November 30th-December 21st, 2014 Advent

4:30 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet kids and check in with Parent/Guardians.

5:15 Gather for Circle Time

5:20 Music & Dance

5:30 Pass the Peace & Go Around

5:35 Solidarity Prayer

5:40 Snack, Reading & Dialogue

5:50 Craft, Game & Building Centers

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions:  Consider adding a Christmas Carol each week. Check in with the music leader for this week to see if you can grab a few ideas from the. You can also find links to our new COH albums and COH music log to the right on this blog.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: This season lets find regions to pray for on the MCC website. Click HERE to find a topic. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: We are in the season of Advent. Below are the links to each part of the story. We are following the same sequence as the adults are learning about downstairs. 

Nov. 30th The Prophets
Dec. 7th John the Baptist
Dec. 14th Mary & Joseph
Dec. 21st Shepherds & Magi

Remember that our job is simply to create a safe space for dialogue. Some fun ways to do this are by:

• having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• having them act out the story, or creating a song about the story. 
• having or creating props or visual aides. 
• asking them what they think the characters were feeling in the story.
• asking them what they think happened before the story, or what may happen next.

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways we can remember to ________ this week?

Craft, Game & Building Centers:

Click HERE to see some images for Advent crafts from around the world.