Assemble A Paper Shoebox Nativity

       The stories about the birth of Jesus are most important to present to the children at Christmas time. We suggest, therefore, that the events which occurred at the time of the birth of God's Son be visualized in every possible way. (first publisher was by Standard) The assembly of these scenes as a handwork project is not only enjoyable, but also profitable, because 90% of our lessons are learned by "doing" them. Encourage and help your children to prepare this Nativity scene. This scene may be set up on the mantel-piece, under the tree, or on a table in the classroom. If handled with care, it can be put away with the tree ornaments from year to year. One package of dark-blue crepe paper is more than enough for the background. Attach it to the wall with blue thumbtacks or scotch tape. Paste the big star and the angels to the background. Note the one angel speaking to the shepherds on the left of the host of angels in the heavens. The whole story is presented here regardless of time. The shepherds and the Wise-men did not visit the baby Jesus upon the same night, but we can imagine them far away. Set the Wisemen as far to the right as space allows. 

       To build a stable for the paper printables below, start with a shoe box and lid. Cut two side edges horizontal of each other as shown on the right in figure 1. Paste "A" to "B," positioning the lid to hang over the front opening. Use tacky glue between the layers of cardboard and cover the sides and roof using brown paper bags or brown construction paper. Make sure to cover the open triangle shapes at either end with the layers of paper to make the stable stronger. Support the roof with two twigs, hot glue these in place with the help of an adult. (shown in figure 2.) Make a pattern for the roof a little larger than the roof. There should be about an inch more paper to hang off the roof; cut the additional paper into a fringe as seen in figure 3. Cut more paper, yellow, into shreds to include piled up about the stable for cushion; this is the straw for the animals. Figure 4. is the assembled stable.

More Nativity Crafts for Kids:

• "The Old, Old Story" Silhouettes - from Color The Bible
• Children can model their own Nativity scene! - using oven-bake clay or Sculpey
• Print color and cut a Nativity Diorama using paper creche figures from our Belznickle Blog here

The baby Jesus printable. Cut the manger from heavy brown construction
paper. Fold and paste, as directed. Cut the yellow hay on all solid lines, to
make a fringe. Fold the fringe so that it will not lie evenly; paste this to the
manger. Cut the baby from flesh colored paper. Draw his face and fold his
arms up. Paste white clothes to the baby for warmth. Lay him in the
manger, but do not paste him down if you want to lay him in his
mother's arms later.

Mary and Joseph printable. Fold on the dotted lines, cut on the solid lines.
Layer on with glue the headdress and veil for each figure. Mary is seated
Joseph is standing next to her.

The donkey and sheep printable. Cut two donkey shapes and paste these 
back-to-back; fold under the tab between the two sides so that the donkey
may be displayed in a standing position, inside of the stable. Paste two 
ears on either side of the donkey. Follow these same steps for the sheep.

The star and rays printable. Use yellow except for the center star, which is 
tin foil or perhaps white paper with glitter on top. The rays may be as long
as you wish. Paste all of these onto a piece of large blue construction paper
or poster board for the backdrop of your shoebox nativity.

The shepherd and angels printable. Bend, cut and paste according to
the directions above.

More shepherds and sheep printable. Bend and but the figure
as shown on dotted lines. Layer the pieces together. Treat the
sheep as before.

Palm tree and camel printable. Print it three times. Cut two camel shapes and
paste these back-to-back; fold under the tab between the two sides so that the
 camel may be displayed in a standing position, inside of the stable. Cut the 
solid lines of the blanket into a fringe; do the same for the palm tree leaves.

Three wise men printable. Print it three times. Layer on his 
clothing as it is illustrated on the same pattern sheet above.

The Spose Brigade

 The Spose Brigade Illustrated
by Eda Bowers Robinson

Illustration with very cute drawings.

S'pose a foot and a foot make two feet.

Does a boot and a boot make two beet?

S'pose a tooth and a tooth make two teeth.

Should a booth and a booth make two beeth?

S'ose a deer and a deer make two deer.

Could a seer and a seer make two seer?

S'pose a sheep and a sheep make two sheep.

Can a peep and a peep make two peep?

S'pose a wife and a wife make two wives.

Will a fife and a fife make tow fives?

S'pose a child and his friend find more s'poses

To add to his rhyme, 'fore it closes.

The Owl and The Bobolink

 The Owl and The Bobolink

A Bobolink trilled a roundelay.
"Halloo!" cried an owl. "That's fine!
I'd like to learn your song--if I may;
It is worth a dozen of mine!

"Folks say that my singing makes them blue;
But I practice the livelong night,
And I can't get a note beyond 'Tu-whoo,'
Though I try with all my might."

"Ha! ha!" laughed the bobolink. "Bob-o-bo-lee!
Men call me a frivolous bird;
But you are pictured from sea to sea
As wondrously wise, I've heard."

Then the bobolink laughed and laughed again,
Till his feathers shook with mirth.
"Such curious, comical creatures are men!
They're the funniest things on earth!

The Elephant Poem

The Elephant

The Elephant is very large,
And I am very small;
Though he looks down on you and me,
He is not proud at all.
You'd think a beast as big as he
Would want a monstrous chunk
Of anything to eat, but he
Eats peanuts with his trunk.
Yes, Nature is most wonderful!
Small things are vain and naughty,
When big ones love a peanut and 
Are too big to be haughty.

Lincoln Poem

 

Lincoln
I Thought I heard his voice to-day
Speak kind and low
To every one;

I thought I heard him gently say,

"With malice toward none."

I thought I heard his voice to-day

Speak kind and low

To great and small;

I thought I heard him gently say,

"With clarity for all."

This was his maxim, I am told,

His law of life,

His golden rule,

For warring states and nations bold,

Also for home and school.

by Frances Higgins.

Fire Flies

Fire Flies

by Grace Wilson Copeland

I like to chase the fire flies,

Chase them to and fro;

I like to watch them dart about,

Their little lamps aglow.

 

In the evening's twilight dim

I follow them about;

I often think I have one caught,

And then his light goes out.

 

I cannot tell just where he is

Until he winks, you see,

Then far away I see his light,

He's played a joke on me.

Turkey Patterns for The Teacher's Classroom

        Teachers and students sometimes may need a little help drawing Thanksgiving turkeys for their murals, art projects or any crafts they would like to include a friendly turkey in. Here are three restored for your imaginations!

One large turkey pattern for classroom decorations.

Two large gobblers for your classroom farmyard...

Thanksgiving by Mary Charlotte Billings

 Thanksgiving

Three centuries ago there came
Unto a strange, new land
Pilgrims journeying from afar,
A grave, God-fearing band.
Crossing an unknown ocean
That their children might be free,
They made their home where forests grim
Shadowed a lonely sea.
And down the years the story comes
Of men and women brave,
Who knelt in thankful worship
Beside an alien wave,
No gold had they, or silver,
No cities rich and fair,
But grateful hearts gave thanks to God,
Whose guidance brought them there.
So now when dark November comes
And winds grow bleak and cold,
When all the land is rich with food,
And grain is bright as gold,
With simple words we thank our God,
and at firesides we pray,
When homefolk gather from afar,
To keep Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving by Susie M. Best

 Thanksgiving 

I am thankful for my parents
And my relatives and friends,
I am thankful for the blessings
That my Heavenly Father sends.

I am thankful for the harvest
That was plentiful and fine,
I am thankful for the banner
Floating o'er this land of mine.

I am thankful for Thanksgiving
And its very splendid dinner-
I am certain when I eat it
I will not be any thinner.

November's Way by Alice E. Allen

 November's Way

November has
Not time to weep, 
Because the summer's
Gone to sleep.

With driving wind
The leaves she sweeps,
And piles them into
Fragrant heaps.

The morning air
With smoke she fills
From bonfires kindled
On the hills.

Gray days and rain
She too must bring,
For these help make the
Far-off spring.

Then indoor fires
She sets ablaze,
And sings beside them
Songs of praise.

Owl Themed Bookplates for Students

        Does your child love owls? These are some of our family's favorite birds to watch in our neighborhood. Here I have included a printable of "owl" themed bookplates for every owl lover, young or old, to label their books with. These are free for students to use, however, this version is not intended for resale and shouldn't be uploaded to any other alternative web page or blog.

Black and white ''owl'' bookplates for students. Printable for home use or classroom only.

A Flowering Triangle Pattern Block Design

Questions/Activities for the flowering triangle design:

1. If you remove all of the trapezoids from this puzzle how many octagons are left over?
2. How many octagons does it take to make a complete flower in this design, including it's center?
3. How many triangles to you see in the overall design?