Garden of the Good Shepherd~Week 4

The theme for week 4 is:

"The Wind and the Sea Obey Him"

Some of these are old ideas and some are new. Updated to add Jessica's revised list for this year.

22. The Boat : Read Matthew 8:23-27

• Make a paper boat and float it. Encourage children to notice how the boat moves. Can they make it move across the water? This will tie into lessons below.
• Sail Away Little Boat, This Boat, Boats and Boat (for The Professor).
• Banana boats or bread boats.
• Any Noah stories or activities could also apply today.
• Make Maryan's Victory Vessels.

23. The Mast: Read Ezekiel 27:4-7

• Today's lesson is about the mast. Using bamboos skewers or popsicle sticks, add a mast to the origami boat (you might have to make a new one). Let the children float their boats again and notice if the mast alone helps make the boat move.
• Make cross cookies and talk about how the Holy Cross is the mast of the Church or make bread dough crosses.

24. The Sail : Read Acts 27:33-44

• Now, add a sail to your boat (paper or fabric). Let the children explore how a sail helps the boat move. It catches the wind. The Holy Spirit is described at Pentecost as a roaring wind. When we embrace the cross (our mast) the Holy Spirit fills us and moves us. He inspires us (which comes from the Latin root breath) to hold fast to the cross of Christ and directs us as we try to fulfill the Divine Plan for our lives.
• Make deviled egg sail boats, sailboat celery snacks, jelly boats or sailboat sandwiches.

25. The Net: Mark 1:16-20

• I thought about letting The Professor watch Fishers of Men, but there are some images in it that I don't think he is ready for. Maybe just the trailer for now. If you haven't seen it you can watch it online.
• Remember string games? Cat's cradles, Eiffel Tower, etc... My kids love them! Here is a little video on how to make a net. This link will let you download 50 pages of string game instructions.
• Get a roll of string and have the kids make try to make their own nets. Then, see whose design catches the most plastic fish in the bathtub.
• Here are some online fishing games. They look fun but we haven't tested any out.
• Make a Sea of Galilee Touch Picture from Little Saints Program.

Sea of Galilee Touch Picture

Print this picture; brown construction paper background; cotton balls; sandpaper; aluminum foil; netted produce bag cut in a 6"x4" diamond; brown, dark blue, and light blue markers/crayons; glue stick; scissors.

1. Color boat brown, sea and sky blue.
2. Stretch apart cotton balls and glue on clouds.
3. Staple on netting over side of boat for fish net.
4. Crumple aluminum foil and glue on as rocks.
5. Glue on sand paper to make beach area.
6. Mount onto brown background.
7. Discuss and experiment with the sense of touch.

26. The Fishes : Read John 21:4-8

• This can be as simple as goldfish crackers or fish cookies. How about a fish cake?
• Read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
• Visit a pet store and check out the tropical fish.
• Play a game of Go Fish!
• Print out a few pages of this Fishing ABCs coloring book.
• Do a fish craft. My favorite is the Tissue Paper Fish Craft.
• Another of Jessica's ideas from last year:

Go Fish Snack
Blue napkins, medicine cups, pretzels, gold fish crackers, peanut butter. Open up napkin and place fish in the middle. (The napkin is the ocean.) Have peanut butter in the cup. (This is the bait cup.) Use pretzels for fishing rods. Dip in bait (peanut butter) and catch a fish. Eat fish and bait. Keep fishing until all the fish are eaten.

27. The Barbecue : Read John 21:9-14

• This lesson talks about Our Lord fixing fish for breakfast. Maybe try some lox for breakfast or a smoked salmon quiche. This one has Husband's stamp of approval!
• Break out the grill and throw some fish or shrimp on the barbie.
• If you don't have a pit, try some microwave salmon. Or if you are feeling super adventurous, you could poach in your dishwasher.
• Still too much? How about just toasting some marshmallows anyway you like them! Sounds good to me and might be just the bribery reward needed after making my kids eat quiche!

28. The Leviathan : Read Psalm 104:24-30

• Head to a local aquarium and check out all of the amazing creatures God made below the water.
• Watch Signing Time # 9 and sing/sign In the Water.
• Read Out and About at the Aquarium or My Visit to the Aquarium if you can't make it out.
• This lesson links taming the our fears to the story of St. George. It's not too late to make a dragon cake if you didn't get a chance.
• Make Egg Carton Sea Creatures or an Edible Aquarium.
• Maybe calimari for the grownups.

Again, these are just ideas. We will not be accomplishing all of them this week and neither should you! Pick your favorites or what fits into your schedule best. Have a great week!