How do you feel about science experiments at VBS or RE?

 I’m a science teacher.  I am uncertain about an entire week of science experiments at VBS.  The experiment would need to dovetail with scripture or faith lessons.  Here are a few I like: Ten Science Experiments for Children’s Ministry. These have scriptural lessons.  Combine Calm in the Storm with a rain storm.  13 Weeks of Bible Science looks good, too.  Bible Science has possibilities, too.  Lastly, here are 100 ideas.  I have to mull over the concept before I decide whether or not to include some science with my lessons.

New Season!

 My Co-op classes are nearly over.  May is consumed with visits.  My son, Fr. Josh, is home in May.  He has seemingly hundreds of friends.  When he’s home, we have tons of people over and make time to get together with family.  So, we have two trips planned.  Fr. Josh has texted and posted he’s home.  Cue the trip to Costco for supplies.  June is Maker Camp and VBS.  July has two weeks of Faith Camp.  I’ve been ordering materials and planning for all of the camps.  Our church is doing Wilderness Adventure this year.  My friend, Christine, found a Virgin Mary costume; the kiddos love to dress up when we say prayers or do little skits at the Faith Station.  I try to accommodate as many children as possible.

Below is the first idea I want to try.  I have washi tape with scripture on it.  I want to use it to decorate tea candles, simple frames, and bracelets.  We tried the craft with a fourth grade RE class.  It was a hit!  Below is an image of craft stick brackets.  Now I need to be d and hole-punch 100 or so craft sticks.

Super Simple Ornaments!

I subbed yesterday for a fifth grade class. We did the Chapter 12 lesson and watched the video below.  I brought simple wood ornaments and sharpies to class.  No pix.  Sorry.  My husband, Rob, was subbing for fourth grade and had the phone.  (Yes, I have had my own cell phone in the past.  I loathe all telephones.  I worked at businesses in my youth where the phone rang incessantly.  I only used my cell phone for very occasional out-going calls.) Anyway, the kids love to make designs on wood ornaments.  They’re relatively inexpensive, too!

Faith and Life

 Our Diocese uses the Faith and Life catechetical program.  My husband and I sub for RE frequently-three times this week! I use the free resources, including the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska’s materials.  When we sub, we always do the assigned lesson first before we introduce any extra activities.  I can borrow the teacher’s manuals whenever I like.  But, usually this online outline is sufficient.  

Just a Decade!

 My emergency craft for CCD is a decade, bead chain.  I keep white, cotton thread, tiny medals, and jars of beads in a box.  But, we sub for teens, too.  I bought a bunch of glass beads from Temu—just for the teen classes.  The younger kiddos like colorful pony beads.  Last night we subbed for ninth grade and made decade chains or Sacrifice Beads, which has instructions.  I do need larger beads with larger center holes!

Advent wreath magnet

 We’ll be subbing up a storm!  Today we went over Penance and Adventure with second grade.  After the two lessons the class did two small crafts.  They posted the Act of Contrition on gold doilies and decorated them with adhesive jewels.  I had small pieces of balsa wood and adhesive magnets.  The kids drew and colored  adventure wreaths.  It was a hit!

Angels

 Last week we subbed for the first graders.  The topic was Guardian angels.  The teacher uses Catholic Prayer Sliders from TPT.  I ordered a set to use as a sub and for VBS with the smaller kiddos.  I did bring a pair of wings for the kids to take turns as an angel when we learned the Guardian Angel prayer.  The teacher provided Angel Hand Foam kits from Hobby Lobby.  We made Accordion Fold Angels with pipe cleaners instead of string.  Things were not too chaotic; we took a few photos.  Sadly, we did not get those images—but we’ll try again soon!