Note: Click here for the Day by Day List of Materials (PDF)
1. Theme of the Week: Creation Song (Song and Motion)
2. Welcome, Prayer, Song and Smile
David Fremo, Director/Superintendent, Catholic Education Ministries
Smiles: Speaking of Plants…
3. Bible Story: Day 3 of Creation
Then God said: Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear. And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land “earth,” and the basin of water he called “sea.” God saw that it was good. Then God said: Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. And so it happened: the earth brought forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw that it was good. Evening came, and morning followed—the third day.
Activity 1 – Let’s start this one outdoors!
Leaf and/or Flower Bookmark
Go outside to find some leaves and/or flowers to press! Be mindful of God’s creative process in making them grow. Put them between 2 pieces of wax paper and then a towel and iron to make them look laminated. This process will make book marks or they can be made to fit picture frames (4×6, 5×7, 8×10 etc.).
Don’t forget to find sticks for Activity 2 below.
- Leaves, grass, flowers,etc.
- Piece of paper cut to size desired
- Heavy books (if needed to press)
- 2 pieces of wax paper
- 2 old dish towels
- Ironing board
- Laminate sheet
Wax paper directions:
Glue leaves and flowers to a piece of paper. If it needs to be pressed put it between your 2 sheets of wax paper and put under heavy books overnight. Put the pressed items that are between the 2 pieces of wax paper between the 2 old dish towels and iron on low heat until wax paper seals to itself all the way around the paper. Trim to size.
Laminate sheets directions:
Glue leaves and flowers to a piece of paper. (If it needs to be pressed put it between your 2 sheets of wax paper and put under heavy books overnight.)
Put items in laminate sheet and send through laminator. Trim to size.
Make a Thankful Tree
- “Thanksgiving in the Summer!”. Watch the following video to get an idea of how to make a Thanksgiving Tree! (or other plant with leaves, flowers, and/or fruit).
- Make a list of plants you are thankful for, and name why you are grateful.
- Decide which leaves/fruits/vegetables you want to cut out for the craft. Choose an appropriate stick and make a representation of this gift from God.
Paint, color and create a paper plate depicting land and plants (see Illustration 1) from https://ithappensinablink.com/creation-day-3-land-and-flowers-craft/
5. The Wonder of God’s Creation
6. Lesson and Reflection
- The earth is a large planet with lots and lots of land for plants, animals and humans. What are the 7 main sections (continents) of land called in the video? Do any surprise you?
- Why is land so important?
- List some of the farmers you know. What do they do with their land?
- What are some of the things you ate today that came from a farm? What are some of the things you ate today that did not come from a farm?
- List all of the people you are grateful for who gives us food to eat and what they did to provide.
7. Psalm Response
Let us Pray:
Leader: Tender God, we thank you for all of your Creation!
Let us pray together (based on Psalm 148).
Praise the LORD from the earth,
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars;
Let them all praise the LORD’s name,
for his name alone is exalted,
His majesty above earth and heaven.
As we remember Jesus’ words calling us to be lights of the world, let us pray for those who need help and prayers:
(Invite all to express what they would like to pray for, and think of how you can be a light in their world)
Response to each petition (Psalms 119:105): Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.
Leader: We pray this as we pray all things, in the name of Jesus Christ, the one through which you made your love known to us in human form. Amen.
8. Dessert with Fr. Doug
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Use pretzel sticks as stems of flowers or trunks of trees, green M&M’s as leaves, and red and other colored M&M’s to symbolize fruit. You could even build a landscape, using the pretzel sticks as the fertile land from which the plants emerge. Green M&M’s can be grass! Add a pond or stream with blue M&M’s. Be creative!
9. Outdoor Activity
Say to your kids: “Let’s see how well we’re taking care of God’s world. We’re going to go for a look-and-listen walk. I want you to be totally silent-no talking at all. Listen for all the sounds you can hear, and look around for any garbage or pollution. Pick up any garbage to throw away later. Don’t talk until we’re back here again.”
After a walk outside, discuss sights and sounds. Ask about the natural and the human-made sights and sounds. Talk about natural beauty and human-made pollution.
Ask: “How do you think God feels when he sees how people have messed up his beautiful world?”
Tree hugger song with actions, then could go out and collect leaves, bring them back and create an art project (lots of ideas on Pinterest)
Do a leaf rub or fruit painting with any appropriate leaves or fruit you find (even if from the refrigerator). A leaf rub is laying a leaf down, putting a piece of paper over it, and lightly shading it with a color crayon. Fruit painting is just cutting fruit in half and then stamping fruit images on paper using paint.
10. Share with others a Photo or Text mentioning what you learned today
This page contains a Padlet. Share what you learned about Dark and Light/Night and Day by clicking anywhere to upload a photo, or take a picture of something your made today, or simply post a text about how you will be a Light to the World today. Perhaps you want to share a prayer.
11. Closing Prayer
Let us conclude our time by giving thanks to the God who created us by praying together with the words Jesus gave us:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.