Faith In the Family Gratitude Stone Project

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart!

                 

The heart is the universal symbol for love. This project is all about sharing love and kindness and living a life of gratitude.

 Kiddos decorate the rocks and paint sealer on them for protection from the weather . When dry, the stones can be placed in the canvas pouch for safe keeping. 

When out and about, the pouch can be taken along and when families see a place to leave a stone where someone else might find it ...simply leave it, together say a prayer that who ever finds the stone will be blessed , feel joy and be reminded of the good in the world. Perhaps they may keep it or maybe  they will leave it for someone else to find.

Kits

Everything that is needed to get families started with the project is placed in a take home kit. A gallon size plastic bag worked well. Directions with all of the how to's and suggestions of ways to share the stones are included. Each child in the family receives a kit.

Most of the supplies I ordered from Amazon in bulk. Extras will be used for other projects.

Supplies In the Kits

Stones

I ordered 2-3 inch flat rocks . Each kit contains 3 rocks .

Families can find or purchase additional rocks for the project.

Pouches

I purchased these canvas draw string pouches from Michaels for 5.99 @8 and got the second set 50% off.  The pouches are the perfect size for 3 stones. You can find them in the jewelry dept.

Sealer

I purchased 2 oz plastic bottles on Amazon to share Mod Podge glue for making the stones weather proof. 1 bottle of Mod Podge is included in each kit.

Sponge Paint Brushes

1 brush for each kit.

Red Sharpie Marker and Heart Stickers

On one side of the stone a large red heart can be drawn and colored.

Mini heart stickers can be placed on the other side of the stone.

Families are to keep 1 stone in their home to remind them to share love with acts of kindness just as Jesus did. 

 This story by Mercer Mayer shares how Little Critter learns a valuable lesson of thankfulness from his Grandpa and a little stone. "Gratitude is being thankful for everything in your life," said Grandpa " Sometimes when I forget , I look at my thankful rock and I praise God for His goodness and for all things I'm thankful for- like you, Little Critter!"

This book is not part of the kit. It can be purchased on Amazon as well.See the link below. I will be reading it online to all of our worship at home families as I share the project with them. 

Link to purchase the book.

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allthingschildrensministry@gmail.com

 

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart

Gratitude Journal

In this post you will have the process and all of the printables to complete a gratitude journal for first - fourth graders.

It takes some time to print, cut out and assemble . This project would be a great way to get parent volunteers involved.  Students can create the cover and even glue the writing   prompts, scripture cards, coloring pages, activity pages and assemble the journal themselves.

This is a great project to begin at school and send home for the Thanksgiving Holiday with the focus on giving thanks and growing an additude of graditude.

Cereal Box

Cut the top and bottom from the cereal box and one side panel. This leaves the front, back and side. 

3 Ring Binder 

For this journal a 9x7 3 ring binder works well. I found this one at the Dollar General.

Adding the cereal box cover to the binder.

Use a strong adhesive such as E 600 glue and reinforce the sides with clear packing tape. 

Before gluing wrap the cereal box around the binder

  matching up the spine of  the binder to the box and 

cut off the excess cereal box from the bottom and sides.

Let the cover dry overnight.

Supplies used for assembly.

When complete , the journal will contain 23 pages. 

I used colored card stock folded and cut in half to create the pages.

In addition you will need:

* Glue Stick

* Paper Cutter or Scissors

* Hole Punch

* Cover Page Printable

* Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart Printable

* Daily Gratitude Prompt Cards

* Polaroid Picture Cards

* Scripture Cards

*Coloring Pages

* Activity Pages

Pages

Pages 1-2 For coloring and adding a self portrait inside the Polaroid picture frame.

   

       Gratitude response prompts for 30 days. Inside each polaroid frame, students can create a heart to connect with the theme of the journal, " Give thanks with a grateful heart." The heart can be drawn, or cut out of paper or heart stickers placed inside the frame. 

Scripture cards for connecting the theme with specific verses.

Coloring page and Scripture activity page.

   Activity page and reflection page. Have students write their own name inside the cross, with the statement  > Gives Thanks.

Links and Printables

Daily Gratitude Prompts and a Game

Scripture Cards

Thanksgiving I Spy

Scripture Activity Page

Psalm 118:1 Response Page

jpeg Printables

I designed the doodle graphics to print 5x7. The Polaroid doodle frame page will print on 8 1/2 x 11 size paper. Right click on the image to download. Trim the top and bottom to fit on the card stock.

You will need to print 8 pages ( 32 frames) of the Polaroid doodle picture frame

All Things Children's Ministry

@beebeebost

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An ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE 2020

ALL THINGS CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

As long as THANKS is possible, then JOY is always possible. 

Being GRATEFUL makes us JOYFUL.

The more GRATEFUL we become, the more we realize God is present!

GRATITUDE helps us to SEE what is there instead of what isn't!

So for 2020 these cute critters wearing their glasses will help us to SEE the good in each day, to look for God WINKS and find God SIGHTINGS.

An ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE and All Things Children's Ministry for our year 2020! Happy New Year! Eucharisteo!

You can purchase and download  these Vision Little Critters here.
https://www.illustratedfaith.com/shop/print-pray-paste-thou-vision/

Belinda Bost, Children's Minister

Concordia Lutheran Church

Conover , NC 28613

bbost@concordianc.org

On IG @beebeebost

On Facebook@Do You F.R.O.G.