Christmas Story Bracelets

This week in class we made Christmas story bracelets, which are similar to the Thanksgiving story bracelets  I posted about last month.  Credit for this idea goes ENTIRELY to SAM SIMS, a reader who emailed me last year after the original Thanksgiving bracelet post to share her ideas for making one for the Nativity story.  Thank you so much for sharing your ideas, Sam.  It took me a year to get around to implementing them, but I am so happy with how these turned out.

 

Here is a list of what the beads represent from the Christmas story:

(From L to R): 

Clear sparkly/iridescent bead:  The angel who appeared to Mary, telling her she was chosen to be the mother of God's son, Jesus

Brown bead (you could also use gray):  The donkey that Mary rode across the desert on her way to
Bethlehem with Joseph

Tan bead:  This represents the long journey across the sandy desert

Wooden bead:  This stands for the stable where Mary and Joseph had to spend the night

Blue bead:  This is for Baby Jesus who was born that first Christmas night in the stable!  (I told the children this was the most important bead of all!)

(2) White faceted beads:  These represent the angels who appeared to the shepherds (You could also use two more of the same beads you used for the first angel.)

(2) White pony beads:  These stand for the sheep the shepherds were watching over

Yellow bead (you could substitute a star-shaped bead if you can find them):  This stands for the Star of Bethlehem which led the wise men to baby Jesus.

Purple, red and green beads:  These stand for the gifts the wise men brought to baby Jesus

In addition to their completed bracelets, the children took home a little note to their parents telling what each bead represents since at this age they are quite likely to forget!!

Comments

[Jedda]

We had a great time with these-thanks!!!

[JDaniel4's Mom]

I love the way this cover all the elements. What a great teaching tool.

[sam sims]

Thanks for the mention! I have had to wait all year to make them too as just run out of time last year. So we did them at school on Tuesday last week - with 4 - 11 year olds.. They loved them.. and I was so pleased to see most of them still wearing their braclets at the end of the week! Have also done one for the Good Samaritan parable with a group of children at church x

[Brittany]

Awesome idea! I was hoping to find a simple craft for my boys and I love this one will remind them of the real Christmas story. :) I had sworn off Hobby Lobby until after Christmas, but we may need to make a trip for this one!

[Annicles]

Sam will be thrilled you liked her idea so much. Our children loved them and some wore them for the next few days!

[Beach Mama]

I love it! I may have to do this with my Sunday school kids this week.