Christmas is on its way! During the holiday season, students often take more time planning and thinking about what they want to receive for Christmas. Well, here are some projects to focus on the opposite. This month students will look at how it is better to give than receive. They will get to listen and read students’ ideas on how to give to others. Then students will find projects to complete and give to others.
It is amazing when we look at everything God has created. Each thing lives not for itself but to help others. Look at the flowers. They give nectar to bees and the bees pollinate and help carry pollen from one flower to another. Trees give us oxygen (to help us breathe) and we give back carbon dioxide to the trees. Everything in Creation finds joy through relationships, giving, and receiving. This is not only something we can do but God gave us examples if we look all around us.
Discuss as a family:
What are some other things in God’s Creation that practice giving and receiving?
How do you feel when you receive gifts?
How do you feel when you give a gift to someone?
What makes a good giver?
Next, create a helping hands wreath: Start by tracing your hand and cutting it out. You will want 7 or more hands to create your wreath. On each hand write or draw what you can make for others. Last glue the hands together. Once you have completed your wreath hang it up as a reminder of the projects to complete in December. -AMW
Here are a few documentaries of students who gave to others during the holiday season.
It is amazing when we look at everything God has created. Each thing lives not for itself but to help others. Look at the flowers. They give nectar to bees and the bees pollinate and help carry pollen from one flower to another. Trees give us oxygen (to help us breathe) and we give back carbon dioxide to the trees. Everything in Creation finds joy through relationships, giving, and receiving. This is not only something we can do but God gave us examples if we look all around us.
Discuss as a family:
What are some other things in God’s Creation that practice giving and receiving?
How do you feel when you receive gifts?
How do you feel when you give a gift to someone?
What makes a good giver?
Next, create a helping hands wreath: Start by tracing your hand and cutting it out. You will want 7 or more hands to create your wreath. On each hand write or draw what you can make for others. Last glue the hands together. Once you have completed your wreath hang it up as a reminder of the projects to complete in December. -AMW
Here are a few documentaries of students who gave to others during the holiday season.
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Here are few project ideas you and your family can complete together throughout the holiday season.
Send homemade cards to U.S. soldiers through the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes
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Send a craft box to a terminally ill child at Letter of love
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Bake treats and deliver them to volunteers and neighbors.
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Hide handmade bookmarks at your local library
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Leave a snack for your mailman, UPS, or amazon delivery person
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For more ideas visit www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-ideas
KWANZAA
This month American families not only celebrate Christmas but some observe a holiday called Kwanzaa. I assumed that this holiday derived from Africa but in time of research found that Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 as an act of cultural recovery and reconstruction. It is celebrated from December 26th to January 1st to celebrate family, community, and culture. Although it did not derive from Africa it is based on African first-harvest ancient traditions organized around five fundamental kinds of activities: ingathering of the people; special reverence for the creator and creation; commemoration of the past; recommitment to the highest cultural values; and celebration of the Good. It is structured around seven core communitarian African values, the seven principles which are directed toward reinforcing family, community, and culture. These principles include unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. They have seven symbols one including a candleholder that holds seven candles. Three of the seven candles are red, representing the struggle; three of the candles are green, representing the land and hope for the future; and one of the candles is black, representing people of African descent. On December 31, the sixth day of Kwanzaa, people participate in a feast called Karamu and give gifts. These gifts are mostly handmade, in order to promote self-determination, purpose, and creativity. Although this holiday was intended to restore cultural recovery I believe we all can learn from each other's culture in order to learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses. For more information take a look at the Parents article.
Materials:
-piece of clear plastic sheet -free ornament templates -black glue -Sharpies -Scissors Place the chosen design under a piece of plastic. Next, draw the outlines with black glue. Let the finished piece dry overnight or for about eight hours. Once dried color in the suncatcher. Lastly, cut out the ornament and tape onto a window. Paper Wreath
Materials: -Old Book -Small piece of ribbon -Scissors -Green Paint or any color -Paper plate -Large piece of cardboard -Berry Floral Stems -Hot glue/glue gun -Wreath form Start out by tearing 55 book pages from your book. Once the pages are torn and formed into shape, it’s time to color the edges with paint. Pour paint onto a paper plate and then slightly dip the edges of the book pages into the paint. Then lay the book pages onto a large piece of cardboard overnight to dry. Next, tie a small piece of ribbon around the wreath form for easy hanging later. Then use the hot glue gun to attach pages to the wreath form. Last, glue berry floral stems around the wreath. Enjoy your creation! Christmas Cookie Sugar Scrub
-1 cup sugar -1/4 cup coconut oil -4 tbsp tapioca starch -1/4 tsp yellow clay - 1 tsp vanilla extract -1 tsp almond extract -5 drops sweet orange oil -2 drops cinnamon leaf Begin by washing your supplies with hot soapy water. In a bowl combine your sugar and oil. Stir until the sugar is finely ground and the mixture forms a soft paste. Next, add your desired essential oils or baking extracts to fragrance your sugar scrub. Then add your starch and desired colorant, such as clay, spices, or beet powder. Blend until combined. Stir your sugar scrub with a spoon and take note of the texture and color. It should have the consistency of cookie dough or damp sand. For scents and homemade beauty products go to DIY Holiday |
Materials: -orange, grapefruit, mandarin, lemon, or lime
-cloves -toothpick -zester Start off by shaving a geometric pattern. Then poking holes in all kinds of patterns on fruit. Last insert cloves. Once completed you can hang in your window or place around the house for a fresh holiday smell. Sweet and Salty Bar
-40 Saltines -3/4 cup butter, cubed -3/4 cup packed brown sugar -1 teaspoon vanilla extract -2 cups semisweet chocolate chips -1 cup cocktail peanut -1 cup broken pretzel sticks -3/4 cup M&M's minis Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with foil; grease foil. Arrange Saltines in a single layer of foil. In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Spread evenly over crackers. Bake until bubbly, 8-10 minutes. Immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips. Allow chips to soften for 2 minutes, then spread over top. Sprinkle with peanuts, pretzels, and M&M's minis; shake pan to settle toppings into chocolate. Let cool and then refrigerate, uncovered, for 1 hour or until set. Break into pieces and enjoy. Store in an airtight container. Brownie Ornament
-12 Candy canes -M&m’s candy-coated milk chocolate candies -Eggs -Betty Crocker fudge brownie mix 1 box -Betty Crocker Cookie Icing -Betty Crocker Sprinkles -Sugar Sprinkles -Vegetable oil -Water Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 13x9-inch pan with foil, allowing some to extend over the edges of the pan. Grease the bottom and sides of the foil with shortening or cooking spray. Then make and bake brownies as directed on the box. Cool completely on a cooling rack, for about 1 hour. Freeze in pan for 30 minutes. Use foil to lift, remove brownies from the pan, and peel foil away. Next, use a 3-inch round cutter to cut out 8 brownie rounds. Use a 1 3/4-inch round cutter to cut out smaller rounds from a remaining brownie. Cut the hook off each candy cane; unwrap, and use it to create hooks on brownie circles. Last, decorate using icing, sprinkles, colored sugars, or candies. Let stand for about 30 minutes or until the icing is set. Store covered at room temperature with waxed paper between layers. |
Calling all builders! Visit your local Home Depot store to participate in a FREE hands-on workshop designed for children ages 5-12. They will be held on Saturday, December 2nd from 9am to 12pm. Students will create a wooden horseshoe game and penguin ornament. Register and order your child’s workshop kit Click Here.
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Pop-up Studio
Students will learn how to laser engrave objects ranging from acrylic keychains to metal tags to yo-yos! Appropriate for all ages. WHEN: Thursday, December 28 TIME: 3:00PM - 5:00PM LOCATION: Anythink Library in Bennett |
Wreath Watercolor Art Class
Students will learn how to paint with liquid watercolor paint. This is a beginner class and all supplies are provided. This event is for students 16-Adult. WHEN: Friday, December 8 TIME: 6-8:30pm LOCATION: Strasburg Rec Center COST: $35 per person REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 12/4/23 |
Winter Crafts
If your students love crafts then take a trip to Kelver Library. Students will make a variety of winter/snow-themed crafts to get in the spirit of the season. Projects can be given away as gifts! This event is designed for kids and tweens (ages 5-12) based on the skills that will be practiced or the tools used. WHEN: Saturday, December 16 TIME: 1:00PM - 2:00PM LOCATION: Kelver Library in Byers |
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must
help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself
said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:35 ESV
help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself
said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:35 ESV