Advent/Christmas 2008

Christ Our Hope

Advent Ideas for Schools

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These suggestions may be used with children in a traditional classroom setting or with those who are homeschooled. Most activities take between ten and fifteen minutes.

• Explore the many gift possibilities of buying "fair trade" presents this year.
• Identify and collect the items that a person needs when they are “making a vigil.” Place those items in a common space in the classroom or home for the children to see each day during Advent. Reread each Sunday’s readings and reflect on what it means to “be vigilant.”
• Teach the children the corporal and spiritual works of mercy from Penitential Practices for Today’s Catholics as part of their Advent preparation. Choose one work of mercy as a class project for Advent.
• Leave small treats on their desks or in the children’s shoes in anticipation of the celebration of St. Nicholas Day (December 6). Or make small gifts or cards for the elderly or for other family members. Take the cards home or have an adult distribute them at a retirement or senior citizen’s center.
• On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Monday, December 8), teach the children how to pray the rosary, using any of the following resources: A Scriptural Rosary for Peace and Justice, A Rosary for Peace, or Rosary for the Church in Need.
• Make a list of things that we prepare for. Then make a list of how we prepare for Jesus’ coming—at Christmas and at the end of time.
• Place some flowers (roses are traditional, but any flower is fine) before the classroom statue of Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12.
• Create Christmas cards for the teachers in the school. Use the “O Antiphons” which can be found in song O Come, O Come Emmanuel as some of the text for the Christmas cards.
• During the week of December 17, learn and sing the song O Come, O Come Emmanuel starting which is the text for the "O" Antiphons. Each antiphon addresses Christ using a Scriptural title. One of the seven antiphons is traditionally prayed each day from December 17 to December 24.
• Help your students give a non-material gift as an example of good stewardship. One example of time—donate a designated amount of time to helping others, e.g., cleaning at home or helping a classmate with homework. One of talent—practice your instrument regularly or sing with choir. One of treasure—give a set amount of money to a charity.