Age Level: 10 to 12 Activity Time: 20 to 30 minutes Materials: Bible, bandages, fine-tipped permanent markers, and 3x5 cards Help kids experience this lesson on forgiveness as they...
Kids can make these Easter baskets to carry treats and remind them that God always cares for us. You'll need 1/2-gallon cardboard milk cartons, poster board, scissors, construction...
Kids create these colorful butterflies to celebrate how Jesus makes all things new. Stuff: Various colors of tissue paper squares, resealable sandwich-size plastic bags, chenille...
These flower crowns help kids remember a different crown Jesus wore on the cross. Stuff: Green paper plates (available at party supply stores or online at www.orientaltrading.com),...
Carmen Kamrath
Help younger children understand that because of Jesus and the cross, mistakes that left a mark on our hearts are gone when we tell Jesus we're sorry and ask him to forgive us. The...
Kids make these sweet nests to display Easter candy and enjoy as a snack. Stuff: A mixing bowl, spoon, aluminum cupcake pans, chocolate chips, shredded wheat cereal, a microwave,...
Age Level: 6 to 12 Materials: Graham crackers, straight pretzels, unshelled peanuts*, chow mein noodles, marshmallows, decorator's gel, frosting, shredded coconut, chocolate chips,...
This Christmas, put Jesus center stage by throwing him a birthday bash! Follow these simple steps, and it'll come together in a flash! Step One: Decorate the room and hallway with...
What You'll Need: Email or mailing addresses for your families What You'll Do: Help families mark the four weeks of Advent by sending mailings that focus on the traditional theme...
Census Questions Read aloud Luke 2:1-5 to see how Mary and Joseph had to travel for the census. Then answer the following questions as a family. 1. How many people live in our...
What you'll need for each family; a kit with a penny, paper clip, used staple, pebble, cotton ball, crumpled paper, heart sticker, thumbtack, aluminum foil, tissue, rubber band,...
Create this recipe with your family to better understand why Jesus is the reason for the season. (In addition to the contents of this kit, you'll need wax paper and a can of...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Follow these instructions to lead your family in celebrating Jesus' birth. Get four pieces of clean trash, such as crumpled, unused tissues. Hide them around the house in somewhat...
Spread the good news of Jesus' resurrection with these 10 new "egg-citing" experiences. Easter is one of the biggest days on your church calendar -- and for good reason. As a...
1. Inside Out-(Supplies: Bibles.) *Say : Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth as a tiny baby. He saw what was in the world. Some things he saw made him happy; other things made him...
1. Barnyard Tag -Section off an area where kids can run and play. Choose someone to be "It." Have "It" try to tag kids. The only way kids can avoid being tagged is to run from "It"...
Cindy Nelson
Use this Christmas lesson to help children celebrate Jesus' birthday. 1. News Source s-Ask kids to name ways we send and receive news (television, radio, newspapers, magazines,...
Mark von Ehrenkrook
A fun and creative Halloween alternative for grades 4-6 1. Bible Activity: It's War! -- (Supplies: ball, strobe light, newsprint, markers, tape, and Bible.) Form two teams. Have...
Mark von Ehrenkrook
A fun and creative Halloween alternative for grades 1-3 1. The Good, Bad, and Ugly -- (Supplies: Bible, newsprint, tape, and markers.) Tape the newsprint to the wall. Say: At...
Susan Grover
To help take the "Scare" out of Halloween, use this lesson to help kids trust Jesus when they're afraid... 1. Pumpkin Matchup -- Remove the seeds and pulp from two pumpkins. Carve...
Susan Grover
To help take the "Scare" out of Halloween, use this lesson to help kids trust Jesus when they're afraid... 1. Care Call -- Bring in several items that represent caring...
*Theme: Christmas Message God is our loving father. *Text: Luke 2:10-11 *Preparation: You'll need two volunteers. Have one volunteer wear a mask and carry a baseball bat. Tell this...
BABY JESUS Christmas Insight: Teaching preschoolers that Jesus was a real baby. Preschoolers need to understand that Jesus was a real person born as a real baby. Nativity scenes are...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Little ones in your nursery and toddler rooms love receiving presents; you can help them learn how fun it is to give gifts as well. Before Christmas, send a note home with parents...
Use this twist on a favorite baby and toddler game to teach about Jesus' Resurrection. Form a circle with the little ones in your nursery and tell about how people put Jesus in a...
Colleen Oglesby
Classroom and family traditions help children develop lifelong habits and thought patterns. This Christmas help families develop their children's first traditions that'll add...
A Bible lesson that shows that planting seeds of faith will help your children's ministry grow. Preparation : For this Bible lesson you'll need a large pumpkin and a New Testament...
Susan Grover
To help take the "Spook" out of Halloween, use these lessons to help kids trust Jesus when they're afraid... 1. Safety First -- Show magazine pictures of things that may help...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Easter Theme: Jesus is our shepherd; Jesus the Lamb of God Scripture: John 10:7-9 Age Level: 6 to 12 Prep Time: Time to prepare muffins Activity Time: 20 minutes Materials:...
Children's Ministry Magazine
The Scene: Three children with a Bible discussing the true meaning of Easter. The Characters: Three children, the Easter Bunny, the Teacher, Jesus on a stick pony, two children with...
Lori Haynes Niles
Help babies give musical praise during the holiday season by making them a pair of Baby Bells. For each infant, you'll need a red pair and a green pair of socks, one size larger...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Ages 3 To 5 Give each child a small paper plate and a sugar ice cream cone. Have kids place their cones upside down on their plates. Then help them cover their cones with green...
Mark von Ehrenkrook
A fun and creative Halloween alternative for ages Pre-K 1. Let's Pretend --Have the children put on animal costumes and pretend to be animals. Lead the children on a parade around...
Children's Ministry Magazine
TREAT BAGS Help kids serve others. Send home letters to parents requesting a donation of a Halloween treat, such as individually wrapped lollipops, chewing gum, or candy bars. Sort...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Theme: Cleansed Hearts Text: Matthew 5:16 Preparation: Carve a happy face into a pumpkin. Remove the pumpkin seeds and place them in a bowl inside the pumpkin. Before children...
Theme: Christ's Exaltation As King Text: John 1:4 Preparation: For each child, you'll need a 1-inch piece of cardboard tube (from a paper towel roll), spray-painted gold; scissors;...
Reader Submitted
Construct a 6- to 8-foot cross from lumber, and mount it on a base so it stands upright. The week before Easter or early in the worship service, give each child a piece of red...
Mikal Keefer
Give your kids and their families an experience they won't forget this Easter with two unique Passover meals Easter marks the most profound and promising event in our faith -- the...
Materials needed: Pumpkins -- 1 pumpkin with the top already cut open; For a large group presentation, precarve 4 pumpkins with different Christian symbols. (You can do simple...
Mikal Keefer and Scott Kinner
Celebrate Jesus' gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love with children. Shopping mall Santas, holiday toy ads, and school musicals depicting snowmen and wintry weather -- the weeks...
Anticipation, excitement, and wonder-these are the hallmarks of the Christmas season, especially for children. Can we decorate Christmas cookies? Do you think it'll snow on...
Movie Title: Miracle on 34th Street (1947) (not rated) Start Time: 6 minutes Where to Begin: The parade begins. Where to End: Santa has passed by, and the marching band is playing....
Theme: Halloween Text: Psalm 91 Preparation: You'll need scrap paper and a Bible. The Message: (Distribute 20 sheets of scrap paper and have kids wad the paper as you talk.) It's...
Truth: Prayer can lead us to acts of service during the Christmas holiday. Make a manger from a wooden or cardboard box. Fill it with hay or shredded paper. On the first Sunday of...
Truth: Prayer prepares us for Christmas Wrap the Christmas figures from a crèche (nativity) scene and bring them to class in a box. Let each child pull out one or two figures...
Truth: It is good to pray in silence and stillness--Even during the excitement of Christmas. You'll need CD players and three CDs of different styles of Christmas music. You'll also...
Children's activity on forgiveness at Christmas / New Year Truth: When we pray for forgiveness, God cleanses our hearts. You'll need colored glass ball Christmas ornaments and...
Donald Hinchey
Use this traditional Mexican drama with your kids to tell the Christmas Bible story La Posada is an honored and traditional Mexican drama at Christmas time. In Mexican cities and...
Sue Lennartson
Halloween's origins are rooted in the occult. The ancient Druids believed that on October 31, Saman, the lord of death, called forth hosts of dead spirits to visit their earthly...
Christine Yount
If you shake your Christmas stocking for new ideas to celebrate Christmas this year and nothing falls out, don't despair. Try any of these 20 Bible activities to keep kids focused...
Lori Haynes Niles
Through the stories of the Old Testament festivals, we learn that God loves for his people to celebrate! And at Christmas, celebrate we do -- with programs and parties, caroling and...
Theme: God gave us his Son, Jesus. This is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Bible Reference: Luke 1:31-32a ; Romans 6:23b Simple Supplies: You'll need a Bible; the baby Jesus from...
Getting to Know Jesus at Easter Say: On Easter we celebrate Jesus' defeat of death. He's alive and will live forever. He wants us to be his friend and have the power to live...
Lori Haynes Niles
Make your Holy Week both memorable and educational with a week-long series of activities that will provide educational opportunities each day from Palm Sunday..all the way to...
Children's Ministry Magazine
A New Dozen Easter eggs are a great way to tell about Easter. The filled plastic Easter eggs can be opened at home on different days of Holy Week, used to tell the purpose of an egg...
Jelly beans come in all the right colors to tell the gospel of God's love. Use this Jelly Bean Gospel Poem with any of the ideas below: Orange is for the sins we've done, Red is for...
Celebrate Christ's birth with 22 Christmas ideas, activities, and resources. Kids love Christmas more than any other time of year -- and who can blame them? Adults can get just as...
Honor Jesus' life, teachings, and miracles with these 11 ideas especially for Easter. Kids love Easter! And we love Easter because we feel especially connected to our Savior during...
Peggy Emerson
Rev up your Christmas program with the best principles from vacation Bible school. How many times have you walked into a Christmas program rehearsal to find kids sitting, eyes...
Inspire, delight, and captivate everyone in your church with these 12 memory-makers for Christmas. One of the most treasured gifts you can give another person is a joyous memory. So...
A dozen new ideas that'll capture everyone's attention for Jesus--the real center of Easter. "Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside...
Our readers' favorite ways to harvest fun. HEART ATTRACT All Ages To help children have a heart for your community, play this familiar game with a twist. Tape a large map of the...
Easter Week gets off to a spirited start when it includes family devotions, service projects, easy crafts, yummy snacks, fun games, a complete Seder Meal plan, and more! PALM SUNDAY...
AN EASTER BONFIRE Early Christians often lit bonfires on the night before Easter to represent the light coming into the world through Christ. You also can use this tradition to...
l. Point of View -(Supplies: Bible.) Say: Look around this room. What do you see? If you were a tiny baby lying in on the floor, what would you see? Say: Listen as I tell the...
TRACY NEREM
PALM BRANCH COOKIES Your kids will enjoy making and eating these cookies. To make the dough, you'll need 1/3 cup shortening, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, 3 cups sifted flour, 1/2 teaspoon...
Debbie Trafton O'Neal
Four fun ways to celebrate the Christmas season. DECK THE HALLS Hang a string of small white lights around your classroom doorway to welcome children. Get even more creative and...
Cindy Nelson
Use this Christmas lesson to help children celebrate Jesus' birthday. 1. Come to the Party! -Show children a package wrapped in birthday gift wrap. Ask: Has anyone had a birthday...
Bible Activity : Our Gifts-Show children an empty manger. * Say : A manger is a food dish for cows. But for baby Jesus, it was a bed. Jesus came to earth to help us be kind. Have...
