Epiphany Party Activities, Crafts, Games

Epiphany isn't technically part of Advent. It's a high point of the Christmas Octave--the eight days following Christmas. It's also the culmintation of the 12 days of Christmas, called Twelfth Night in many cultures. Epiphany commemorates the visit of the wisemen to the manger in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The holiday is the major gift-giving occasion, more than Christmas, in some countries. It's also called Three Kings' Day, in honor of the Magi's visit. Here's an epiphany party planner with games, crafts, lesson plans, recipes and Bible activities. Read more

Our Lady of Guadalupe Advent Activities for Kids

Dec. 12 marks the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Catholic Church. It dates to back to 1531 when Catholics believe the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to an Aztec peasant named Juan Diego (now Bl. Juan Diego) at a hill called Tepeyac in Mexico City. Here are activities to help parents teach children about this Catholic holiday and its part in Mexican heritage. Activities include historical lesson plans, information on miracles attributed to Our Lady's image, plus crafts, recipes, games and activities to explore. read more

Free Printable Thanksgiving Activities and Lesson Plans

As a former homeschool family, we celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday as a natural lead-in to Advent. Thanksgiving activities connect well with Advent virtues of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I recently came across a website that is one of the most comprehensive and helpful internet resources that I've seen in five years writing online. If you need free printable Thanksgiving lesson plans, crafts, activities, recipes, games and resources, read on... read on

Free Printable 'Stone Soup' Crafts, Games, Activities, Lessons

The legend of "Stone Soup" is timeless. With it's focus on sharing and generosity, itt's the perfect Advent book. "Stone Soup" has been retold many times, notably by Marcia Brown, Ann McGovern and Jon J. Muth. Stone Soup is sacred text in preschool and elementary classrooms. If you are teaching Stone Soup, here are free printable activities. As an educator and homeschooler, I've used "Stone Soup" over the years. read more

Free Printable Medieval Middle Ages Crafts, Coloring Pages

Some Advent observances date back to medieval times. I read Ellis Peters' "Brother Cadfael" and Susannah Gregory's "Mathew Bartholomew" books as well as some individual books set in the Middle Ages. All of them mention advent. With that in mind, here are free printable Medieval crafts, including castle, bailey, keep and chapel. I have a penchant for history, especially of the medieval period. I'm sure that my idea of the Middle Ages is pretty romanticized, but I can't help thrilling to words like dovecote, kirtle and merlon. If you share my predilection, here are free printable coloring pages from the medieval period. Social studies and history teachers might use these images in lessons on the period. Catholic home school students might use them in church history classes. I suggest assigning students to create a notebook of data, images, maps, timelines, diagrams and pictorial artifacts from the period. Read on

Free Printable Saints Party Games, Saints Scavenger Hunt, Bible Riddle Games

Written for All Saints Day, these free printable games could be used for Advent and birthday parties for Jesus. I've written several variations of an All Saints Scavenger Hunt and Bible Character Riddle Game. Print these clues for your All Saints Party. This can be as easy or as complicated as you'd like. One way is to request adult All Saints party goers to dress as certain saints. Each child is given a list of clues or riddles about the saint. When the child thinks that he can match the clue to the saint, he asks the person representing the saint. If he is correct, the saint signs his scavenger hunt game. This game is best played with 10-15 saints represented. Read on read on

Free Printable Advent Calendar--Homemade, Cheap, Easy

You can purchase a ready-made advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas. But how about making your own? Use this easy, green, diy advent calender craft project and personalize for religious or non-religious holiday activities. Great for home school families as it makes good math and telling time lesson plans. read more

Catholic Blogs for Home school families

This is my self-chosen patron saint, Teresa of Avila. I admire and love this doctor of the church and founder of the discalced Carmelites tremendously. I dedicate this blog to her. Thank you for joining me for Advent season. I usually don't publish on this blog until September. May the Lord bless you in this Christmastide and through the entire liturgical year. For more about Catholicism, faith, Holy Days, Sacraments, saints, Jesus, Our Lady, please visit me at Catholic Activities. For lenten devotions, please visit my Lent Activities blog. Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam.

Free Printable Advent Games, Crafts, Lessons, Activities

Free Printable Advent Games, Crafts and Activities Advent 2012 will began Sunday, December 2. For four weeks, catholic, Orthodox and Coptic Christians (and some protestant churches) follow this lesser penitential season. We prepare our hearts for the coming (Advent) of Jesus. Here are free printable Advent coloring, puzzles, crafts, calendars, wreaths and activities to celebrate the season. free printable advent games

Free Printable Our Lady of Guadalupe Lesson Plans

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Lesson Plans, Celebration Guide
December 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Roman Catholic liturgical year. Here are some lesson ideas to use, including crafts, devotions, recipes, foods, prayers and activities. Read More

Free Printable Christmas Crafts, Activities, Toys

 Are you ready for free printable Advent and Christmas crafts like you've never seen before? Then visit The Toymaker! Styled in Dickens England designs, these printable paper toys are manna for vintage art lovers! Easy enough for children to cut, assemble and paste. View more » Free Printable Christmas, Advent Crafts Activities and Toys

Free Printable Advent Calendars

Free Printable Advent Calendars Advent is the four week liturgical season preceding the feast of Christmas. Children enjoy counting down to Christmas with advent calendars. Here are several links with free printable Advent calendars to color, cut and paste. View more »