Free Printable Epiphany, Twelfth Night, Three Kings Party Planner

Free Printable Epiphany Party Planner Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day (in southern countries) and Twelfth Night (in northern countries) is the principal gift giving occasion of Christmas in many countries. Why not celebrate an Epiphany party this year. January 6 is the official date of Epiphany, but you could celebrate Twelfth Night as a back to school party. Activities, games, free printable activities, lessons, crafts and recipes to host an Epiphany party at your church or in your home. Read More

Free Printable Angel Crafts, Advent Wreath,

Are you ready for free Advent and Christmas printable crafts like you've never seen before? Then you need to visit The Toymaker right now! This website features free printable Christmas cut and paste crafts, toys, activities and more. Styled with Victorian Dickens England designs and graphics, these printable paper toy crafts are manna for vintage art lovers! Angel retablos, triptych, angel greeting cards, Advent calendar and wreath...These delightful activities are easy enough for children to print, cut, assemble and paste. The images look like they come straight from a Victorian toy shop. I can just imagine Bob Crachit taking Tiny Tim in to see the beautiful toys. free printable Angel crafts, Advent crafts

Free Printable Advent Wreath Craft Activities

Advent is the four-week season before Christmas, celebrated by Catholics, Orthodox and some protestant Christian denominations. Most people think of Advent calendars with candies and treats. But that, like a commercial Christmas, is miles from the real purpose.. Advent is a lesser penitential season, a minor Lent. Christians observe spiritual acts of prayer, fasting and charity. They follow Bible-based Advent calendars and count down to Christmas reflecting on Jesus. One evangelical pastor is pushing protestant churches to celebrate Advent and put Christ back in Christmas, said Time magazine, Dec. 1.

Another practice is the lighting of candles on Advent wreaths. The four candles, three purple or blue, one pink represent expectation of, hope in, joy at and love unending, from the Christ child's birth. The center white one is the Christkindl (Christ candle). Here are free printable Advent wreath crafts children can make to explore those themes. Children might color and make their own Advent wreaths to use as mother and father light the family advent wreath.

Lee Hansen has a simple red and green printable Advent wreath with candles to affix. Catholic Mom, a one-stop resource for family liturgical crafts has free printable Advent wreaths, puzzles, games, Bible lesson plans, mass readings, games and Christmas coloring pages. First-School is another go-to source for Christian crafts. Look here for preschool Advent prinables . There are two sizes of Advent wreaths to print. Free and Fun Christmas has an Advent wreath coloring page to print. Use this for the baby to color in her high chair during prayer time.

Activity Village has a plethora of free printable Advent crafts, including several Advent calendars and wreaths. Use wreaths and calendars together. You might also make a Jesse Tree (here's my article with free printable Jesse Tree ornaments). Each day, children read a scripture passage about the lineage of Jesus. The Jesse Tree is St. Joseph (and Jesus's) family tree. It connects familiar Bible stories and characters to show how Jesus is at the center of it all. Children color ornaments with pictures representing each person (Adam and Eve--apple, Joseph--coat, King David--sheep). These activities give kids' hands-on activities to explore the holy season.

Free Printable Veggie Tales Activities for Easter

 If you like to talk to tomatoes...If a squash can make you smile... have I got some great free printable Veggie Tales coloring activities for you! Veggie Tales tell simple Bible lessons in cute cartoon form. Excellent for CCD and Preschool. Games, party decorations, crafts, cut and paste, greeting cards, room accessories and much more! Free Printable Veggie Tales Coloring Activities

Stations of the Cross Prayer Garden

What better place to pray, meditate and draw near to Our Lord than in a garden? Why not create this lovely devotional prayer garden patterned around the Stations of the Cross? Design easy, inexpensive patio blocks and plant flowers around them. You will have a place of serenity, joy, peace and reverence. Perfect for lent, Easter or any time. What a beautiful place to sip your morning tea and say good morning to the Lord! lenten prayer garden

Stations of the Cross- Art Activities

Stations of the Cross Art Projects using different art media: Clay, watercolors, pastels, carving, mosaics. Perfect green craft for the Lenten and Easter season. stations of the cross art project

Lent Activities-Stations of the Cross- DIY Outdoor Grotto

Here's an easy, interactive lent lesson plan that combines instruction in the Catholic faith with some green recycling activities. Design dioramas from recycled materials around the house. Make a set of dioramas featuring scenes from the Stations of the Cross. Arrange around your yard for an outdoor Via Dolerosa grotto. These make a beautiful devotional garden. Perfect for Catholic school, homeschool or CCD project. outdoor stations of the cross garden

Lent, Holy Week Almsgiving Activities and Lessons

Lenten and Easter Activity that Can Be Adapted for Any School or Group Activity service projects to practice the spiritual exercise of fasting and alms-giving in Lent; great for all students.Prepare personal care kits for needy children in overseas missions. Math, multiplication, division, counting lessons. Social studies lessons. Fine motor skills for small children. Use in schools, homeschool, religious education, CCD, scout troops, social justice committee. Visit this link for information. Lent activities

Ash Wednesday Lenten Almsgiving Service Project Activities

When I homeschooled our children, our Catholic Lenten lesson plans centered on prayer, fasting and almsgiving, in solidarity with the poor and imitation of our Lord Jesus. A favorite Lenten service project was to help with church missions for our twin parish in Haiti. Here's a Lenten almsgiving service project. 

Make personal care kits and school supplies kits for those in need. Fill gallon size zippered plastic bags with hygiene products. Discuss needs. Do they require certain hair care products or weather-related items (sunscreen, hand warmers)? If they lack water, how will that affect the products you send? What products are most necessary and useful? What items will break or spill? What might not get through customs? What items will expire (medicine)? Then, buy these basic supplies: bar of soap, washcloth (items can be wrapped in this for travel), brush, comb, tissues, socks, hair bands, lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, small towel, bandages. 

Make school kits: buy pencils, pencil sharpener, paper, notepads, notebooks, scissors, tape, glue stick, solar calculator, colored pencils, crayons, ruler, protractor, markers, folder. Package items in inexpensive backpack. Teach time and money math. Have students make lists, plan shopping, organize time, read maps, plan routes and coordinate trips. 

Teach students to compare prices, read ads, do the math on bulk purchases, figure sales and percentage discounts, calculate tax, use coupons and budget. Make several kits. Teach story problems with multiplication, division, money, fractions. Ask questions like "if one toothbrush costs $.79, how many do 6 cost?" 

Teach ecology, recycling and environmental science. Have children remove packaging: boxes, plastic wrapping, inserts before bagging items. Sort and recycle. Explain that extra packaging cost more. Wrap items in reusable things: washcloth, bandanna, socks, towel, to prevent breakage. 

Students learn social studies, geography, history and earth science. As you assemble kits, discuss countries where the kits will be sent. Locate on the globe. Explore the country's resources, agriculture, climate, terrain, history. Consider factors leading to poverty: water sources, weather, drought, sanitation, war, governmental policies, military coups. Discuss what the needs are and why. Teach empathy, by helping children understand how much they have compared to many around the world. Now celebrate. Explore customs, foods, religion, traditions, mores. Sample regional foods. Listen to local music. Make native crafts