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I am thrilled to be sharing Valentine’s Day with my Faith Formation class of 3rd graders this afternoon.  While planning our lesson I discovered a great website called Catholic Icing.  She has an amazing number of arts and crafts, food creations and feast day celebration ideas to share our Catholic faith with children and within our family.  This site is perfect for those looking to incorporate a little fun and creativity into our family’s faith life.
I’m using three of her great Valentine’s Day ideas in my lesson today.  First, the kids will make Saint Valentine puppets from paper bags.  How adorable!
The kids in my class love to craft and it gives me a great opportunity to introduce Valentine’s Day as much more than a just secular holiday. While they are making their puppets, they will learn a bit about at least one of the St. Valentines from the 3rd century.
When you check out these puppets on Catholic Icing, take a look at her Nun Puppets.  Love it!
During our lesson we will also focus on God’s love for each of us and his commandment:
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Because kids love crafting with candy, I am also using the John 3:16 Valentine craft from Catholic Icing this afternoon.  The kids will write the letters VALENTINE on the back of conversation hearts, then glue them vertically down a sheet of paper.  Using the letters, we will write out John 3:16 and decorate the page.  Why not learn scripture while eating (oops, I mean gluing) conversation hearts?  I think it will be a hit!
My go to worksheets to have on hand at the end of every class, in case of extra time, are word searches.  Catholic Icing links to a cute Valentine’s Day word search using the words from 1 Corinthians 4-8.  I have copies printed and in my bag for the kids.
Love never fails. 1 Cor 13:8
With Lent a few weeks away, you must check out all the wonderful projects for Lent and Easter at Catholic Icing!