Crafty Crafters: Punched Tin Candle Holder (Christmas)

So how crafty are you?

What is your favorite religious craft you make for Christmas?



Here is a craft I make with my students using a tin can:




thecommonroomblog.com- Punched Tin Candle Holder

*Tip: Have the students draw a simple design on paper such as a star, cross, dove, fish, angel, etc. and attach to the can using rubber bands or tape. Remove paper after you punch holes into the can.



Please comment so I can add the link to your blog to this post. We would love to see what you do!

Crafty Crafters: Angel

So how crafty are you?

What is your favorite religious craft you make for “Mary and the Angel”?


Here is a craft I make with my students using cupcake liners:



books.google.com- Crafts from Your Favorite Bible Stories by Kathy Ross, pages 16 & 17

Jacob’s Ladder

Just make the angel that is in this craft using cupcake liners and construction paper. You can also make the angel into a magnet by putting sticky-backed magnets on the back of the angel.

*To make it easier for young children just have them fold one white cupcake liner in half (like pictured above) and attach with glue.

Prior to class I cut out the little head. It is so small that my first graders have a hard time cutting it out. I also use a paper plate to show the students how to fold the cupcake liners.



Please comment so I can add the link to your blog to this post. We would love to see what you do!

Saint Nicholas Day Blessing of Candy Canes Prayer Card

The candy cane is a treat often associated with Saint Nicholas, the patron and protector of children. The crook symbolizes the gentle image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day with a blessing and sharing of candy canes.

*Download includes both English & Spanish translations.

sadlier.com- Saint Nicholas Day Blessing of Candy Canes Prayer Card

Gospel for the Mass: 12/31/17- Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40

*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year B page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.


Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.




Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40



Activities

catholicmom.com- Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com- Download a FREE bulletin to help your kids learn more about our Catholic Mass. Each week's bulletin contains coloring pages for a saint and activities based on the Gospel. The coloring pages may also include a maze, dot-to-dot, find the picture, and many other activities.

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings

mssscrafts.com- Simon and Anna Say Thank You with resources for illustrating the story, coloring pages/activity sheets, and songs.

sermons4kids.com- Our God Is Faithful 100% object lesson

sermons4kids.com- A Promise Is A Promise object lesson with group activities, coloring page, puzzles, worship bulletin

sundayschoollessons.com- Simeon Praises God in the Temple lesson

calvarycurriculum.com- Simeon and Anna lesson #169 with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

ministry-to-children.com- Baby Jesus Presented in the Temple lesson

textweek.com- Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links and Resources

The Catholic Toolbox- What Can Teens Do For Gospel For The Mass Activities?

ehow.com- Children's Activities for the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple



Coloring

sermons4kids.com- Simeon and Anna Thank God

sermons4kids.com- Simeon Recognizes Jesus

higherpraise.com- Simeon and Anna

theclipartwizard.com- The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple Coloring Pages


Crafts

sermons4kids.com- A Promise Is A Promise group activities (crafts)

Holy Family crafts: If you have younger children, consider doing one of these crafts to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family: Holy Family scrapbook; Holy Family tree; Holy Family nativity set; Holy Family puppets.

pinterest.com- Family Trees

pinterest.com- Simple Nativity Crafts for Kids

catholicicing.com- Feast of the Holy Family (crafts)

scrapbookscrapbook.com- Free Printable Christmas Nativity Children's School & Church Craft Project

designdazzle.com- Printable Nativity Set

papergiftsforestefany- Nativity Crafts

catholicicing.com- Printable Nativity Set
This nativity craft was originally designed to be printed, colored, and glued around toilet paper tubes to make the pieces stand up. Since then, many readers have discovered that it’s just as good to print the pieces on card stock, and then use tape or staples to make them into a cylinder.

sarahanestudios.com- Nativity Puppet Theatre
To make and color with stage and background; free printable

lifeyourway.net- Popsicle Stick Nativity Puppets

hartofthemountain.blogspot.com- Printable Nativity Finger Puppets


Have children create their own candle crafts to celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The candles symbolize that Christ is the light of the world, just as Simeon had said.

Make candlemas

homemadeserentity.blogspot.com- Rolled Beeswax Candle Tutorial

abeautifulmess.com- Homemade Beeswax Candles

naturalsuburbia.com- Candlemas in the Southern Hemisphere

goldensunfamily.blogspot.com- Candlemas

freekidscrafts.com- Glowing Leaves
When you press flowers and leaves, they become thinner and light can shine through them. In this project, you simply decoupage pressed flowers and leaves to a votive cup and cover with tissue paper.

helloglow.co- Recycle Old Candles and Make Ice Candles

craftsbyamanda.com- Epson Salt Luminaries

sheknows.com- Stained Glass Candle Holder (scroll down to this)

marthasteward.com- Stamped Glass Candleholders



Make a Rosary and do the Joyful Mysteries

1- The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord." (Luke 1:38)
2- The Visitation - Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:45)
3- The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem (Luke 2:7)
4- The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22)
5- The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:49)

catholicicing.blogspot.com- Make A Giant Rosary With Kids

catholicicing.blogspot.com- Make A Rosary Book

catholicicing.com- Make an edible rosary

catholicicing.com- How to Make a Rosary with Kids
A simple rosary that kids can make using supplies found at any craft store.

catholicicing.blogspot.com- Celebrating the Month of Rosary
Rosary ideas and crafts link up

through-my-is.blogspot.com- Spiritual Medicine Craft

Making a Rosary- Rosary background and information. Excellent step-by-step directions to make a simple rosary. (Kids Explore America’s Catholic Heritage, page 159-161).

e-scoutcraft.com- Making a rosary using Seine Twine Mason Line, 6 gold pony beads, and a small piece of leather

domestic-church.com- How to Make Knotted Cord Rosaries

ehow.com- How To Make A Rosary for Kids

ehow.com- How To Make A Pocket Rosary



Games

sermons4kids.com- A Promise Is A Promise group activities (games)

The Waiting Game- This icebreaker game will help your kids discover that God delivers on his promises even when waiting is part of his plan. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 157).

The Catholic Toolbox- Rosary Bingo: Students play regular bingo, but they answer questions about the Rosary. The teacher asks one student at a time a question from the list. The student answers the question and the class looks for the word(s) on their bingo card. The first student who gets five in a row (up, down, across, or diagonal) on their bingo card first, wins. You can play in teams or individually. (The teacher can give the students some hints to help them answer the questions correctly if needed.)



Puzzles

sermons4kids.com- Word Search

sermons4kids.com- Word Search

joanyedwards.com- Word Search

sermons4kids.com- Decoder

sermons4kids.com- Word Jumble

sermons4kids.com- Crossword

joanyedwards.com- Crossword

domestic-church.com- Joyful Mysteries (crossword)

Act of Contrition Activities

Activities:

nashvilleras.com- More than 100 Missions Bible Memory Games and Other Activities

raisinglittlesaints.blogspot.com- A pictograph poster for your child to practice with. There is also a PDF file and a PowerPoint Presentation of it.

loyolapress.com- Students review and learn the Act of Contrition in a group activity.

crusaders-for-christ.com- Act of Contrition (print or cursive)
Scroll down to Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. NOTE: The Act of Contrition files are meant to be printed on both sides of the page and folded in half width wise, so it ends up a 4 x 6 page.

catholicschoolhouse.com- Act of Contrition Handwriting Practice (print)

teacherspayteachers.com- Act of Contrition ~ Sorry Prayer Posters, Worksheets and Interactive Activities (20 pages)

teacherspayteachers.com- Act of Contrition Prayer Pack

teacherspayteachers.com- Catholic Prayer Act of Contrition



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.


Act of Contrition- Cut out strips and glue strips of the Act of Contrition in the proper order on a piece of construction paper. (For younger students you can do this together as a group activity.) You can also play this as a game by dividing the class into teams and give each team the strips of the Act of Contrition. See which team can put it in the proper order the fastest.

Act of Contrition Board Game- For 2 Players or 2 Teams

The idea is to answer questions about the Act of Contrition so players can roll the dice and move their pieces up and down the road attempting to capture their opponent’s pieces. The form of capture is unique because the captured piece is not immediately removed but instead is placed under the capturing piece. The capturing piece is placed on top of the captured piece to form a stack (if you capture an opponent’s piece, their playing piece is placed under yours). On his next turn the capturing player starts to move the stack of pieces back along the road towards his home position the number of spaces indicated by the throw count. When the capturing player reaches the home position the captured piece is removed from the board.



Puzzle:

Act of Contrition- (word search)



Worksheet:

Act of Contrition (worksheet)- Fill out the worksheet using the word bank.

Nicene Creed Activities

Activities:

thereligionteacher.com- Nicene Creed Lesson Plan & Activities

catholicmom.com- Catechist Resources for Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
Creed- lesson with Worksheet (page 2), The Creed Crossword (page 3)

looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com- The Creed & Notebooking

smp.org- The Trinity: Unpacking the Nicene Creed – PowerPoint
This PowerPoint is part of the Living in Christ Series. The Trinitarian themes of the Nicene Creed are defined, unpacked and explored by breaking the prayer down and reflecting on smaller statements of faith.

tes.com- The Nicene Creed
A PowerPoint based on the core Christian beliefs and a useful introduction into the history of Christianity. Linking the Creed to the Trinity in Christianity and the historical context of the Christian beliefs.

teacherspayteachers.com- Nicene Creed Prayer Activity Packet

looktohimandberadiant.com- The Creed-Words to Know
Here are a few ideas for getting the meaning of those important words through to your students.

looktohimandberadiant.com- The Creed + Tetris
This is an easy activity that can be used to help memorize groups of text, in this case, the Nicene Creed.



Crafts:

catholicicing.blogspot.com- Catholic Trinity Craft

looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com- We Are the Church Craft (highlighting the Four Marks of the Church found at the end of the Nicene Creed)

catholicicing.blogspot.com- Nicene Creed Craft (Be sure to change this to say: I believe in one God, etc.)

looktohimandberadiant.com- I Believe Mobile

Make Nicene Craft from catholicicing.blogspot.com according to directions. Have students trace the beginning of the Nicene Creed: "I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible." (Printed out on tracing handwriting sheet.) Glue prayer on a piece of construction paper. Glue the bottom part of the hand on the back of the prayer with the hand showing above prayer.

Nicene Creed Tracing Handwriting Sheet- Students write their name on the top line. Students then trace the handwriting sheet and follow directions above.



Games:

superteachertools.us- Nicene Jeopardy Instant Jeopardy Review is designed for live play with up to ten individuals or teams. Teams choose a question, then try to give the best answer.

superteachertools.us- Instant Jeopardy Review is designed for live play with up to ten individuals or teams. Teams choose a question, then try to give the best answer. Scoring is built in for each team.

catechistjourney.loyolapress.com- We are going to do this review using a Jeopardy-like game that I found online last year at http://ccdgames.com/Jeorpardy.php. This site provides the game in a Powerpoint format so that it can be projected on a screen as a gameboard! I found that it was possible to simply save one of the games as a Powerpoint file and then change the categories, questions, and answers to suit your needs. As a result, I’ve put together 4 “rounds” which you are welcome to use or adapt as needed. (Scroll down to this.)


These games below are from nashvilleras.com- More than 100 Missions Bible Memory Games and Other Activities

I Am a Verse- Divide the Nicene Creed into parts equal to the number of children. Print each part on separate sheet of paper or index card. Jumble paper/cards and give one to each child. Holding the paper/card in front, each child lines up in proper sequence. Call out your part. Repeat until the Nicene Creed is memorized.

Illustrated Verse- Ask children to draw pictures of words in the Nicene Creed that help them remember the word. Put the drawings together repeating the words using the visual clues. Continue until all have learned the Nicene Creed.

Missing Words- Write the Nicene Creed on a chalk or white board omitting key words. Give each student a card with a key word missing from the Nicene Creed. Ask students to place their word cards in the proper place as they say the Nicene Creed. Shuffle cards and repeat until all have learned the Nicene Creed.

Photograph a Verse- Write words to the Nicene Creed on separate sheets of construction paper. Take pictures of each child holding a line to the Nicene Creed. Children then use the pictures to arrange the words to the Nicene Creed in proper order. Tape to poster board.

Verse Chain- Print lines of the Nicene Creed on separate strips of paper. Give each child one strip. After repeating the Nicene Creed several times with the children, ask them to assemble the chain by putting the words of the Nicene Creed in order. Staple the chain together.



(These activities below are in accordance with the new Roman Missal that is to be implemented on November 27, 2011.)


loyolapress.com- The Creed Game
Students help each other learn the Nicene Creed while playing a game.



The games 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.


Nicene Creed- Cut out strips and glue strips of the Nicene Creed in the proper order on a piece of construction paper. (For younger students you can do this together as a group activity.) You can also play this as a game by dividing the class into teams and give each team the strips of the Nicene Creed. See which team can put it in the proper order the fastest.

The Nicene Creed- The objective is to be the first player to get all four of his or her color pawns from his or her START location to his or her HOME space. Players must do this by answering questions about the Nicene Creed and rolling the die.



Lessons:

Celebrating the Mass Lesson- Profession of Faith Lesson, questions, and activities.

4catholiceducators.com- Lesson Title: "I believe..."

wpengine.netdna-cdn.com- What Is The Creed? (lesson with activities)



Puzzles:

armoredpenguin.com- Nicene Creed (word search)

wordsearchfun.com- Nicene Creed (word search)

edubakery.com- Nicene Creed (word scramble)

whenwecrosswords.com- Nicene Creed (crossword)

wordmint.com- Nicene Creed (crossword)

edubakery.com- Nicene Creed (crossword)


The puzzle 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.

Nicene Creed- (crossword)
For younger students you can do this together on the board.



Worksheets:

teacherspayteachers.com- Fill in the Blanks (FREE)
This is a great way to get your students in Religious Education to start memorizing the new Nicene Creed. It is a one page worksheet that has specific words left out of the prayer. The students pick from the word bank to add in the correct words. You can also photo copy the word bank out to make it harder for older students.

icsaamenia.org- Compare and Contrast the Creeds (page 13)

Jesse Tree Ideas

Check out this lovely and creative Jesse Tree by Angela who made the cute tree herself!
*Great for those who can't leave things in their classroom and everything has to be portable.



Other Ideas:

pinterest.com- Jesse Tree Inspiration

rca.org- Making A Jesse Tree (ornament patterns included)

tiredneedsleep.blogspot.com- Free Printable Jesse Tree ornaments and devotions for Advent

4catholiceducatiors.com- Jesse Tree

christiancrafters.com- A Jesse Tree for Advent

catholicicing.com- Jesse Tree Readings, Ornaments, and Free Printables!

catholicculture.org- Catholic Activity: Jesse Tree Ornament Ideas and Blessing

catholicculture.org- Catholic Activity: Jesse Tree Instructions

couponing101.com- Free Jesse Tree Printable Kit Downloads (several posted!)

crosswalk.com- From Adam to Jesus: The Jesse Tree Tradition
What is a Jesse Tree?, Our Jesse Tree Tradition, and Jesse Tree Resources

catholicallyear.com- Handmade Jesse Tree Set Tutorial (in expert, intermediate, and novice versions)

showerofroses.blogspot.com- The Jesse Tree :: A No-Sew Picture Tutorial with Readings

loyolapress.com- Our Jesse Tree
Activity with directions.

confessionsofahomeschooler.com- Jesse Tree Advent Study and includes the Jesse Tree printable ornaments, etc.

1plus1plus1equals1.net- Jesse Tree Printables

Advent Wreath- (file folder game)

I got the idea for this game from: cajestl.org- Chanukah Candles


Advent Wreath: The object of the game is to color all of the Advent wreath correctly.


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 all activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.


For Older Students:

Place 2 small baskets or boxes on the table to put question cards in. Put the question cards in one basket (the other basket will be for discards). Give each player a copy of the “Advent Coloring Sheet”. Place your markers on START. Roll the die and move that many spaces. Follow the directions on the space you land on. If the player lands on a “?”, the person to their right draws a question card and reads it out loud. If the player answers correctly, they can color what is stated on the card on their Advent wreath coloring sheet. If they have already colored that part of their wreath, they do nothing. If a player lands on a space with the leaves, they may color some of the greenery on their wreath. When a player has completely colored their Advent coloring sheet correctly, he/she is the winner. Play continues until all players have colored their sheets.


For Younger Students:

Place 2 small baskets or boxes on the table to put cards in. Put the cards in one basket (the other basket will be for discards). Give each player a copy of the “Advent Wreath Coloring Sheet”. Place your markers on START. Roll the die and move that many spaces. Follow the directions on the space you land on. If the player lands on a “?”, they draw a colored card and they can color one of their candles on their Advent Wreath Coloring Sheet the correct color. If they do not need that color on their wreath, they do nothing. If a player lands on a space with the leaves, they may color some of the greenery on their wreath. When a player has completely colored their Advent Wreath Coloring Sheet correctly, he/she is the winner. Play continues until all players have colored their sheets.

Advent Wreath Game- Directions, Game Board, Question Cards, Coloring Sheet, Colored Cards

2021 Printable Advent Chain

2021 Printable Advent Chain

This activity 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.

Print out pattern on colored paper. Have students cut into strips. Build your paper chain stapling the strips with a stapler in the correct order. Each day you tear off a piece of the chain that corresponds to the date and do the activity. Before you know it, it will be Christmas day!


2021 Printable Advent Chain- printable pattern

Apostles’ Creed File Folder Game

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 all activities are not my own and are from various internet sources.


Apostles’ Creed is based on the Royal Game of Ur which dates from 2600 B.C. It was discovered in the 1920s by Sir Leonard Wooley during his excavations at the city of Ur in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). In the early 1980s, Irving Finkel of the British Museum uncovered the rules of the game, long forgotten, by deciphering Sumerian cuneiform tablets.

Apostles’ Creed: For 2 Players or 2 Teams

The idea is to answer questions about the Apostles’ Creed so you can move your stones around the board. The goal is to move each stone along the 14-square path from the start square to the end and remove the stone from the board. If a stone lands on a square marked with a star the player may roll again. If the stone of one player lands on a square occupied by the stone of the opponent while on the center row, the opponent’s stone is removed from the board and must start again. The winner is the player who removes all their stones from the board first.


Need:

7 stones or playing pieces for each player
1 die
Game Cards
Game Board


Set Up: This game can be played individually or in teams. Shuffle the deck and place it face down in a small basket near the game board. Put an empty basket nearby for the discards.

Rules:

Apostles’ Creed is played by two players using a board consisting of 20 squares shown in the picture above. One player has seven white stones and the other has seven black stones (or whatever colors you choose to use).

The starting player may be decided with the flip of a coin. The opponents make their moves by turns. To make a possible move you must answer a question (the other player draws a card and reads you the question) about the Apostles' Creed. If you are correct you may move one of your pieces. If you do not answer the question correctly, your turn is over.

Each player takes turns to throw the die after they answer a question correctly and move one of their pieces according to the number indicated by the die. The goal is to move each stone along the 14-square path from the start square to the end and remove the stone from the board. The winner is the player who removes all their stones from the board first.

When starting a stone the first count is onto the start square. A player may have more than one stone on the board at a time. If the stone of one player lands on a square occupied by the stone of the opponent while on the center row, the opponent’s stone is removed from the board and must start again. If a stone lands on a square marked with a star the player may roll again.


*Playing pieces can be coins, colored buttons, game pieces from other games, fish rocks for the bottom of aquariums, craft foam cut into shapes, glass rocks for vases, etc. You can paint small objects such as rocks, small plastic tops or caps, etc. You can also buy pawns at game stores.



Apostles Creed Game- Directions, Game Board, and Game Cards


*You can also use a large circle hole puncher and make your own game pieces using card stock, craft foam, etc.