Garden Stone Craft

Friday:	Garden Stones
Bible Lesson:	The church was begun in order to witness for God in all parts of the earth.
Memory Verse:	Acts 2:32
Preschool Lesson:	The church is made up of people (Acts 16)

Age Groups:

• elementary
• preschool
• teens

Supplies Needed:

• cement mix
• sand
• disposable open-topped containers (e.g., you can use the bottoms of old milk jugs)
• decorative objects (colored stones, shells, large glass beads, etc.)

Preparation:

Experiment ahead of time to determine the ideal ratio of cement mix to sand. Premix them.

When it's almost time, start adding water a little at a time, stirring, until the mixture is wet through but still thick. (A hand placed in the mixture and removed should leave a visible print and not fill in immediately.)

Spray each milk jug with Pam or other cooking spray before putting the mixture in, it will keep it from sticking when the kids try to remove it. Have the mixture ready in the bottoms of milk jugs when the kids come. Do not do it so early that it begins to dry. Timing is everything. Station a helper at the sink (or hose) to assist with hand washing.

Instructions:

Assist them in putting their hand print or (bare) foot print into the crete and then allow them to push decorative objects (colored glass beads, stones, sea shells, tiles) into the surface before it dries. Give each child a limited supply of decorations so that you have enough reserved for all age groups. Tell them they have to dry for 2 or 3 days in the milk jug and that they can cut the jug off or slide the stone out after that time.

Lesson Tie-In:

The stone itself does not correlate with the lesson, but you can ask them questions about the Bible lesson while they do the craft. There should be some time available while they are waiting for the cement to set firmly enough that they can remove their hands and feet.