We need to be kind to others and improve our relationship with God.

pinterest.com- TONS of The Very Hungry Caterpillar activities posted with links



Songs and/or Finger Plays:

catholicicing.com- Lent Song for Kids (with actions and youtube.com video)



Introduce songs and/or finger plays: What happened to the caterpillar?

preschooleducation.com- Roly-Poly Caterpillar (finger play)
Scroll down to this.

Into a corner crept, (place right pointer finger in left cupped hand)
Spun around himself a blanket (spin around)
Then for a long time slept. (place head on folded hands)
Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)
Wakening by and by, ("stretch" right pointer finger)
Found himself with beautiful wings
Changed to a butterfly. (flutter arms like wings)


thevirtualvine.com- The Fuzzy Caterpillar (song and can be made into a finger play) tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider
Scroll down about halfway.

The little fuzzy caterpillar,
Curled up on a leaf.
Spun her little chrysalis,
and then fell fast asleep.
While she was sleeping,
She dreamed that she could fly,
And later when she woke up,
she was a butterfly.



Skits or Puppet Shows:

youthsource.com- Six Skits for Lent

christiancrafters.com- Observing Lint? (skit or puppet show)

youtube.com- Lent Puppet Show

*You can always record the puppet show on a audio tape and play it during the puppet show to make it easier for the children to do by themselves.



Crafts:

Introduce craft: We as Catholics focus on what 3 things during Lent? Praying, Fasting, and Giving Alms.
Use a paper plate, plastic silverware, and real pennies for that extra special touch.


catholicicing.com- Pray, Fast, Give Alms– a Lenten Craft for Kids


Introduce craft: What happens during Ash Wednesday?

faithfilledfreebies.blogspot.com- Ash Wednesday Craft
Click on the craft image on the left to download the Google Doc

catholicinspired.com- Ash Wednesday Craft
This printable activity allows the kids to draw a picture of themselves and then add an ash cross to their forehead.



Introduce craft: What happens to a caterpillar? He changes into a butterfly. What are we supposed to do during Lent? We are to change. We are going to make something to show us how the caterpillar changed into a butterfly to remind us that we are to change during Lent and become more like Jesus.





Caterpillar to Butterfly Craft







enchantedlearning.com- Egg Carton Caterpillar
This is an easy way to make caterpillars using egg cartons, crayons or markers, scissors, and pipe cleaners. You could also have the students decorate the caterpillar by gluing small objects like beads, craft foam, cut out paper shapes, etc. Googly eyes are a nice touch also. I use this craft to emphasize that they are to change during Lent. I then at Easter use a butterfly craft to show how the caterpillar changed and became a butterfly.


Introduce craft/activity: What are alms? Long ago money given to the poor was called alms. We are going to make an Alms Jar to take home to remind us the importance of almsgiving and giving to the poor.

Alms Jar

Need: Jar with lid, sticker with “Alms Jar” printed on it, various things to glue on jar, glue

Directions: Have students decorate alms jar. Have them put sticker “Alms Jar” on the jar when they are finish decorating the jar.

The whole family can enter into the spirit of saving for alms. A glass jar is placed at the center of the table on Ash Wednesday, and all the money each family member saves as a result of self-denial from smoking, eating candy, going to movies or similar activities is put into it. Whatever you are sacrificing during Lent, that money you would of spent goes into the jar. The mother, buying simpler and cheaper foods for Lenten meals, puts the difference into the jar at meal time — so all can see where the cost of the dessert went! The children spend the first weeks of Lent investigating needy causes and charitable organizations and missions. They will have the responsibility of determining who gets the alms-fund. (Print this out and glue on an index card. Attach it or put inside the Alms Jar for the students to bring home for family to read).

catholicculture.org- Lenten Sacrifice Beans
A wonderful way to help younger children remind them to do penance during Lent, lima beans in a jar record each Lenten sacrifice.

Prayer Jar by paperdali.blogspot.com- Instead of just writing down a petition for our Lenten prayer jar, paperdali decided to draw the little petitions. Each strip has a picture and the beginning of a prayer for a child (or adult, actually) to finish. To enjoy, just download the page, cut along the dotted line, put them in a jar, and then put it in an accessible spot. During Lent, a child (or adult) can take out a strip during breakfast and begin the day with a prayer.



Games:

Introduce game: Who needs lots of food so they can build a cocoon and become a butterfly?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The caterpillar is very hungry and must have lots of food so he can build his cocoon. Let’s play a relay race to see which team can collect the most food for the caterpillar.

Divide the class into teams and line each team behind a chair. Place a basket of plastic fruit for each team on the other side of the room. Place an empty basket on the chair in front of each team. When the teacher says “GO!” the first person from each team runs up and gets one piece of fruit and puts it in their team’s basket. They then go to the end of their team’s line and the next team member goes and gets a piece of fruit. When the teacher says, “STOP!” all players must stop what they are doing. Each team then counts how many pieces of fruit they have. The team with the most fruits wins.



The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game (board game): A Game of Counting, Colors and Contrasts- Emerge from a rainy day cocoon, gather up some friends, and enjoy this wonderful game based on Eric Carle's delightful children's book. In The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game, children go on a journey of learning and transformation as their caterpillar develops from egg to beautiful butterfly. Includes game board, four feedable caterpillar pieces, 40 food pieces, spinner, and instructions. For 2 to 4 players ages 3 and up.


dltk-teach.com- Story Sequencing Cards
Have children color and cut out cards. Then have the children put the cards in the same order as the story "The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. *You can also make 2 copies of the cards and have the children play Memory.


Chutes and Ladders- This would be great game for teaching about rewards and consequences for your actions. As kids travel along the game path, they encounter situations that reward them for good deeds by letting them climb the ladders or punish them for misbehaving by sending them down chutes.



These games are free, however they are only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.

Introduce games: During Lent we are to try to “change”. We need to be kind to others and improve our relationship with God.


Random Acts of Kindness: Children identify Random Acts of Kindness as they move around the board.




Place your marker any where on the game board. Roll the die and move clockwise that many spaces. Read out loud whatever is on your space and say whether it is a Random Act of Kindness or not. If it is a Random Act of Kindness, receive 1 Random Acts of Kindness token (or milk cap, poker chip, etc.). If it is not a Random Act of Kindness, lose a token. When the player receives 10 Random Acts of Kindness tokens, they work their way around the board to “Spread Kindness”. Players must roll the exact number to “Spread Kindness”. Continue playing to find out who comes in second, third, fourth, etc.
place.










The Golden Rule File Folder Game: This game helps promote why someone would use proper manners and etiquette in our daily lives.



Introduction: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. What does this mean? It means we should treat others the same way you want them to treat you. That is easier said than done. Do you respect everyone and treat them kindly at all times? During our daily contact with others we can show compassion and generosity by treating them with respect and courtesy. This dignified and respectable behavior that we give to others is part of what Jesus was talking about. Try your best to treat others as you would like to be treated and you will find that it will help you so much in everyday life with getting a long with others.

Directions: Put the colored Game Cards in two different small baskets and set near the game board. Place your markers at START. Roll the die and move that many spaces. Follow the directions on the space you land on. If the space has a Roll Play activity on it, perform it to the best of your ability. If needed, the teacher will help you understand what to do and coach you how to do it correctly. If the space has True or False or P’s & Q’s on it, draw the corresponding card and read it out loud. Answer the question to the best of your ability (the teacher can coach the student if necessary).






Snacks:

Introduce snack: What is supposed to happen to us during Lent? We are to try and be more like Jesus.

dltk-kids.com- Popcorn Praises

Lenten Hot Cross Buns- Story with song and directions to make Lenten Hot Cross Buns. (Kids Explore American's Catholic Heritage, page 165).


Introduce snack: What used to be the Lenten bread in the early centuries of the Christian era? (The pretzel.)

catholicculture.org- Introduction: We are going to make pretzels too (recipe included).

catholicculture.org- Pretzel Recipe

pillsbury.com- Mini Soft Pretzels with Dip
Make these easy pretzels with or without dip. A great reference for Lent.

pillsbury.com- Soft Pesto Pretzels
Make this easy pretzel recipe without pesto and cheese using refrigerated breadsticks. Sprinkle with caraway seed and coarse salt before baking.



Coloring/Puzzles/Worksheets:

Prayers while students are doing coloring and/or puzzles.

coloringpages101.com- Ash Wednesday (coloring)

theholidayspot.com- Color the Spirit of Ash

All About Lent- mini coloring booklet
Have students read the mini book out loud in class by taking turns (each read a page) and take home to read to their parents. Students can also color mini book.

catholicicing.com- Printable Lenten Calendar for Kids
This is my Printable Lenten Calendar for Kids. It’s free for everyone to print! This year, I’m offering it in black and white, in color, and also as a blank page so you can fill in any language! I have also updated the file to include Lenten calendars that readers have submitted in different languages.

celebratingholidays.com- 40 Day Cross Countdown

Lenten Calendar by waltzing.com- A lenten calendar to count down the 40 days of Lent based on a 40 days in the desert theme with an oasis on each Sunday (scroll down to this).

thecatholickid.com- Kids Lent Calendar Coloring Page

kellygillanjohnston.blogspot.com- Lenten Journey

pflaum.com- Four times during the school year, Pflaum Gospel Weeklies provides three ready-to-print activities for each level; Seeds (Preschool), Promise (Grades K-1), Good News (Grades 2-3), Venture (Grades 4-6) and Visions (Grades 7-8). Plus each season special features for the entire family.

sacredhearthouston.org- Our Path During Lent
Each day you say a prayer, draw a † in a stone. Color a stone each day you help someone. Each day you accept help from someone, draw a smiley face. (Grade 1)

livingmontessorinow.com- Free Counting Book Printable for Any Theme (directions included)

hubbardscupboard.org- Printable Very Hungry Caterpillar Booklet (scroll down to this)
Students will need to write the numerals, use a hole puncher to make a hole in each fruit, and draw the caterpillar, cocoon, and butterfly.

makinglearningfun.com- Hungry Caterpillar True or False Counting Cards
Print, cut and laminate the cards. Have the children identify the number at the top of the card. Then have them count the items of food that the caterpillar is going to eat. If the number of items of food and the number on the card match, have the children clip a clothespin on the smiley face. If not, have them clip the clothespin on the sad face.

makinglearningfun.com- Math Ideas for The Hungry Caterpillar (worksheets)

enchantedlearning.com- Butterfly Books

bry-backmanor.org- Help the Caterpillar (maze)

bry-backmanor.org- Which butterfly is different? (find the difference)

Lesson Plan- Ash Wednesday & Lent (1st grade on up)

Ash Wednesday and Lent


For older students:

thereligionteacher.com- Ash Wednesday Lesson Plan which includes a full set of activities, worksheets, integration with the Ash Wednesday Video, and a short quiz to assess the students' progress.

thereligionteacher.com- Lent Project and Lesson Plan Ideas



For younger students:

Objectives: The students will be able to
- explain what happens on Ash Wednesday and where the ashes come from
- explain what abstinence and fasting is
- explain what we are supposed to do during Lent and why



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson


Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)

Lent- the time before Easter
Changed- to become different
Ash Wednesday- the first day of Lent
Penance- an act of religious devotion performed to show sorrow for having committed a sin.
Abstinence- to not do something
Fasting- going without food or eating less than you normally do
Almsgiving- doing good for others (gifts, money, or to help others)



Plan:


Ash Wednesday (write it on the board)

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, blessed ashes are put on your forehead in the shape of a cross. These ashes are made by burning palm leaves which have been saved from last year’s Palm Sunday.

Ash Wednesday is also when we begin to do penance for Lent. Penance is an act of religious devotion performed to show sorrow for having committed a sin. We do this to improve our relationship with God and others. The Church suggests three special practices of penance for Lent:

(Write the bold words on the board).

Pray- go to Mass more often, pray more often.

During Lent the Stations of the Cross (prayers about the journey Jesus made to his crucifixion on Good Friday) are said at our church every Friday. My family goes to this every Friday during Lent.

Can you think of other ideas?

Fast- going without food or eating less. It can also mean giving up a certain food or treat.

During Lent there is fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for ages 18–59 (one full meal or two smaller ones).

Abstinence from meat is required for Catholics aged 14+ on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. They cannot eat beef, pork, or chicken. What can they eat? They can eat fish and other seafood, vegetables, eggs, milk and other dairy products.

My husband is giving up Diet Coke during Lent. My son is eating less sweets during Lent.

Can you think of other ideas?

Almsgiving- means doing good for others. That can be giving gifts of money or help to others.

The money my husband does not spend for Diet Cokes he will collect. At the end of Lent he will give the money to the poor.

Can you think of other ideas?



Activities:

Introduce activities: What day does Lent begin? Ash Wednesday


This activity below is free; however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.

Ash Wednesday (worksheet)- Put number one through seven on the board. Read each question and write the correct word by the number after the student has answered the question. Have the students fill in the blanks on their paper with the correct answer from the word bank.



Review Ash Wednesday:

Once a year you can see many people with a black smudge on their forehead. Do you know what it is? (The Sign of the Cross made with blessed ashes.)

The day the cross is made on everyone’s forehead with blessed ashes is called what? (Ash Wednesday)

Ash Wednesday is the first day of what? (Lent and write it on the board)

Lent is the time before Easter, the day we celebrate Jesus’ rising from the dead. The Sign of the Cross made with ashes reminds us of Jesus’ great love and that he died on the cross so that we could live with him forever in heaven.

Lent lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays). Why 40 days? (The 40 days recalls the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11).

Lent beings on Ash Wednesday and ends on what day? (Lent officially ends at sundown on Holy Thursday.)

What is the color for Lent? (violet)

During Lent we do fasting (write fasting on the board). Fasting means going without food or eating less. It can also mean giving up a certain food or treat. The rules of fasting state that only one full meal a day can be taken. Two small meals, are allowed but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals breaks the fast, but drinking liquids does not. The rule of fasting is required for Catholics from age 18 to 59.

You are six years old. Do you do fasting during Lent? (No)

What about your parents? Do they fast during Lent? (Yes)

What days do Catholics fast? (On Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday.)

During Lent, Catholics do abstinence (write abstinence on the board). Abstinence means to not eat meat. The rule of abstinence for all Catholics requires those 14 years of age and older not to eat meat on Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday.

My son is 16, does he do abstinence during Lent? (Yes)

You are six years old, do you do abstinence during Lent? (No)

Do your teachers do abstinence during Lent? (Yes)

What can we eat that is not meat? (Fish and other seafood, vegetables, eggs, milk and other dairy products.)

Do we fast and do abstinence every day during Lent? No, we only fast and do abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. During Lent, every Friday we must practice abstinence (not eat meat).

During the forty days of Lent we are like a caterpillar. We try to change to live our new life more fully.

We try to do more things that show we love God. How could we show our love for God? (By praying and listening to his Word.)

We try to love others as Jesus did. We do special things for others during Lent. We try to change. We want to become people who do not hurt others by what we say or do.



Ask student questions from the Lent Take Home Sheet out loud in class.



Introduce activities: What do you know about Lent? Let’s find out.

This activity below is free; however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.

All About Lent- (coloring booklet)
Have students read the mini book out loud in class by taking turns (each read a page) and take home to read to their parents. Students can also color mini book.

fcpeace.com- My Lenten Resolution Egg
Every Sunday during Lent, think back on your week and decide how well you did with your resolution. Check the box that best describes your effort.

sundayschoolkids.com- About Lent lesson with activities

catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com- 40 Ideas for 40 Days

kindercraze.com- Sharing Lenten Love with Good Deeds (a printable good deeds chart for children)

faithandfabric.blogspot.com- ACTIVITY: Countdown to Easter Activities
To celebrate Lent this year, try something new - at the start of Lent, you create a chain out of forty strips of paper - each of the strips has a simple activity for the day that you are encouraged to do together as a family. As the strips are torn off, and the activity completed, the chain gets shorter and shorter as it counts down to Easter Sunday.

catholicinspired.com- Lenten Prayer Chain
Remove one link each day and pray for the people who are mentioned on that link. The neat thing is it doubles as a countdown to Easter!

looktohimandberadiant.com- Lent: Pray, Fast, Give Printable
I created a printable that easily makes three pockets to hold ideas for these three marks of Lent. I also brainstormed a list of possible kid-friendly ways they can pray, fast, and give. You (or your kids) could also create your own ideas and write them on small cards or strips of paper. I would suggest that then each child pulls one idea from each pocket each morning and has the goal of completing that sacrifice or prayer by the end of the day. Then, the next morning, they choose three new things. I think this short term focus can help them be successful over the course of the long 40 days, and it also can stretch them in a new way each day, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.



Crafts:

lbrummer68739.net- Lent to Easter: Start and Finish Strong (craft)

freekidscrafts.com- Lenten Prayer Chain

childrensministry.com- Use this Blooming Cross Craft throughout the Lent season and people will enjoy pointing out their flowers on the cross.

catholicinspired.com- Lenten Prayer Chain
Remove one link each day and pray for the people who are mentioned on that link. The neat thing is it doubles as a countdown to Easter!

pinterest.com- 340 Best Lenten Ideas

catholicicing.com- Pray, Fast, Give Alms– a Lenten Craft for Kids
Use a paper plate, plastic silverware, and real pennies for that extra special touch.

faithandfabric.blogspot.com- Family Lent Promise Card

faithandfabric.blogspot.com- Lenten Prayer Stained Glass



Introduce craft: What happens during Ash Wednesday?

faithfilledfreebies.blogspot.com- Ash Wednesday Craft
Click on the craft image on the left to download the Google Doc

catholicinspired.com- Ash Wednesday Craft
This printable activity allows the kids to draw a picture of themselves and then add an ash cross to their forehead.



Introduce craft: What happens to a caterpillar? He changes into a butterfly. What are we supposed to do during Lent? We are to change. We are going to make something to show us how the caterpillar changed into a butterfly to remind us that we are to change during Lent and become more like Jesus.





Caterpillar to Butterfly Craft







enchantedlearning.com- Egg Carton Caterpillar
This is an easy way to make caterpillars using egg cartons, crayons or markers, scissors, and pipe cleaners. You could also have the students decorate the caterpillar by gluing small objects like beads, craft foam, cut out paper shapes, etc. Googly eyes are a nice touch also. I use this craft to emphasize that they are to change during Lent. I then at Easter use a butterfly craft to show how the caterpillar changed and became a butterfly.


Introduce craft/activity: What are alms? Long ago money given to the poor was called alms. We are going to make an Alms Jar to take home to remind us the importance of almsgiving and giving to the poor.

Alms Jar

Need: Jar with lid, sticker with “Alms Jar” printed on it, various things to glue on jar, glue

Directions: Have students decorate alms jar. Have them put sticker “Alms Jar” on the jar when they are finish decorating the jar.

The whole family can enter into the spirit of saving for alms. A glass jar is placed at the center of the table on Ash Wednesday, and all the money each family member saves as a result of self-denial from smoking, eating candy, going to movies or similar activities is put into it. Whatever you are sacrificing during Lent, that money you would of spent goes into the jar. The mother, buying simpler and cheaper foods for Lenten meals, puts the difference into the jar at meal time — so all can see where the cost of the dessert went! The children spend the first weeks of Lent investigating needy causes and charitable organizations and missions. They will have the responsibility of determining who gets the alms-fund. (Print this out and glue on an index card. Attach it or put inside the Alms Jar for the students to bring home for family to read).

catholicculture.org- Lenten Sacrifice Beans
A wonderful way to help younger children remind them to do penance during Lent, lima beans in a jar record each Lenten sacrifice.

Prayer Jar by paperdali.blogspot.com- Instead of just writing down a petition for our Lenten prayer jar, paperdali decided to draw the little petitions. Each strip has a picture and the beginning of a prayer for a child (or adult, actually) to finish. To enjoy, just download the page, cut along the dotted line, put them in a jar, and then put it in an accessible spot. During Lent, a child (or adult) can take out a strip during breakfast and begin the day with a prayer.



Games:

young-catholics.com- Could You Give It Up Game

Introduce game: How well do you know Lent? Let’s find out.

christiancrafters.com- Bible Tic Tac Toe
Scroll down for directions. Use Lent questions from above to play this game.

Bible Bowl- Students will test their Bible knowledge as they bowl their way to win. Use Lent trivia questions to play this game. (The Super Bible Game Book by Linda Standke, page 121 - 127).

Hangman- (Players try to solve the Lent mystery word). The teacher picks a Lent word that is written on a piece of paper out of a bowl. The teacher then starts the hangman game by writing a blank line for each letter in the word. Teacher then picks someone to guess a letter. (Write on the chalkboard the letters that were guessed that were not in the mystery word). If a letter is guess correctly, it is written in the appropriate blank(s) and that person who guessed correctly gets another turn. They can guess another letter or guess the mystery word. If the person is incorrect, another player gets a turn. Whoever guessed the mystery word gets to pick a Lent word out of the bowl and start the hangman game.



The following games are free, however they are only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on these games are not my own and are from various internet sources.


Journey Through Lent Game- A fun way to review Lent. The objective of the game is to get the most points by answering questions about Lent. Make a die out of a large juice carton and put a ? mark on some (at least 3) of the sides of the die. Set a timer for a specified time. Have a player roll the die on the floor in front of the class. If the die lands on a blank space, they do not answer a question. If the die lands on “?”, they are asked a question by the teacher about Lent. If the player answers correctly, they receive a point (you can use tokens, write it on the board, etc.). If they are not correct, they do not receive a point. Players must collect as many points as they can. The game is over when the timer goes off. Whoever has the most points, wins. You can play this game individually or in teams. For an added challenge, you can also have “Lose 1 Point” and “Take 1 Point” on one or a couple of the sides of the die. When a player rolls “Lose 1 Point”, they must lose 1 point. If a player rolls “Take 1 Point”, they may take a point from any player they choose.

Journey Through Lent Board Game- Here is a neat and easy way to review Lent using a Lenten Calendar. Just print out a Lenten Calendar (suggestions are posted). You can play this game individually or in teams. The players take turns answering questions correctly to throw the die and move from space to space according to the throw count. The first player to Easter Sunday is the winner.

Lentopoly- is a game that is meant to incorporate the 3 aspects of Lent: prayer, fasting & almsgiving. By doing the charitable acts each day the child “earns” tokens (nails, pennies, beans, etc.). You can have a container full of tokens and each child has their own jar to put their ‘earned’ tokens into each day. On Easter the tokens are replaced with jelly beans or other candy/item of your choice. Parents can play too! If you decide to use money, you should decide what organization will get your money on Easter – your parish, pro-life group, rice bowl, etc.



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What is supposed to happen to us during Lent? We are to try and be more like Jesus.

dltk-kids.com- Popcorn Praises

Lenten Hot Cross Buns- Story with song and directions to make Lenten Hot Cross Buns. (Kids Explore American's Catholic Heritage, page 165).


Introduce snack: What used to be the Lenten bread in the early centuries of the Christian era? (The pretzel.)

catholicculture.org- Introduction: We are going to make pretzels too (recipe included).

catholicculture.org- Pretzel Recipe

pillsbury.com- Mini Soft Pretzels with Dip
Make these easy pretzels with or without dip. A great reference for Lent.

pillsbury.com- Soft Pesto Pretzels
Make this easy pretzel recipe without pesto and cheese using refrigerated breadsticks. Sprinkle with caraway seed and coarse salt before baking.



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

catholicicing.com- Printable Lenten Calendar for Kids
This is my Printable Lenten Calendar for Kids. It’s free for everyone to print! This year, I’m offering it in black and white, in color, and also as a blank page so you can fill in any language! I have also updated the file to include Lenten calendars that readers have submitted in different languages.

Lenten Calendar by waltzingm.com- A lenten calendar to count down the 40 days of Lent based on a 40 days in the desert theme with an oasis on each Sunday (scroll down to this).

zephyrhillblog.com- Printable Calendars for Lent

apples4theteacher.com- printables and interactive worksheets associated with Ash Wednesday

teacherspayteachers.com- Ash Wednesday Worksheet for Lent

teachervision.com- The Season of Lent (word scramble)

pflaum.com- Four times during the school year, Pflaum Gospel Weeklies provides three ready-to-print activities for each level; Seeds (Preschool), Promise (Grades K-1), Good News (Grades 2-3), Venture (Grades 4-6) and Visions (Grades 7-8). Plus each season special features for the entire family.

catecheticalresources.com- Lent activities for grades 1 – 8

sacredhearthouston.org- Our Path During Lent
Each day you say a prayer, draw a † in a stone. Color a stone each day you help someone. Each day you accept help from someone, draw a smiley face. (Grade 1)

sacredhearthouston.org- Here are ways to serve others. Choose three things you will do during Lent. (Grade 2)

sacredhearthouston.org- Follow the maze below to complete the prayer that praises Jesus. (Grade 3)

sacredhearthouston.org- Stations of the Cross
Make a picture strip. Cut on the solid lines. Paste the two pieces together. Read your Stations of the Cross. (Grade 3)

sacredhearthouston.org- Prayer of Sorrow
Unscramble the words to complete the prayer. The words are in order. (Grade 4)

sacredhearthouston.org- Go to the Liturgical Calendar – Lent at blestarewe.com. Use the information there to fill in the blanks. (Grade 5)

sacredhearthouston.org- Lent and the Liturgical Calendar
To find out about them, go to the Liturgical Calendar – Lent at blestarewe.com/litcal/index.html. A church calendar or Bible will also help. (Grade 6)

dosmallthingswithlove.com- Lenten Worksheets for Kids

tes.com- A worksheet that gets pupils thinking about the Christian tradition of giving something up during Lent.

tes.com- This resource provides a fun and reflective activity relating to Lent and new beginnings. It supports the Here I Am topic Self-Giving, but can be easily adapted to suit your requirements. The activity can be used in collaboration with our Lent Calendar and Lent Liturgy to form part of your meaningful preparations for Easter.

thecompassnews.org- Scroll down for Lent worksheets

reallifeathome.com- Planning For Lent Printables

crusaders-for-christ.com- Fill out worksheet. You can either mark off each day as it passes or place one of the Sacred Heart stickers on the cross in the appropriate spot.

teachingandlearningresources.co.uk- Lent (crossword)

domestic-church.com- Lenten (crossword)



These activities below are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.

Ash Wednesday (worksheet)- Put number one through seven on the board. Read each question and write the correct word by the number after the student has answered the question. Have the students fill in the blanks on their paper with the correct answer from the word bank.

Ash Wednesday- word search

How Much Do You Know About Lent?- 20 true or false with answers



Skits or Puppet Shows:

youthsource.com- Six Skits for Lent

christiancrafters.com- Observing Lint? (skit or puppet show)

youtube.com- Lent Puppet Show

*You can always record the puppet show on a audio tape and play it during the puppet show to make it easier for the children to do by themselves.



Songs:

catholicicing.com- Lent Song for Kids (with actions and youtube.com video)