Totes

 At VBS, Faith Camp, and CCD, the kids get tote bags or backpacks.  In the past, I found cheap fabric to match the theme and sewed tote bags.  Our thrift store saves fabric donated for us to use to sew bags.   However, string backpacks are as little as $.50 at Temu in bulk.  We started buying bags, instead.  The CCD classes give each child a Catholic-themed tote bag for their books.  Nearly all of the children remember to bring their totes to CCD.  Doesn’t everyone like a little swag?  Consider stretching your VBS budget to include bags. 

Story Board

 Last night I subbed for the CCD High School group.  Yes, I use these opportunities to test pilot ideas for VBS and Faith Camp.  My task was The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue.  I use the Ten Commandments Craft (folding craft sticks) when I teach young students.  But it’s too babyish for teens.  I was looking for something which would engage teens.  I took inspiration here, from the idea to illustrate Bible stories.  I went over a timeline of the events leading to Israel enslaved to the Exodus, and 40 years to take a ten day trip.  I gave the kids large sketch paper to story-board events.  I encouraged them to leave room for the plagues.  Did everyone like this idea?  Nope.  However, all of them were engaged.    Job done.

DIY Scapulars

 Last summer, during Faith Camp, Fr. Will explained about the brown scapular, or Our Lady of Mt.Carmel scapular.  He led a short induction ceremony.  Did you know you can make your own?   Here  and here are excellent instructions and a template.  I didn’t realize there are kits!  I want to make my own!

Vestments as Theme!

 I used my Ken doll, mini-vestments, and Learning about Priestly Vestments when I subbed a few weeks ago for CCD.  After I had the idea of adding a book.  I could make up more sticker sets with the names of the vestments, cut out more catalog images, and assemble another group of poster—just for vestments.  The vestments could include the deacons’ dalmatic and stole, and special garments such as the surplice.  I’m definitely adding this to Faith Camp and next year’s VBS, Cathletics.  Fun, right?

Devotionals

 Many of the kids in the CCD classes do not have much background in the Catholic faith.  Next Sunday, I’m subbing for a group of second and third graders who are new to the Faith.  The Catholic Church can seem mysterious.  I thought the kids would like to learn about devotional items, such as rosaries and scapulars.  I made a set of posters and sets of stickers for catalog images to mount into simple books.  I kept the list to ten items.  I wanted to add Holy cards and the Bible; however the stickers are in sets of thirty.  I can fit three sets on to one sticker page.  I brought a Bible and Holy Card to demonstrate.  The kids can draw a Bible and Holy Card in their books.

Adam and Eve Coloring Wheel.

 I want a story wheel craft for Adam and Eve to use this Sunday when we sub.  The results were too simple or at a cost.  Instead I printed screenshots from these Adam and Eve Coloring pages and used a Story Wheel Template. Here and here are templates, too.  The kids will color the images, cut, and paste them on to a paper plate, then secure the cover with a brass brad or fastener.  Easy peasy!  Rob insisted I make a sample.  I’ll tell the kids to trim the images to fit the space on the template.

Angel Theme

 Today when we subbed for CCD, the class was studying angels.  I printed images of Biblical angels.  During Faith Camp, the girls took turns dressing up as angels for prayer.  During CCD we always read and review the lesson before the quiz.  So our time crafting paper angels was limited.

Ezekiel 10: 1-22

We went over the Guardian Angel prayer and St. Michael the Archangel prayer.  You may want to print these prayers on to card stock to distribute.  After the lesson, we made angels.  I allowed 30 minutes, which wasn’t enough time.  We ran over during class and some kids hadn’t finished.  Never great.  Allow 40 minutes for recruit lots of help.

 

Mass Books

Rob and I are subbing again.  I want to see how long it takes a group of eight year olds to assemble a book.  I’m working in kits.  Each kit will have 30 images.  I printed stickers with the names of cibriums, cruets, altar, tabernacle, etc.  Rob made me simple construction paper books with eight pages.  The kids will paste the image and stick the name under the image in their books.  I’m still working on cutting out all of the images.  I used label stickers and typed all of the names into a template.  Each child will get a set of thirty stickers. I made up a set of posters to use to help the kids with the objects’ names. Our CCD program has a large number of children new to the Catholic Church.  The kids can use these books themselves or give them to younger siblings.

 

Update!

 Rob and I subbed for CCD.  After the regular lesson, we did the craft, Learning About Vestments.  I brought my little set of vestments to do with the craft.  Rob and two class aides cut out the craft in advance.  The kids just put the papers into the CD case.  They enjoyed the Ken dolls.  We reviewed liturgical seasons and their colors.  I put my stuff in a kit to use when I sub for CCD.  

Bingo!

 Rob and I sub for CCD at our church frequently.  Sometimes there’s a detailed lesson; in other cases, there is no lesson.  I bring Bingo games.  Saint Bingo is the absolute favorite!  Rob and I bring Bingo to play at the end of CCD.  We use it as an incentive to work efficiently and to complete all of the lesson.  Temu sells Bingo chips.  We played Bingo at Snack during VBS and at the end of the morning at Faith Camp, when time permitted.  Below are some Bingo cards. 

1. All Saints Bingo has beautiful Saint images.

The Catholic Kid  has bingo cards with small symbols, such as Eucharist or ark.  Here are Lent and Easter Bingo cards, too.

2. Make Your Own Bingo Cards using the vocabulary from the lesson.

3. Catholic Mass Bingo has 4 x 4 cards with large pictures.  We had a set laminated to use with tiny people to teach them about the Mass.

4. I bought this set, Catholic Lingo Bingo from Arma Dei and had the set laminated.  

5. Try the Ten Commandments Bingo Game, Ten Plagues, or Noah’s Ark.

Father Ken gets a cassock.

 I made a cassock for another Ken doll.   I enlarged this pattern just a bit and increased the length. The fabric is just black felt.  I ordered the shoes and black buttons from Temu.  After all, Fr. Ken isn’t in a discalced order.  I just hot-glued the buttons on to the felt.

I spy bottles!

 Save plastic water bottles for this craft.  I made ‘I Spy’ bottles once during a science camp I led.  What a hit!  We mixed small objects into plastic bottles filled with birdseed.  (Check for birdseed free from peanuts or nuts.)  You could use colored rice, or colored pasta to make I Spy Bottles.  Here are small images and verses to print and color to add to the bottle. I plan to use tiny stickers, too.  I bought several lots of small objects for a Noah’s Ark bottle.  The inspiration for these bottles lies with the I Spy God’s Rescue Plan from the VBS program, Shipwrecked.  

Watch for sales after Halloween!

 I bought my angel wings, halo, and tiara at sales after Halloween.  My son-in-law likes to go to pop-up Halloween stores after the holiday and look for deals.  I just saw a Virgin Mary costume at one of the Bin stores that sell Amazon returns.  (The size was XL.  Most of the kids at VBS are small.)  Between VBS and Faith Camp, the theme, Armor of God, is used regularly.  I keep a set of knights toys and a poster to use to teach.  Shop Five Below, Walmart, Temu, Party City, and Dollar Tree for simple props to use for VBS, CCD, or Sunday School.  I took some screenshots to give you

 

Make costumes!

 Costumes at VBS are simple.  I hemmed rectangles of fabric for capes and threaded ribbon through a casing.  I cut a hole in about a yard of fabric for costumes all the time.  We do numbers.  VBS might have over 80 kids.  I buy fabric by the bolt unless I’m making a few costumes for skits or prayer.  (I dress up two girls as an angel and as the Virgin Mary for  prayers.)  Sometimes, I can find bolts of fabric online, such as eBay.  Joann’s sells fabric at a discount if you buy a bolt, which is useful if you’re sewing 100 capes.  Below are a few costumes.  You can see just how simple they are.  Muslin or most knits don’t even need to be hemmed; VBS is only a week.  It’s unlikely the kids will wear them again.