New Tracing Temples

Halloween - Joy School

We had a blast today for Halloween themed Joy School! Here's what we did, including some downloadable .pdfs that I had created for activities.

Jack - O - Lantern Patterns

Counting Pumpkins Play Mat Activity 

This activity is done with those candy pumpkins that you get from the store. Click on the photo to be led to the .pdf file. 

Tracing Lines 

     

Halloween Cards

- memory game 

- link include cards for initial sounds - use for sound matching (i.e : V matches with Vampire)

- "Monster Mash" : hide cards and hunt to find them. Then have a monster mash dance party by imitating the card (we did frankenstein walk, flapping bats, spinning/wrapping mummies, floating ghosts, and howling werewolves) 

Lacing Plates/Spider Webs

- our craft for the day were these lacing plates to work on fine motor skills. We created webs for spiders. Photo is not mine, only used as an illustration. 

Let's Go Make A Memory

One time when I was in college, I was walking with a friend up by the temple. As we walked, he posed a question to me that I will never forget. He began by expressing to me that he went to the temple often, but didn't ever seem to feel the spirit anymore. He asked why that was and if I had any advice. I told him that when we do something repeatedly, it can become mundane. Going to the temple is a wonderful habit to be in. But going is not enough. In order to feel the spirit, grow, and progress, we need to be doing work constantly inside and outside of the temple. We need to be earnestly seeking the Lord's spirit and divine guidance - a pure desire that comes from deep within our hearts. We need to be actively trying to be better and more Christ-like. When we are doing this, we can have meaningful experiences increase ten-fold.

When my oldest was about 6 months old, I went through a rough patch. I was a stay at home mom, she was my only child at the time, and I felt that we were doing the same ten activities over and over again because those were the limits of what she could do. It felt like being a broken record. Even now, having three kids, I sometimes feel that my life is in a loop. We have a schedule and it is very similar each day. Thinking back on my childhood, I have very few memories from when I was very young. So why does doing these things matter? 

A few years ago I had an epiphany, what I feel is an inspiration from my loving Heavenly Father. As I was spending time with my children, I suddenly saw in my minds eye what they saw. And I thought "What if THIS is the memory that they will remember?" What if the memory that my daughter remembers is the moment of us coloring pictures? Or the memory of my son is of being pushed in the cozy coupe? These are the moments and things that sometimes I do and it feels mundane.  Sometimes these are moments that I don't take advantage of and find myself spending my time doing other things instead. Today after lunch, B got down from the table and walked over to the window. "It's raining!" she exclaimed. I could see the longing in her eyes - she wanted out. I was watching a show. I didn't want her to go out in the rain and get soaked. Then a sweet whispering, a tender mercy, said "Let's go make a memory". And so we did. Will she remember it? Probably not. But you never know.

Mommas, time and life goes by too fast. Don't forget to make the memories. 

<3 

Christine 

The Church Bag

When we were in our first ward as a married couple, there was a family who had three children. I was always amazed during sacrament when these children would sit reverently through the meeting. Now, I know that sitting through an hour meeting quietly is almost impossible for littles. But it was also important to me that my children would have quiet activities that were church related. It not only made the church bag "special (for Sundays)", but it also helped them to remember why we were at church, to focus and learn about our Savior and His gospel.

We now have our Curious George bag. Inside I have created a binder with laminated activities for the kids. These work great with the Crayola dry erase crayons. I share them with you now and will update with more when I update the bag myself.  ; ) 

MEMORY GAME :
In this game, as in the lacing cards below, I chose to print the cards on plain white paper, and then back them on cardstock before laminating for more durability.

TRACING :

 

MATCHING SOUNDS :

COUNTING :

WORD OF WISDOM :

LACING CARDS :
These are made by printing the images on plain white paper, cutting them out, and backing them on cardstock. It is laminated and holes are punched around the cardstock.

- children missionaries 
- jesus christ
- temple
- baptism
- reverent girl
- joseph smith 

PUZZLES :
I plan on making these again. I had originally laminated these and placed velcro dots on them. Bad idea. You just hear the RRRRIPPP in church. Haha! So I will soon be buying a metal pan from the dollar store and printing these on printable magnet sheets. Simply print these and cut along the lines.

OTHER LINKS that may interest you :
- Maze Pages
- Book of Mormon Coloring Book
- Family History Coloring Book 
- Pearl of Great Price Coloring Book
- LDS.org coloring pages