Easter Story Eggs and hot cross buns

This week we made "cheat" Hot cross buns and created a FHE lesson the kids could share with their families for Easter.  
For their FHE lesson we used this video as inspiration - I loved the revolving hearts in this tutorial, and decided to use Easter Eggs instead of the hearts to tell the story of how the colours of Easter Eggs can remind us of Jesus Christ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNUtoW3pW6k
Our Egg cards turned out pretty cute and as the eggs revolve the next scripture to read is revealed

We used a slightly revised script for the FHE lesson based on this cute lesson for Easter.  Each child has their script and their visual aide to share with their family this Easter.  http://www.creativebiblestudy.com/Easter-eggs-object-lesson.html

We also made Hot Cross Buns or a cheats version to make it within our Activity time frame - no yeast or rising required and they tasted pretty good.... and the kids loved the hands on element to it.

We used this recipe
http://www.withablast.net/2016/03/no-yeast-hot-cross-buns.html

Pen pals: based on Flat Stanley

A couple of years ago my daughter and I helped a friend with her Flat Stanley project. We created a blog for her flat Stanley adventures here... http://flatsheanz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/flat-shea-has-arrived-in-new-zealand.html?m=1 
I would love to do this with my activity day kids. Such a fun way to have a pen pal.

Article of Faith revision game - CUPS

As part of Activity days we will be trying to include an Article of Faith revision component each time we meet together.  This weeks revision activity was a Cup stacking game using key words of the 13 AOF.
NEED:

• 13 Plastic Cups
• One key word from each of the 13 AOF
• Sharpie.
• F.I.G books if the kids need extra help

Simply write one key word on each cup, mix up the order of the cups and instruct the children to try and put the cups in order of the A.O.F they represent. Our kids tried doing as many as they could without help first and then when allowed them to use their books to fill in the blanks. This first time was quite challenging for the kids, but we will use it again in future weeks and test how much easier it becomes as they become more familier with the A.O.F.    We allowed them to work in teams this time but in the future we may try having individuals compete against each other or do timed races.

Faith in God book covers

To protect our Faith in God books we have used DVD covers to use as a case for all our FIG related items.  We are using a "treasure Seekers" theme as a motivator for our children so thats refelcted in the cover. (Each child will colour their own covers to personalize).   Inside the kids can keep their FIG books, handouts, and challenges and our Treasure seeker motivator map. (Reward system for learing AOF, attending FIG activities, completing challenges)

 

Developing talents- Enviro Art Challenge

Last week I had the opportunity to go on a school trip with my daughter where we spent the day in the bush and at the beach Creating art with Nature as our Pallette and our Canvas.  We took inspiration from the beautiful artworks of Andy Goldsworthy Andy Goldsworthy - Nature artist.    The children were all challenged to look at the shapes, colours and textures found in nature and think of ways that they could add to, take away from, change, or enhance what they could see to create something new in that environment.  They were shown Andy Goldworthy example peices to show them that his designs could be very simple or very ellaborate, but all created interest to the viewer.
The children all loved the challenge and came up with some wonderful examples.   Part of this challenge was to photograph their designs, and to think about how light, shadow, composition etc would create interest in recording their artworks  (the photograph being particularly important because thier artworks in nature would eventually dissapear)  

Ive been thinking about how this could be a great activity for Activity Days  to accomplish the challenge in Developing Talents to make an item and display it for others to see.   Im adding it to my calendar for this year for sure.

Here are some examples of the Enviro art the children created.

Its Great to Be 12 PARTY

We had a few children turning 12 in the month that we became Activity day leaders. We decided to throw a fun "its great to be 12" party including Party games that would help revise some of the things we learn up to the age of 12.  It was  fun night for all.

Some of the games we played:
Gospel Charades/ Pictionary : two teams compete against each other to act/sculpt or draw words or themes from AOF or Family Proclamation

I love to see the temple (Version of Pin the tale on the donkey) : Large temple Picture - Pin in a picture of a child ----- aim to pin the child to the door of the temple -" Im going there someday"

AOF Balloon and Picture Match: Balloons Placed on wall numbered 1-13.  Child takes turn at using slappy hand to "grab" a balloon... they then have to match the balloon to the correct picture on the other wall of the matching AOF - We used some LDS clipart pictures for this. (some were pretty tricky) If the child could not match in time limit, the other team had a turn.... whoever matched first got the point.

We handed out goody bags and hooters, decorated with streamers and had a lovely cake decorated for our 12 year olds.

Christmas Story Bracelets

Last Christmas we wanted to help our Faith in God children remember the true meaning of Christmas and provide a way for them to share the story with their families.
I found this cute post on this webpage.... http://adventuresinmommydom.org/christmas-story-bracelet/ and this one http://littlewondersdays.blogspot.co.nz/2011/12/christmas-story-bracelet.html

about Christmas Story Bracelets and decided it would be a lovely way to make a memorable Christmas treasure in our hour and half activity.

The bracelets could be made on Pipe cleaners or on bead wire..I liked the bead wire better because I wanted it to be a treasure, I did purchase more expensive beads, but they could be made with cheaper beads...(the story is just the same)

Here is the story and the link to the original post....  I wish I had pictures of our finished bracelets....they were pretty stunning and the kids loved them. I did suggest to our boys that they could make them into a long bookmark instead of a bracelet, but they were happy to keep them as is.
Story of the beads:  (I printed this out nicely and laminated for the kids to take home)

White bead- An angel appears to Mary.

Blue bead- The angel tells Mary she is going to have a baby boy and to name him Jesus.

Light brown bead (grey would be fine too)- Mary and Joseph rode a donkey to Bethlehem to be taxed.

Dark brown bead- When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room in the Inn.  Mary and Joseph had to sleep in the Stable.

Purple bell- baby Jesus is born.  Purple represents royalty and the bell reminds us to tell the Good News.

Clear star bead- A very bright star appears in the sky.

White bead- An angel appears to shepherds keeping watch in the field and tells them Jesus has been born.

2 Clear beads- The shepherds go to see Jesus.

Clear star bead- Wise men see the very bright star and travel to see Jesus.

Gold, Purple, and Red beads- Represent the wise men and their gifts.