Use a fork to blob some paint onto the paper and then swirl and pull or brush with the fork!
Encourage colour mixing as the flames flicker together…
Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. To fit with this, here is a play dough mat based around the idea of ‘journeying’ (reflecting the journey that Mary and Joseph went on to Bethlehem). Print out the mat, laminate it for repeated use and get creative!
Click here to print out the mat.
Play dough mats are a great way to help children to connect with a story. Print off the sheets, laminate them so that they can be used multiple times and it is easy to clean off any stray play dough and let the children get creating!
Here are some play dough mats to use with the Easter story…
Click here to print the mat.
Click here For the ‘In the tomb’ play dough mat.
Click here for the ‘He is risen’ play dough mat.
If you have lots of bits of lego lying around then this prayer activity is for you!
This way of praying involves lots of colour and touch so it’s great for visal and kinesthetic learners…
You will need: A lego baseboard, lego bricks, lego people, lego accessories of any and every kind!
Make a cross shape on the baseboard using some bricks to symbolise bringing your prayers to Jesus.
Use bricks to pray! Here are some ideas:
| 5 mins | Reflective colouring while waiting for all children to arrive. Click here for ideas to print out |
| 5 mins | Game- Blindfold a child and get them to stand with their back to the rest of the children. Choose a child to roar like a lion. The blindfolded child has to guess who has roared. If the guesser guesses correctly, they change places with the roarer. |
| 2 mins | Song (click for a Pinterest board of Children’s Ministry songs) |
| 10 mins | Tell the story from a children’s Bible or use this story card activity.Talk about things we face that might be a bit frightening. Have you ever had to be brave? Have you ever had to stand up for what you believe in? How does it feel? What helped you? How might Daniel have felt at certain points in the story? How would you have felt? Speak about trusting in God and share any times God has helped you to be brave. |
| 10 mins | Make ‘Protection Pictures’ or these origami Lion chatterboxes |
| 3 mins | game- sleeping Lions. Children lie on the floor as if asleep. The ‘hunter’ goes around and silently tries to get them to laugh or move. If a child laughs or moves they are out. The last ‘lion’ left asleep is the winner. |
| 5 mins | Reflective colouring while waiting for all children to arrive. Click here for ideas to print out |
| 5 mins | Game- musical statues
This links well with the idea of ‘calm’ (statues) and ‘storm’ (dancing) |
| 2 mins | Song (click for a Pinterest board of Children’s Ministry songs) |
| 10 mins | Tell the story either from a book or interactively. The Lion Storyteller Bible is great!
Talk about ‘stormy’ or difficult times in life. How do they make you feel? Who do you go to for help? Have you ever asked God to help you? What happened? |
| 10 mins | Use this Play Dough Mat to explore the story further and/or use this ‘anchor’ craft and prayer activity. |
| 3 mins | End with a game! Click here for a Pinterest board full of ideas. |
The Well Creative Children's ministry 