Children’s Winter Activities: Service Projects
Snowman Offering Banks
Age Level: All ages
Materials:
- powdered soft drink containers with lids
- white spray paint
- a craft knife
- markers
- felt
- glue
Before class, spray paint the containers white and allow to dry. Use a craft knife to cut a slit for coins in the lid or in the plastic container, whichever is easier to cut.
Give each child a prepared container. Have the children use markers, felt scraps, and glue to decorate their snowmen. Encourage kids to use the banks to save their money to bring for the offering.
You might want to use the banks as a special missionary offering promotion.
Sharing Snowman
Age Level: All ages
Materials:
- a barrel or large trash can
- white paper
- construction paper
- scissors
- glue
Use a friendly character to boost a winter food or clothing drive. Cover a barrel or large trash can with white paper. Cut out construction paper snowman features and glue them on. Make a sign for the snowman to hold that says, “Please share.”
Publish announcements in your bulletins and newsletters, and have classroom teachers explain the snowman to the children. Try to fill the barrel with clothing or nonperishable food to share with a local food pantry or to give to needy families in your church.
Children’s Winter Activities: Teacher Appreciation
Heartwarmers
Materials:
- packages of cocoa mix
- ribbon
- gift tags
First, make a “heartwarmer” packet for each team member. Tie a pretty ribbon around an envelope of cocoa mix. Then add a tag that says, “Your willingness to serve warms our hearts.”
Shining Lights
Materials:
- white taper candles
- cellophane
- glue
- wiggle eyes
- felt
- gift tags
Use white taper candles for this teacher-appreciation gift. Have kids glue wiggle eyes and a felt mouth, nose, buttons, and a hat to the top half of the cellophane-wrapped candle. Tie a tag to the middle of the snowman taper that says: “Your light will shine for many years through the children you’re touching now.”
Mary J. Davis has been in children’s ministry for more than three decades and lives in Marshalltown, Iowa.
This article about children’s winter activities originally appeared here.
