Free American History Activities, Games for Catholic School

I'm a teacher, homeschooler veteran and history re-
enactor. I teach a 1700s-era dame school (here's a model one at Thursley in Surrey, England) at our local history museum "Feast of the Strawberry Moon" encampment. Here are hands-on history crafts and free printables. Use for camping or 4th of July activities. I'm including this on my Catholic Activities blog because education many parts of the U.S. was done by religieuse--Jesuits, Franciscans. Here are lessons to teach Catholic kids about how their faith was promulgated and schools begun. Free History Activities, Games, Printables, Crafts- Colonial America

Free Printable Bible Craft Activities for Vacation Bible School, CCD

 I've written articles about free printable Bible, Sunday School and VBS coloring pages. In this article I've linked to several websites with free printable craft activities. Perhaps you want something more than just coloring pages for your Sunday School, Religious Education, CCD, VBS, Christian School or homeschool? Free printable paper crafts can be very interactive. Children get to cut, assemble, paste, color and fold. All these activities are hands-on and lots of fun. Here is a list of links that will take you directly to the websites. Browse the selection to find the free printable crafts that will suit your lessons. You can find all sorts of Christian and Bible themes: Old Testament, New Testament, holy days, angels, virtues, scripture verses and much more. These sites have free printable board games, puzzles, paper dolls and craft activities galore! Read more at Free Printable Bible Craft Activities

Mother's Day Activities for Moms Who Have Lost Children

Mother's Day is a favorite holiday for me. I have four lovely kids and my mother, step mother and mother-in-law. Mother's Day can be bittersweet for kids who have lost moms. And what about the mother who has lost a child? Mother's Day may just be bitter. Here are ways to acknowledge Mother's Day (or just survive) if you or someone you love has lost a child.

I'm a mom to six, four living children and two baby daughters in heaven. We lost both children in nearly third trimester losses. Both could have survived if they had made it a few more weeks. Our physicians made mistakes in both cases that could have prevented their deaths. We not only had our grief to cope with, but anger also.  Read on
Mother's Day Activities for Moms Who Have Lost Children 

Single and Celibate: Choosing Agape over Romantic Love

I wrote this article about ways to survive Valentine's Day single. Then I realized it applies, year-round, especially for single, celibate Catholics and even priests, nuns and religious. Whether you're single by choice, from lack of love opportunities, or you were in a relationship or marriage that crumbled, these tips are for you. This article will help those who identify as gay who choose abstinence  You need emotional support to stick to those celibacy vows just as heterosexuals do. This article can help. How do you celebrate (or just survive) a day devoted to romantic love when you're not in a romance? Here are tips. Oh, and pray to saints known for their chastity: St. Philomena and St. Maria Goretti and the little saint enshrined at Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Indiana. I can't remember her name, but she was martyred for her piety.Celebrate (or Just Survive) Valentine's Day when You're Single

Free Printable Divine Mercy Sunday, Chaplet of Divine Mercy Activities

Easter is about the Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And the first Sunday following Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday, when a Polish nun St. Faustina Kowalska was given the image of Divine Mercy by Our Lord. She drew the icon as Jesus instructed her to. And we honor her obedience and Jesus's gift of Himself on this day. Here are free printable stations of the cross, rosary, saints and Easter bible story coloring pages. Use these for Divine Mercy Sunday. Here's a link to Saint Faustina for Kids website with more activities.  This article has printable activities, prayers and devotions around the rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, and "Way of the Cross" or Stations of the Cross.  Free Printable Lent and Catholic Easter Coloring Pages

Cheap, Homemade, Safe Easter Egg Dyeing, Recycled Decorations

Waited till the last minute to buy Easter egg dyeing kits for the kids? Now you have to pull a rabbit out of a hat (pun intended) and come up with your own egg decorations. Take it from this mom of four--been there, done that. Never fear--super DIY mom is here! Here are homemade Easter egg decorations using recycled and on-hand materials. And best of all--they're cheaper and safer than store-bought egg coloring kits!  Cheap, Homemade, Safe Easter Egg Dyeing, Recycled Decorations

Free Printable Catholic Easter Coloring Pages

Easter for Catholics isn't just about candy and bunnies. It's about the Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here are free printable stations of the cross, rosary, saints and Easter bible story coloring pages.
The Catholic and Orthodox churches, and some protestant Christian churches, observe the season of Lent for forty days before Easter. Lent "follows" Jesus's during forty days of fasting in the desert when He was tempted by Satan. in preparation for His sacrifice on the cross. During Lent, we pray, fast and do acts of mercy, almsgiving and penance to imitate Jesus. We follow the "Way of the Cross" or Stations of the Cross and pray the rosary.  Free Printable Lent and Catholic Easter Coloring Pages

Farewell to the Flesh Meatless Lenten Recipes

I started dieting 18 months ago. I wanted to lose weight and develop healthier eating. Initially I ate a vegan-vegetarian diet. Since then, I've tweaked my protein intake to include healthier meats and protein sources. Using these food switches, I 've cut out roughly 1,000 calories a day. Use these meat and fish food swaps for lent when we say "farewell to the flesh!"  Protein, Meat Food Swaps to Cut Calories

Valentine Crafts for Catholics, Orthodox, Byzantine: Mosaics

Coming back to school in January after holiday can be pretty dreary especially when the weather is wet and cold and the days are shorter. It's difficult to keep educational momentum, whether in public, Catholic or home school. Start the New year off with an engaging, interactive unit: mosaics. Perfect for Valentine's Day, too! Robert Sabuda's book "Saint Valentine" shown left, uses mosaics in the lovely illustrations. Teach mosaics to all ages and across the curriculum. Mosaics are an art form in which murals are made using tiny tiles or pieces of paper cut in geometric shapes to create a picture. Mosaics are Persian in origin and are often seen in Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Byzantine and Orthodox traditions use mosaics. Here are lesson plans.  Social Studies, Math, Art and Valentine's Day Unit: Mosaics

Help Kids Choose What to Give Up for Lent

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday--on February 11 in 2013. In the Catholic church, Ash Wednesday kicks off this most holy, penitential season. Some folks, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, think its about giving up meat or sweets. It's about giving up bad habits to be sure, but there's more. During Lent, we fast, pray and give alms to the needy, to prepare our hearts for Easter Sunday. Whether you're Catholic or not, there's a lot to be learned from these disciplines, especially for children. Here are tips to teach children about healthy Lenten fasting. Teaching Kids Why We Fast and What to Give up for Lent

Teaching Kids About Lenten Fasting

In the Catholic church, Ash Wednesday kicks off the penitential season of Lent. During Lent, we fast, pray and give alms to the needy, to prepare our hearts for Easter Sunday. Whether you're Catholic or not, there's a lot to be learned from these disciplines, especially for children. Here are tips to teach children about Lenten fasting. This Q-and-A guide will also help non-Catholic children understand what their Catholic classmates are doing and why.  Teaching Children About Lent and Fasting