Monday, January 20, 2014

Float a Boat



This activity only requires a few items:
A sponge, a straw, a piece of craft foam,
scissors and hole punch!


Cut a sail from the craft foam.


Punch a hole near the top
and another near the bottom
of the sail.


Thread the straw through the holes.


Use the scissors to make a slit in the sponge
but not all the way through.
Insert the end of the straw in the slit.



Now, during BathTime, your child can make
"waves" that toss the boat like the ones
that tossed the boat the disciples were in
when Jesus calmed the storm.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Walking on Water





Jesus can do ANYTHING
and this craft will let your child
retell the story of 
Jesus walking on the water! 











You will need some construction paper and 
markers or crayons, craft sticks, preferably two 
difference sizes, and scotch tape.



Start by making a boat.  You can let your 
child cut out the pieces, if they can handle scissors, Or you 
can let them draw it and cut it out for them.


Next, let them draw some water for the
boat to sail in...and for Jesus to walk on!


Either cut along one of the waves,
or let your child cut it.  
This makes a slit for the craft stick.


Again, depending on your child's ability,
they can either draw a picture of Jesus
on the construction paper,
or you can draw Him and cut Him out.
Tape Jesus to the craft stick, 
as shown.


Now your child can make Jesus 
walk to the boat on the water! 



Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Lunch for a Bunch




Here's an activity inspired by Bible Class Creations 
that will let your preschooler retell the story of
Jesus feeding the 5000 with one boy's lunch

You need a lunch bag, some colored paper,
or white paper to color,
tape, string & scissors.


Let your child cut out shapes 
of bread and fish. 
(if cutting is too hard, check the next pic)
Set 2 fish and 5 loaves aside.


If cutting is too difficult,
just make rectangles and let
your child draw the
bread and fish.


After setting aside the 2 & 5,
tape the remaining fish and
bread to a long piece of string.


Put the string in the bag.
Let your child tell the story:
One boy had a lunch
(open the lunch bag)
He had 5 rolls & 2 fish
(put in the loose fish/bread)
When Jesus blessed it, 
it became enough to feed
everyone!
(reach in bag and pull out string
with ALL the fish and bread)


Monday, December 30, 2013

That's a LOT of Fish!




We're making an undersea scene
 that you
can tweak to use what 
materials are easier for your child. 

For older preschoolers, you can use foam fish that you
put IN the bag of water.
For younger hands, you can substitute 
fish stickers and stick them to the outside of the bag.

You will need a sandwich-size ziplock baggie,
some blue food coloring, 
and some foam fish.


You only need a little water in the bag.



AND, you only need 1 drop of blue food coloring
since there isn't much water.


Then, let your child add in the fish.  
And there should be a lot, 
because Peter caught a lot of fish
when Jesus told him to go fishing!


Once the fish are in, carefully press out 
all the excess air so the bag lies flat.
If your child is younger, you can 
put tape over the seam to prevent
accidents.  

When the bag is flat on a table, you can
let the fish "swim" around, while you
talk about how many fish 
Peter caught when Jesus helped him.
Jesus can do anything!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

The Brightest Star!








The Wise Men followed a bright star to find the child King. 
 Your child can make his own 
bright star to remind him of those early travelers. 




This is a super, NOT-messy craft!
Though you can adapt it to be messy, 
if you like.

As is, you need a sheet of laminating paper,
colored tissues paper, scissors, hole punch
and some yarn to hang your star.

For a messy version, you can 
glue the tissue paper to
card stock.  Your choice.  


Help your child mark off a
Star shape on the laminating sheet
and cut it out for them.


Tear pieces of tissue paper to 
brighten your star.


Peel the protective cover off the laminating 
sheet and lie it sticky side up on the table.
Let your child arrange the tissue scraps
in whatever arrangement they like
to cover the sticky surface.


Use a hole punch to make a
hole to thread a piece of 
yarn to hang your star.




Hang your star where you and your 
child can see it and talk
about what it would be like
to follow a star to find the One 
who was born to be King!



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Cupcake Angels!








The angel brought great news to some shepherds;               Jesus is Born!
You can make your own angels
to share the Good News, too!
 


You need a cupcake liner, regular or jumbo size will work.
And a paper doily for wings,
card stock for the face
and a halo; a pipe cleaner, or glitter, if you're brave! 
This craft is posted by several sites online,
and there are endless variations! 
Use what you have and experiment!


Flatten the cupcake liner then fold it in half.


Fold it in half again, using a dot of glue  
near the top of the middle to help hold it


Cut a circle for the head
and two wings from the doily.


Let your child draw a happy face
(this angel is very happy!)
And wrap a small piece of the 
pipe cleaner for a halo.
You can glue anything shiny or even
glitter, if you dare, for the halo.


Glue the wings to the back
and the head to the front! 
Now your angel is ready to share
the good news:
Jesus is Born!


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

A Manger Scene











When Baby Jesus was born there was no room for Him,
 in an inn, so Mary's baby boy had to sleep in a manger.  
This is an easy craft for your child to make 
his own manger scene.














You'll need a piece of cardstock for a background,
craft sticks, popsicle sticks or coffee stirrers,
a pompom, wiggly eyes, a felt blanket
and some tacky glue.

This is a great craft for kids that love glue.
You have to use lots and that's just fun!

 

Make a nice blob of glue and cross your
craft stick to make a manger.


Cut strips of the brown paper for 
hay. 


Show you child how to fold the strips
like this:


Time for more glue!
It takes a decent amount to catch
all the "hay" to stick.


Glue the wiggly eyes to the pompom
and glue a felt square, or paper, 
for a blanket.


Then let it dry!!! 
Enjoy the Christmas story with your child!