Today's lesson for my 3rd & 4th grade CCD students was on the season of Advent. My kiddos love doing crafts! So I wanted to come up with an inexpensive way that they could each make their own Advent Wreath. So I headed to the Dollar Tree!
You can buy a 2 pack of these floral foam circles for $1. They were the perfect size to make a mini wreath. Using a glass I drew a circle to cut out of the center.
I thought the kids could maybe paint the foam green but felt that would be too much work, too long for dry time and too messy. So instead I bought a huge spool of green ribbon for $1. Using a hot glue gun I glued the start of the ribbon to the foam and then wrapped it all the way around, gluing the end of the ribbon to the foam too.
I also bought evergreen garland for a $1. It was on bendable wire so I cut enough to go around the wreath and then hot glued it
I needed 3 purple and 1 pink candles for the Advent Wreath so I purchased birthday cake candles! Also cheap. I couldn't find purple so I went with the blue/white ones. You just press them into the foam, I took them back out and put some hot glue on them and stuck them back in. And the last final touch, a small red decorative ribbon (18 pack for $1) also hot glued to the foam wreath. And you're done!
My students loved making them! They all did a good job! They took them home with a print out of prayers to pray every week as they lit a candle. (See below)
Blessing
for the Advent Wreath
Heavenly
Father, we look forward to the celebration of Christmas and to
the coming
of the Lord in glory. Bless this Advent wreath and all of us. As
we pray
daily around it, fill us with your life and strengthen us for our daily
tasks. We
ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The First Week of Advent (Sunday
December 2nd ) Light one purple candle
Heavenly
Father, as we begin this Advent, give light to our eyes and peace
to our
hearts. May the Lord find us watching and waiting in joy when He
comes. We
pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
The Second Week of Advent (Sunday
December 9th ) Light two
purple candles
Father in
heaven, set our hearts ablaze to follow in the steps of John the
Baptist. May
we bring light and love to all we meet, that the darkness of
sin and fear
may be overcome. In Christ's name we ask this.
The Third Week of Advent (Sunday December
16th ) Light two purple and one rose candles
As we draw
near to you, Lord God, keep us aware of your presence in all
we do. Come
with power to enlighten us by your grace, that we may live in
praise and
peace all our days. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Fourth Week of Advent (Sunday
December 23rd ) light all four candles
Lord Jesus,
we approach that holy moment when Your coming as man is
renewed in
our hearts. Give us peace and allow us to celebrate Your
presence
with joy, that we may some day share Your glory. We ask this of
You, who
live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, as One God,
now and
forever. Amen.
Christmas Day (Tuesday December 25th
)
light all four candles, you can also
replace with all four white candles.
Father in
heaven, you so loved us that You sent Your Son, among us as
Savior and
Lord. Fill us with Your blessing, that we may grow in love and
continue to
live our Christian faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
2 comments:
Cool! That is an awesome little craft and good reminder for the kids as to what Christmas is really about.
what a lovely idea! So creative.
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