This month's GIFT topic, "The Life of Jesus," presented a challenge. It's a pretty big topic, and I knew I couldn't spend a lot of time babbling away at the front of the room. So we tried something new. Families moved from table to table, "walking through" different parts of Jesus' life. One brave parent at each table took on the job of "Table Leader" - reading the instructions and leading discussions at each rotation. Our 4 learning stations were:
1. The birth and childhood of Jesus
2. The Baptism of Jesus and his Temptation in the desert
3. The Calling of the first disciples and the Beatitudes
4. The Miracles of Jesus, including his Resurrection
For those who missed the session or for my Faith Formation colleagues, there are pdf links at the bottom of this page to the various handouts as well as the Table Leader instruction packets. For those who were there...
Now your child knows everything about the life of Jesus, right?
Of course not. Remember, I have my own child in GIFT. He not only attends his own session, but he's usually around at all four each month. And trust me, he does not know everything about the life of Jesus - not even everything we "learned" at GIFT this month. However, he learns a little bit more every year, and with some prompting, he can recall not only things we've done at GIFT, but a little of why we did them and what we learned. This is the beauty of family-based formation - you are there, so you can reinforce what was taught just by chatting with your child. Here are some specific ideas for how you can help children of various ages get to know Jesus a little better...
First Grade: Children in first grade are learning how to do more things on their own and be responsible for their relationships, so it's great to remind them to think about treating others the way Jesus would. They also like to tell stories about other children who act up or "get in trouble" at school. It's OK to say something like, "that doesn't sound like very nice behavior." But I also like to go a little further and ask, "Why do you think that child acted that way?" or "How do you think that made the other child feel?" This helps children develop a sense of empathy - thinking about someone else's feelings rather than just their own. First graders are also developing their reading skills, and I'm sure your child's teacher has asked you to read at home every day. We have some great books about Jesus, the Bible, Saints, and values in our library here at the church.
Second Grade: If your child is preparing for Sacraments this year, the best thing you can do is to bring faith into your everyday occurrences. Right now, as we prepare for Reconciliation, focus on forgiveness and following rules. Point out how behaviors - both positive and negative - affect relationships. Your child is probably able to read their GIFT lessons more independently now, but don't be tempted to completely disengage. Remember that you can't reinforce a lesson if you don't know the content of it. When you read Bible stories and parables with your child, try to think of situations you've experienced that are similar. For example, when reading about the Good Samaritan or loving your enemies, you could ask your child what he/she would do if their best friend were hurt. Then, ask what they would do if someone they've expressed dislike for (a neighborhood bully, for example) were hurt. If it's not the same answer, you have a teachable moment!
Third Grade: My third grader likes to talk, which has led to some great conversations about faith and values. He also likes to get things right, so if I quiz him about something we talked about at GIFT or read in his textbook, he usually views it as a fun game and plays along. But he can be moodier now than he used to be, so I choose my moments and back off if it's not the right time. One thing I have found is that when we're doing his book lessons, he just wants to do what's there on the page and take the quiz - he doesn't like me to get too "teacher-ish" with him. But later, I can refer to something we read and open up a conversation, and he's much more open to it. This works especially well in the car, probably because he doesn't have much of anything else to do! My daughter, on the other hand, became very stressed out about school and friendships when she was in third grade. I have read that this is not unusual. if your child is experiencing a lot of stress, try focusing on prayer as a way to find comfort and work through their feelings. Don't add to their stress by expecting them to do a lot of memorizing - they have a lifetime of faith formation ahead of them!
Fourth Grade: If your expectations of your fourth grader stem from your own memories of that age, you could be in trouble! It's sometimes shocking to parents how much their fourth grader starts acting more like a teen. They may become much more concerned about what they're wearing and how they look. If you say no to wearing makeup to school or jeans that expose large portions of boxer shorts, you may be declared the meanest or strictest or lamest parent ever. You're not. Now is the time to know what your expectations for behavior are and to make those expectations clear. You do not need to give your child a reason for every rule - my kids have definitely heard, "because I'm the mom" or "because I said so" plenty of times. But you should have a reason, even if you don't choose to share it. In other words, know your own values, so that you can better share them with your child. Remember the old phrase, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." This might also be a good time to help your child find things to stand for. Get involved in service and social justice. Pre-teens are naturally focused on themselves - how do I fit in, how do others see me...me, me me. Taking time to help others provides a little balance.
ALL Grades: 3 words - Go. To. Church. Regularly getting your familys' buns in the pews for Mass may be challenging, but it clearly sends the message to your children that you are, in fact, Catholic Christians and that faith is a part of your regular routine.
For more about grade-by-grade development, check out http://www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/
Documents from November GIFT:
Learning Station One
Learning Station 2
Learning Station 3
Learning Station 4
Beatitudes for Children
When Jesus Was Your Age
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
GIFT Kicks Off
Our October GIFT sessions are always ambitious. With only one session per month, I can't afford to commit the entire time just to introducing our theme. So in 90 minutes, I need to welcome newcomers, establish the theme, and do a lesson on the monthly topic. We did accomplish those things, I think, but I'd like to take this opportunity to go just a little deeper with each of those goals.
Welcoming Newcomers
If you are a parent new to the GIFT program, welcome! I hope you enjoyed our first session. Taking the children out to prepare something for the parents is not a common thing for me to do, and doing it on the first day was a little risky. But the children did a great job, and hopefully it helped them to feel more comfortable with me. I also hope that it gave you a chance to talk with some other GIFT parents. One of my goals for this year is to establish a sense of community and connection within our program; I'd like to see both kids and parents make a few new "church friends!"
Our Theme
Our "Catch the Spirit" theme allows many opportunities for parents to bring the faith conversation into everyday life. So many of us have children who play sports, watch sports, or both. Even if your child isn't a fan, they have played sports in school gym class and understand the concept of a team. Take note of teachable moments that offer a chance to talk about team work, attitude, sharing, fairness, and being a good sport (even if someone else isn't). Talk about your family as a team, as well. A few years ago when the movie "High School Musical" was popular, we started our GIFT year with the song, "We're All In This Together" - the perfect theme song for families!
Creation and the Bible
If you were surprised to learn that there's more than one Creation story in Genesis, or if the concept of Biblical Myth was news to you, it may be time to start reading the Bible (gasp!). As Catholics, many of us grew up without much emphasis on scripture outside of Mass, and I find that a lot of adults who attend Mass regularly are still unfamiliar with many of our rich biblical stories and characters. But before you dig up the Bible you received for your Confirmation in 1980-something, let me suggest something a little more recent. There are all sorts of great study Bibles out there. Getting a specifically Catholic one is a great idea, because the notes and study guides will help you understand our Church doctrine and Tradition. Personally, I like the Catholic Youth Bible from St. Mary's Press. Although it's meant for teens, I find it informative and easy to read. SMP also publishes the "Break Through" Bible that we use at GIFT. This is great for children, but I find it a little too watered down for my own use. If you'd like to start getting into scripture, I suggest a trip to Holy Cross bookstore in Lakeville. It's a Catholic store, and they can help you find the Bible that's right for you.
Not there yet? If you're like many parents who have not been super active in the Church and are coming back primarily because of your children, start with Mass. I know it's not always easy to get there. I freely admit my family misses a weekend here and there. But the more you can come, the more you will learn and grow in your own faith, which will definitely make a difference in your child's experience of faith. My kids have never thanked me for taking them to Mass. They complain about being bored. But some day, I know they will be feeling lost, and hopefully they will find themselves in a church, and it will feel familiar and safe to them - it will feel like home.
About Our "Safety Play"
Below are the safety topics we will be covering at our GIFT Sessions. When presenting the topics, I will keep my comments as general as possible while still getting to the main point. I hope you will take some time to discuss the topics further with your child after each session.
Nov: "Coaches & Assistants" - we will talk about the adults in our life who are in charge, following rules, asking first, and what to do if you have a problem with an adult who is in charge. Parents will receive booklets written for children about abuse. You will be able to read the pamphlet and share it with your child at home as you deem appropriate.
Jan: "Protective Gear" - we'll talk about our bodies as gifts from God, that some parts of our bodies are private, and what to do if someone shows disrespect for our bodies.
Feb: "Practice Makes Perfect" - we'll practice talking with our parents about difficult things.
March: "Can a Team Have Secrets?" - we'll learn the difference between good secrets and harmful secrets.
If you have any questions about the GIFT program, please feel free to contact me at desire.sobeich@risensavior.org.
Welcoming Newcomers
If you are a parent new to the GIFT program, welcome! I hope you enjoyed our first session. Taking the children out to prepare something for the parents is not a common thing for me to do, and doing it on the first day was a little risky. But the children did a great job, and hopefully it helped them to feel more comfortable with me. I also hope that it gave you a chance to talk with some other GIFT parents. One of my goals for this year is to establish a sense of community and connection within our program; I'd like to see both kids and parents make a few new "church friends!"
Our Theme
Our "Catch the Spirit" theme allows many opportunities for parents to bring the faith conversation into everyday life. So many of us have children who play sports, watch sports, or both. Even if your child isn't a fan, they have played sports in school gym class and understand the concept of a team. Take note of teachable moments that offer a chance to talk about team work, attitude, sharing, fairness, and being a good sport (even if someone else isn't). Talk about your family as a team, as well. A few years ago when the movie "High School Musical" was popular, we started our GIFT year with the song, "We're All In This Together" - the perfect theme song for families!
Creation and the Bible
If you were surprised to learn that there's more than one Creation story in Genesis, or if the concept of Biblical Myth was news to you, it may be time to start reading the Bible (gasp!). As Catholics, many of us grew up without much emphasis on scripture outside of Mass, and I find that a lot of adults who attend Mass regularly are still unfamiliar with many of our rich biblical stories and characters. But before you dig up the Bible you received for your Confirmation in 1980-something, let me suggest something a little more recent. There are all sorts of great study Bibles out there. Getting a specifically Catholic one is a great idea, because the notes and study guides will help you understand our Church doctrine and Tradition. Personally, I like the Catholic Youth Bible from St. Mary's Press. Although it's meant for teens, I find it informative and easy to read. SMP also publishes the "Break Through" Bible that we use at GIFT. This is great for children, but I find it a little too watered down for my own use. If you'd like to start getting into scripture, I suggest a trip to Holy Cross bookstore in Lakeville. It's a Catholic store, and they can help you find the Bible that's right for you.
Not there yet? If you're like many parents who have not been super active in the Church and are coming back primarily because of your children, start with Mass. I know it's not always easy to get there. I freely admit my family misses a weekend here and there. But the more you can come, the more you will learn and grow in your own faith, which will definitely make a difference in your child's experience of faith. My kids have never thanked me for taking them to Mass. They complain about being bored. But some day, I know they will be feeling lost, and hopefully they will find themselves in a church, and it will feel familiar and safe to them - it will feel like home.
About Our "Safety Play"
Below are the safety topics we will be covering at our GIFT Sessions. When presenting the topics, I will keep my comments as general as possible while still getting to the main point. I hope you will take some time to discuss the topics further with your child after each session.
Nov: "Coaches & Assistants" - we will talk about the adults in our life who are in charge, following rules, asking first, and what to do if you have a problem with an adult who is in charge. Parents will receive booklets written for children about abuse. You will be able to read the pamphlet and share it with your child at home as you deem appropriate.
Jan: "Protective Gear" - we'll talk about our bodies as gifts from God, that some parts of our bodies are private, and what to do if someone shows disrespect for our bodies.
Feb: "Practice Makes Perfect" - we'll practice talking with our parents about difficult things.
March: "Can a Team Have Secrets?" - we'll learn the difference between good secrets and harmful secrets.
If you have any questions about the GIFT program, please feel free to contact me at desire.sobeich@risensavior.org.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Coach God?
The theme for our G.I.F.T. program this year is, "Catch the Spirit!" I chose this theme three years ago, when laying out a four-year cycle for our curriculum. At the time, I just thought a sports theme would be fun and easy, and I liked the play on the word "spirit." With the kids, we'll talk about being a part of a team - working together, cheering each other on, and so forth. But as a parent, thinking about this theme has me looking at sports in a whole new way.
My son, who is eight, has just started playing football through our city's athletic association. He has played some other sports over the past few years - baseball, basketball, and even a season of track. In those sports, I noticed the occasional over-the-top parent or coach, but for the most part everyone was there to learn and to have fun. In football, however, even in third grade there is already a much stronger emphasis on competition and winning, and there seems to be a lot more yelling. I've been to a few games, and it is not unusual to see a coach go a little red in the face and yell, "What were you thinking?!" or, "What are you doin' out there?!" I cringe at that sort of behavior, and I was happy to hear my son say after one of his games, "I'm glad our coaches don't scream at us like that!" This is certainly not what I was thinking when I came up with "Catch the Spirit" as a faith formation theme. But it did inspire me to ask myself (and now you):
What kind of coach would God be?
There was an episode on the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" in which one of the characters - a kindergarten teacher - was given the job of coaching a pee-wee basketball team. Her style of coaching was to play a guitar and sing songs about being OK just the way you are while the children ran around the gym in chaos. She brought in her boyfriend to help, and his style was of the yelling and intimidating variety. In the end, neither of their approaches proved very effective. After seeing different styles of coaching in our football program, it occurred to me that most of us, as adults, would probably associate God with a particular type of coach, based on the way we were raised. So what is your image of God? If you picture God as a coach, do you see a guitar player, a yeller, or something else entirely? Is the image that comes to your mind the one you want to share with your children?
In the book Sacred Hoops, NBA coach Phil Jackson writes, "...the only way to win consistently was to give everybody - from the stars to the number 12 player on the bench - a vital role on the team, and inspire them to be acutely aware of what was happening, even when the spotlight was on somebody else." I think Phil may have taken his coaching cues from Jesus himself. After all, the New Testament is filled with examples of Jesus meeting his followers where they were, drawing out their gifts, and inspiring them to live for something bigger than themselves. This is the kind of coach that I think God would be. This is the kind of parent I want to be. This is the spirit I carry into a new G.I.F.T. year!
My son, who is eight, has just started playing football through our city's athletic association. He has played some other sports over the past few years - baseball, basketball, and even a season of track. In those sports, I noticed the occasional over-the-top parent or coach, but for the most part everyone was there to learn and to have fun. In football, however, even in third grade there is already a much stronger emphasis on competition and winning, and there seems to be a lot more yelling. I've been to a few games, and it is not unusual to see a coach go a little red in the face and yell, "What were you thinking?!" or, "What are you doin' out there?!" I cringe at that sort of behavior, and I was happy to hear my son say after one of his games, "I'm glad our coaches don't scream at us like that!" This is certainly not what I was thinking when I came up with "Catch the Spirit" as a faith formation theme. But it did inspire me to ask myself (and now you):
What kind of coach would God be?
There was an episode on the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" in which one of the characters - a kindergarten teacher - was given the job of coaching a pee-wee basketball team. Her style of coaching was to play a guitar and sing songs about being OK just the way you are while the children ran around the gym in chaos. She brought in her boyfriend to help, and his style was of the yelling and intimidating variety. In the end, neither of their approaches proved very effective. After seeing different styles of coaching in our football program, it occurred to me that most of us, as adults, would probably associate God with a particular type of coach, based on the way we were raised. So what is your image of God? If you picture God as a coach, do you see a guitar player, a yeller, or something else entirely? Is the image that comes to your mind the one you want to share with your children?
In the book Sacred Hoops, NBA coach Phil Jackson writes, "...the only way to win consistently was to give everybody - from the stars to the number 12 player on the bench - a vital role on the team, and inspire them to be acutely aware of what was happening, even when the spotlight was on somebody else." I think Phil may have taken his coaching cues from Jesus himself. After all, the New Testament is filled with examples of Jesus meeting his followers where they were, drawing out their gifts, and inspiring them to live for something bigger than themselves. This is the kind of coach that I think God would be. This is the kind of parent I want to be. This is the spirit I carry into a new G.I.F.T. year!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Survey Says...
Our GIFT Program has wrapped up until fall. I hadn't done an official evaluation last year, so it was time to bring it back. In the interest of "transparency" - the latest political catch-phrase - here are the basic results:
Rating System:
We used a 5-pt system, with 1 being "poor or never," 2 being "below average or rarely", 3 being "average or sometimes", 4 being above average or often, and 5 being "excellent or almost always"
Part One: At-Home Portion
1. How often did you do the at-home lessons?
Most common answer was 5 - 44 out of 93 responses
Average was 4.06
2. Do you feel that your child learned well from the at-home sessions?
Most common answer was 4 - 34 out of 93 responses
Average was 3.78
3. How easy did you feel it was, as a parent, to follow the textbook?
Most common answer was 4 - 41 out of 92 responses
Average was 4.18
4. How often did you read "Partners In Faith" for parents?
Most common answer was 5 - 35 of 93 responses
Average was 3.74
5. How would you rate the content of "Partners in Faith"?
Most common answer was 4 - 42 of 87 responses
Average was 3.85
6. Ask your child/ren to rate how she/he/they felt about the at-home lessons in general.
Most common answer was 3 - 38 of 88 responses
Average was 3.52
7. How often did you access the Risen Savior website for program information?
Most common answer was 3 - 29 of 92 responses
Average was 2.89
8. How often did you access the Faith First website for games, etc?
Most common answer was 3 - 32 of 93 responses
Average was 2.77
Comments:
I did not get a lot of comments on the at-home piece. A few people did say that the books were easy to follow. Some wished that the at-church topics related more directly to the at-home lessons. "Veteran" parents appreciated that the homework was assigned with dates this year - specific chapters assigned for specific weeks - rather than just a list of chapters to complete between at-church sessions.
Part Two: At-Church Sessions
1. How often did you attend the monthly at-church sessions?
Most common answer was 5 - 78 of 93 responses
Average was 4.77
2. In general, how meaningful or effective were the sessions for your child?
Most common answer was 5 - 39 of 92 responses
Average was 4.20
3. In general, how meaningful or effective were the sessions for you as a parent?
Most common answer was 4 - 38 of 91 responses
Average was 4.21
4. How would you & your child rate the presentation of monthly topics?
Most common answer was 5 - 47 of 93 responses
Average was 4.38
5. How would you & your child rate the prayer experiences?
Most common answer was 4 - 43 of 93 responses
Average was 4.16
6. How would you & your child rate the crafts & activities?
Most common answer was 5 - 47 of 90 responses
Average was 4.30
7. How helpful did you find the monthly "GIFT Rap" newsletter for parents?
Most common answer was 5 - 41of 93 responses
Average was 4.24
8. How motivated was your child to gather tickets & get prizes from the Treat Tray?
Most common answer was 5 - 54 of 93 responses
Average was 4.31
Comments:
The 4:30pm Wednesday group commented a few times on snack - the timing of this session makes snacks an issue for some families, as it is right before dinner.
I did get a few comments about the crafts being too complicated or just too pervasive. This is a weakness of mine; I sometimes forget that not all children respond to crafts enthusiastically. I will definitely reign myself in next year!
As always, I got a number of very positive comments from parents about how much they have learned while doing the GIFT program with their children. This is one of my favorite things about family-based Faith Formation - it truly supports life-long growing and learning!
A few people mentioned they would like to meet at-church more often. Though this is not in the works for 2011/2012, one never knows where the spirit will lead us in the future!
I would like to thank all of the parents who took time to answer the survey. I really do look at these when planning for the future. For any colleagues out there who would like to know more about what we do at GIFT, please leave a comment, and I would be happy to contact you!
Until Fall...
-Dez
Rating System:
We used a 5-pt system, with 1 being "poor or never," 2 being "below average or rarely", 3 being "average or sometimes", 4 being above average or often, and 5 being "excellent or almost always"
Part One: At-Home Portion
1. How often did you do the at-home lessons?
Most common answer was 5 - 44 out of 93 responses
Average was 4.06
2. Do you feel that your child learned well from the at-home sessions?
Most common answer was 4 - 34 out of 93 responses
Average was 3.78
3. How easy did you feel it was, as a parent, to follow the textbook?
Most common answer was 4 - 41 out of 92 responses
Average was 4.18
4. How often did you read "Partners In Faith" for parents?
Most common answer was 5 - 35 of 93 responses
Average was 3.74
5. How would you rate the content of "Partners in Faith"?
Most common answer was 4 - 42 of 87 responses
Average was 3.85
6. Ask your child/ren to rate how she/he/they felt about the at-home lessons in general.
Most common answer was 3 - 38 of 88 responses
Average was 3.52
7. How often did you access the Risen Savior website for program information?
Most common answer was 3 - 29 of 92 responses
Average was 2.89
8. How often did you access the Faith First website for games, etc?
Most common answer was 3 - 32 of 93 responses
Average was 2.77
Comments:
I did not get a lot of comments on the at-home piece. A few people did say that the books were easy to follow. Some wished that the at-church topics related more directly to the at-home lessons. "Veteran" parents appreciated that the homework was assigned with dates this year - specific chapters assigned for specific weeks - rather than just a list of chapters to complete between at-church sessions.
Part Two: At-Church Sessions
1. How often did you attend the monthly at-church sessions?
Most common answer was 5 - 78 of 93 responses
Average was 4.77
2. In general, how meaningful or effective were the sessions for your child?
Most common answer was 5 - 39 of 92 responses
Average was 4.20
3. In general, how meaningful or effective were the sessions for you as a parent?
Most common answer was 4 - 38 of 91 responses
Average was 4.21
4. How would you & your child rate the presentation of monthly topics?
Most common answer was 5 - 47 of 93 responses
Average was 4.38
5. How would you & your child rate the prayer experiences?
Most common answer was 4 - 43 of 93 responses
Average was 4.16
6. How would you & your child rate the crafts & activities?
Most common answer was 5 - 47 of 90 responses
Average was 4.30
7. How helpful did you find the monthly "GIFT Rap" newsletter for parents?
Most common answer was 5 - 41of 93 responses
Average was 4.24
8. How motivated was your child to gather tickets & get prizes from the Treat Tray?
Most common answer was 5 - 54 of 93 responses
Average was 4.31
Comments:
The 4:30pm Wednesday group commented a few times on snack - the timing of this session makes snacks an issue for some families, as it is right before dinner.
I did get a few comments about the crafts being too complicated or just too pervasive. This is a weakness of mine; I sometimes forget that not all children respond to crafts enthusiastically. I will definitely reign myself in next year!
As always, I got a number of very positive comments from parents about how much they have learned while doing the GIFT program with their children. This is one of my favorite things about family-based Faith Formation - it truly supports life-long growing and learning!
A few people mentioned they would like to meet at-church more often. Though this is not in the works for 2011/2012, one never knows where the spirit will lead us in the future!
I would like to thank all of the parents who took time to answer the survey. I really do look at these when planning for the future. For any colleagues out there who would like to know more about what we do at GIFT, please leave a comment, and I would be happy to contact you!
Until Fall...
-Dez
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Hands-On Stations Project for Kids
Stations of the Cross Symbol Book
Page Two Symbol: Cross made from toothpicks & hemp cord ("twine") - photo above
Pages Three, Seven, & Nine Symbol: "Path" cut from Sandpaper (kids make all 3 of these at once - 1 for each time Jesus falls)
Page Four Symbol: A "shrine" for Mary colored & cut out (click words for pdf)
Page Five Symbol: Child's hand traced, with something written on each finger
Page Six Symbol: Piece of muslin w/ Jesus' face traced on it - photo above
Page Eight Symbol: Teardrop (we cut ours from shiny blue self-stick paper)
Page Ten Symbol: Clothes hanger made from aluminum foil - photo above
Page Eleven Symbol: Variety of hearts and love messages stamped in red
Page Twelve Symbol: Black felt "ripped" (actually cut) in 1/2
Page Thirteen Symbol: Pictures from magazines of people in community
Page Fourteen Symbol: White paper cut into stone shape, then rubbed w/ oil pastels w/ texture underneath to create a paper "rock"
Page Fifteen (Easter) Symbol: Butterfly made from tissue & pipe cleaner stem
Page Sixteen (Ascension) Symbol: Picture of Jesus with clouds and "sunbursts" cut from construction paper - photo above
This was our GIFT project for March. It's a variation on something I wrote years ago for Christian Beginnings Volume 3 (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing). It's more involved and time-consuming than most of our projects, but I think it's worth the extra effort. Our topic was the Paschal Mystery, so our books contained 16 pages - all 14 Stations of the Cross along with Easter and Ascension. What I love about the booklet is that the simple language and ties to children's daily lives make this heavy subject accessible and age-appropriate. I think it could easily be tweaked to work for middle school/ junior high as well.
First, here are a few photos of pages from the sample project:
As you can see, each page was 1/2 sheet of card-stock pre-printed with the text. The children then created the artwork for each page at different tables around the room. Since I work with large groups, I had 8 tables with 2 projects at each table, and each table could accommodate about 6 kids at a time with the parents standing behind and helping them. When all 16 pages were done, they put them in order, used a standard hole-punch to make 2 holes on the left side of each page, and used a pipe cleaner cut into 2 pieces to loop them together. If you are working with a smaller group, or are a GIFT parent re-creating this project at home, you may find it easier to pre-punch the holes to line up properly.
Click on the links below to get the PDF's of the pages (2 booklet pages per sheet)
Here is description of the symbol created for each page. Feel free to use this, change it, work with whatever materials you have on hand...
Page One Symbol: Scroll made w/ straws & paper - says, "Love one another."
Page Two Symbol: Cross made from toothpicks & hemp cord ("twine") - photo above
Pages Three, Seven, & Nine Symbol: "Path" cut from Sandpaper (kids make all 3 of these at once - 1 for each time Jesus falls)
Page Four Symbol: A "shrine" for Mary colored & cut out (click words for pdf)
Page Five Symbol: Child's hand traced, with something written on each finger
Page Six Symbol: Piece of muslin w/ Jesus' face traced on it - photo above
Page Eight Symbol: Teardrop (we cut ours from shiny blue self-stick paper)
Page Ten Symbol: Clothes hanger made from aluminum foil - photo above
Page Eleven Symbol: Variety of hearts and love messages stamped in red
Page Twelve Symbol: Black felt "ripped" (actually cut) in 1/2
Page Thirteen Symbol: Pictures from magazines of people in community
Page Fourteen Symbol: White paper cut into stone shape, then rubbed w/ oil pastels w/ texture underneath to create a paper "rock"
Page Fifteen (Easter) Symbol: Butterfly made from tissue & pipe cleaner stem
Page Sixteen (Ascension) Symbol: Picture of Jesus with clouds and "sunbursts" cut from construction paper - photo above
Thursday, January 20, 2011
January GIFT: Forgiveness Stories
This month we learned about 3 forgiveness parables told by Jesus. As the kids came into the room, they were asked to count how many sheep were in our "pasture." These were simply sheep clip art I had printed, cut out, and glued to green poster board. (Actually, my 12-year-old did the cutting & pasting!) When we started the session, I asked the kids how many sheep they had counted. The answers varied from 72-103. The correct answer was 99.
This led us into the story of the Lost Sheep, and after telling the story, I played a game with the kids. The child who was first to give me the correct answer of how many sheep were in our field became my volunteer. I asked the volunteer to leave the room, and I showed the rest of the children and parents where the "lost sheep" was hidden. When the volunteer came back, he stood at the back of the room, and I explained the game. When he moved, we would clap if he were going in the right direction, and stop clapping if he made a wrong turn. When he got very close, we would add cheering. This "hot and cold" guidance eventually led the volunteer to find out lost sheep, and it made all of the kids feel a part of the game. (Remember I have about 40-50 kids and parents at each session)
After the game, I went on to share 2 other parables, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son (stopping at the point where the son comes home; we didn't get into the jealous brother). I was sure to include the celebrations at the end of each story. Then, I talked about what the parables meant, and how being lost was a symbol of sinning or turning from God. We talked about how the Prodigal Son thought he had lost everything and had nothing, but he discovered he had never lost his father's love. This of course was Jesus' way of saying we never lose the love of God our Father!
Lastly, I came back to the idea of celebration and tied that into the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which our families have the opportunity to partake in later this month.
For Art & Snack, we celebrated God's forgiveness with Rice Krispie Treats (a fairly allergy-safe party-type food) whole making "Parable Story Boxes." The boxes were from a suitcase craft from Guildcraft arts & crafts. Each child received story cards and activity or prayer ideas for each of the 3 parables we discussed. Click here for a PDF of the cards. Each parable also had a symbol in the box: a sheep that the children made, a plastic coin, and an empty pouch (also from Guildcraft).
GIFT Parents who missed this session can pick up the Story Box materials at our February GIFT session.
This led us into the story of the Lost Sheep, and after telling the story, I played a game with the kids. The child who was first to give me the correct answer of how many sheep were in our field became my volunteer. I asked the volunteer to leave the room, and I showed the rest of the children and parents where the "lost sheep" was hidden. When the volunteer came back, he stood at the back of the room, and I explained the game. When he moved, we would clap if he were going in the right direction, and stop clapping if he made a wrong turn. When he got very close, we would add cheering. This "hot and cold" guidance eventually led the volunteer to find out lost sheep, and it made all of the kids feel a part of the game. (Remember I have about 40-50 kids and parents at each session)
After the game, I went on to share 2 other parables, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son (stopping at the point where the son comes home; we didn't get into the jealous brother). I was sure to include the celebrations at the end of each story. Then, I talked about what the parables meant, and how being lost was a symbol of sinning or turning from God. We talked about how the Prodigal Son thought he had lost everything and had nothing, but he discovered he had never lost his father's love. This of course was Jesus' way of saying we never lose the love of God our Father!
Lastly, I came back to the idea of celebration and tied that into the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which our families have the opportunity to partake in later this month.
For Art & Snack, we celebrated God's forgiveness with Rice Krispie Treats (a fairly allergy-safe party-type food) whole making "Parable Story Boxes." The boxes were from a suitcase craft from Guildcraft arts & crafts. Each child received story cards and activity or prayer ideas for each of the 3 parables we discussed. Click here for a PDF of the cards. Each parable also had a symbol in the box: a sheep that the children made, a plastic coin, and an empty pouch (also from Guildcraft).
GIFT Parents who missed this session can pick up the Story Box materials at our February GIFT session.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)