VBS Tree House Mat...From Outrigger Island to Journey Off the Map

I wanted to put a mat in my Bible Study Tangled Branch Tree house.  I found a bamboo mat leftover from Outrigger Island VBS.  The blue color just looked too ocean-like when I put it up against the rest of my tree house decor.  I want to share with you a quick-fix to change your ocean mat into a tree house mat.

You can see the blue trim here in this picture.

I used a green burlap duck tape to trim the edges of the mat.  SO easy!

Ta-DA!

 

Here is my mat in my Tangled Branch Tree House Bible Study.  This was taken right before I led a conference on 1st/2nd grade Bible Study.  I'll have it set up a little differently when I teach VBS.

Sunday Morning with my 1st and 2nd Graders: Samson

I'm missing my Sunday School class this morning since I'm home with my son who has the flu.  So...I thought I'd share what we did last Sunday. 

After hearing the Bible Story of Samson, our class colored Samson and gave him long hair. 

One boy wanted it braided, so I helped him with that part.  (I love it when kids come up with ideas I never considered!  Such smart kiddos!)

I found the idea on Pinterest.

VBS Institute 2015: Journey off the Map!

   Last week I had an amazing time at VBSI--Vacation Bible School Institute.  Even though it was in the teens outside in the mountains of North Carolina--inside was full of bright ideas, lots of VBS geeks and an excitement to teach children about God's love this summer as we take a "Journey off the Map" and learn to walk God's way!  Below you'll find just a few of the scenes from around VBSI.  There was non-stop training and activity.  I wish I had had more time to go everywhere and see everything, but I think you'll be inspired:

Craft table.  I loved the idea of cutting the longer Journey Off the Map plastic tablecloths and putting them over an orange (or brown) plasic tablecloth.  Very colorful and welcoming for children!  I'll be teaching crafts this year for the State Team...so LOTS of craft pics to come!!

This is the back of the "shop" where you could purchase t-shirts and all kinds of VBS swag.  LOVED the idea of posters on pallets and the ferns placed around it are just perfect...and super easy!!

Shady Grove Crafts.  I'm thinking about making these flowers.  Couldn't be easier.  Pool noodles on a plunger with snack trays!

Decorating Made Easy with Mr. Mark.  Go Mr. Mark's Classroom for full instructions.

More from Mr. Mark!

I think this is my all time favorite!  Tree houses made from upside down card tables and the bridge from empty fabric bolts!  Mr. Mark is awesome!

     I enjoyed my weekend so very much.  I learned a lot about HOW to do VBS.  But the best part? Focusing lots of time on the WHY we do VBS.  So inspiring.  May we never, ever forget WHY we do VBS.   We do it to reach children and their families with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  That doesn't just happen.  We must be intentional.  Intentional about our outreach, follow-up and relationship building.  Will you help make a difference in the Kingdom through the wonderful gift of VBS this summer? 

FREE Digital Issue: Winter Issue of the Old Schoolhouse Magazine

 

Go HERE to read the latest issue.  Hmmmm.....I'm loving the idea of a unit study on the Coffee Craze! 

Baby Jesus Ornament #2

     Last year I shared with you a Baby Jesus ornament.  This year I had fun making a little bit of a different type with my 1st and 2nd graders in Sunday School.  I found the idea on Pinterest. 

     These were super easy to make.  I hot glued the craft sticks together to form a manger.  (I did this before the kids arrived.)  We put a brown paper backing behind the manger so we'd have something to stick the hay to (raffia).  The children cut the raffia themselves.  They glued on the raffia with regular glue.  Baby Jesus' face was cut from cream colored card stock using a quarter as a template.  The swaddling clothes were cut from some leftover white fleece I had.  Felt, burlap or wide ribbon would be other good options.  I hot glued a red chenille stem to the back so that it could be hung on the tree. 

Lottie Moon Tea Cookies

     December is the month when we (Southern Baptists) focus on The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.  Last Sunday, I decided to share about Lottie Moon with the children during the morning service as part of a Children's Sermon.  I went HERE to get the idea for the children's sermon.  I shared with the children about Lottie Moon and her love for the people of China.  At the conclusion, each child received a bag of Lottie Moon's Cookies.  (I found the recipe on Pinterest.  I added a bit of baking soda.)  You can see my Pinterest Missions board HERE.

These are some of the easiest cookies ever to make.  I thought about Lottie and how she must have baked non-stop to give cookies to all those children in China 100 years ago!

Lottie used something as simple as a plain cookie to find an open door to share the Gospel--what could we use today?

Isaiah 9:6 Christmas Ornaments (Sunday Morning with my 1st and 2nd Graders)

 This morning we were studying from the books of Isaiah and Micah the prophecies that foretold of the birth of Jesus.  How amazing that hundreds of years before Jesus was born the prophets wrote about Him as led by God!

 

The boys and girls were very excited when I told them we'd be making ornaments.  Each child chose one of the names of Jesus as given in Isaiah 9:6 and we put the name on their ornament.

Fun with glitter!