This story is from John 6 ( and the other gospels too). In the story basket we had Jesus, Andrew, the young boy, a paper chain of people to represent the crowd and the lunch of two fish and five loaves. In John 6 Philip is also mentioned by name but we kept to just Andrew as he bought the young boy with the lunch to Jesus. Sometimes too much detail can make a toddler group story too long. The paper plate lunch was also our crafty make – we did the craft before the story. The loaves and fish were cut from sugar paper. We weren’t strict about how much ‘lunch’ everyone had on their plate.
‘And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.’
Luke 1:30,31
Make a stained glass ‘window’
You will need – black square paper plates, black paper for the stars (my paper punch wouldn’t go through the paper plate), star paper punch, assorted bright coloured tissue paper (torn or cut into smallish pieces), glue, cover film (Tacky back)
The paper plate is the window. Cut out the centre and fill the gap with the tacky back – sticky side on the same side as the black rim of the plate. Don’t discard the tacky back backing yet but use it to cover the sticky side till you are ready to make the window.
Cut the simple shapes to represent Mary, Joseph and the manger from the part of the paper plate that was cut out to make the window frame.
To make – stick lots of flat pieces of tissue paper over the tacky back covering it.
Glue on Mary, Joseph, the manger and star making sure that the black side of the shapes is at the front.
We’ve been learning about ourselves at toddler group. This was our last session this half term and was all about talking. The story was the Tower of Babel. We used actions to show building (fists on top of each other over and over – like the rhyme one potato. two potato), talking (using our hands to opening and closing), our tower getting higher and higher (stretching up high) and God looking down (hand above eyes looking down). When God was not happy that the people thought they were more important than him he sent new words and people couldn’t understand each other (everyone shrug shoulders). They had to stop building the tower.
But we still have words – we can say hello (everyone say hello) and we can sing … and then we sang some songs.
We had 43 adults and their children today so busy but happily so 🙂
Craft idea – megaphone! Sorry for the poor light for some of the photos – it’s the same piece of green card! Beforehand cut the card as shown and roll to make a cone shape. I used cellotape to stick the card to make the shape.
Then let the children decorate – the smiley face stickers are from Waitrose. Very reasonably priced and a good size. Sticky stars would be good too.
This is one of the stories that Jesus told about the lost and the found. The younger son wants his money and spends the lot. He ends up feeding the pigs and comes to his senses. But when he goes home he is welcomed by his father. This son was lost but now is found!
To tell the storyuse some props including money, party streamers/hats, pretend pigs, new robe/coat/ring/shoes.
The Prodigal Son Story Idea
Jesus told the people a story….
‘Once upon a time there was a man who had two sons (count to two). The younger son wanted his father’s money. So the father decided to share all his things between his two sons. Now they had a lot of money. (jingle the money)
The younger son packed his bag and went far, far away. He loved spending his money! He had lots and lots of parties (show party streamers/hats) with his new friends. It was so much fun being rich! But one day, he looked in his pocket for more money and it had all gone! He looked in the other pocket – no more money! He had spent every last penny! He was in trouble.
What could he do?
He needed a job. So he went to work looking after pigs. Can you make the noise do pigs make? Oink, oink! He was so hungry that he could have eaten the food that the pigs ate. No one helped him. Can you imagine how sad he felt?
‘I will go back to my father,’ he said. ‘My father will give me a better job than sitting here with these pigs.’
So he walked and walked and walked till he could see his old home far away in the distance.
Someone saw him coming. Someone had been looking and hoping that he would come back home. Who do you think it was? It was his father. His father ran down the road to meet him and gave him a great big hug.
‘I’m sorry,’ said the son
‘I forgive you,’ said the father. ‘Now let’s celebrate that you have come back home!’
The father gave his son new clothes to wear, new shoes and a ring. (show these items) He was so happy that he had a party.
‘My son was lost,’ he said, ‘but now he is found.’
When we come back to God it is like we were lost but are now found.
Craft Idea – Paper Plate Pink Pigs.
All you need
paper plate
pink tissue paper and crepe paper cut into squares (roughly)
glue
circles from pink sugar paper for snout. Use a paper punch to cut circles
ear shapes cut from sugar paper
stickers for nostrils and eyes
pink crayons (optional)
Allow plenty of self expression when the children create their craft!
I love this painting by Wassily Kandinsky. Lovely colours. the idea of using a painting as the inspiration for a craft really appeals to me – it’s a great way of introducing children to art. So for Valentines Day we will be doing our own version – not quite so colourful and of couse no circles – just hearts.
I will be giving each child an A4 page with hearts already printed on – just as a guide. There will be lots of different coloured hearts all various shapes. I use construction paper available here. It’s just the right weight and easy to cut. Great colours too!
This is my version – the children will have their own ideas which is always good. There are lots of learning opportunities here – fine motor skill practice, naming and recognising colours, learning about shapes and sizes.
Older children could make their own version – they could cut out heart shapes themselves. 🙂
A bobble hat and mittens craft to celebrate the cold, wintry weather. There are two free printables for you to use. I printed the outlines of the bobble hat and the mittens onto paper but you could use card if you like. If you are using Pritt Stick the paper will be fine but if using PVA thicker paper or card would be better. This is a great craft for using up scraps of collage materials. Let the children choose the textures and colours that they like.
You can also choose to use mainly yarn. I have lots of small bits of yarn that I keep from crochet projects so that will be on the craft table to choose from. It’s always useful to keep collage materials if you can or ask friends that crochet or knit to save the odd ends of wool/yarn.
You could also add large pompoms or cotton wool make up remover pads to add some pattern and extra texture.
Older children can have a go at making the mitten decoration symmetrical.
For younger children there lots of fine motor skill practice and learning the names of colours. Lot’s of opportunities to talk about the cold weather too!
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