Adam and Eve Garden Diorama

• The story of Adam and Eve helps children learn about consequences. After reading a children's version of the story, create a diorama to help to reinforce the lesson. Gather a cardboard box and split it into two sides. One side represents the Garden of Eden before sin and the other represents the Garden after sin. The side "before sin" is comprised of pretty plants and flowers all neatly rowed. The side "after sin" contains brown, wilted plants and crooked trees. Use brown clay as the Earth, and insert cuttings of natural flowers and shrubs to achieve the desired effect. Once complete, retell the story while displaying the pretty side and hiding the ugly side. Unveil the ugly side to disclose the consequences of Eve's actions.
  
  

Beaded Cross Necklace

• Making jewelry to express their faith can be a fun way for children to learn about the cross. It gives them a gift to take home, as well as a tool for prayer. For each necklace you will need a 30-inch leather cord, seven blue beads, one white bead and glue. Fold the leather in half and push two blue beads onto the folded end, leaving a little lacing below the beads. Next, string one blue bead onto each separate strand. Finally, string the remaining three blue beads onto both strands and knot the end. Push two of the blue beads towards the knotted end and press a white bead between the individually-strung blue beads. Glue the white bead in place to complete the project.
  
  

Special Gifts and Talents Activity

• This activity helps children recognize that everyone has special, God-given gifts and talents. You can represent this by presenting a variety of different apples to the class. Ask the children to pick out the differences between each apple (i.e. color, texture, shape). Cut each apple crosswise to expose the five-pointed star and seeds on the inside. Explain that we all have seeds inside that are waiting to be nurtured into a "star." End the session by having the children write down their unique gifts and talents and share them with the class.
  
  

Holy Family Picture

• The Holy Family Picture is a great activity for Christmastime. It helps teach the story of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. For each picture, gather blue construction paper, a picture of the Holy Family, crayons, four popsicle sticks, a star sticker and glue. Have the children color the picture of the Holy Family and stick it to the center of the paper with glue. Create the manger by gluing two sticks over the Family as the roof, and two on each side. To complete, affix a star at the roof's peak.