Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Lent: Pray, Fast, Give Printable



Ash Wednesday is fast approaching, and while I have my own goals for this Lent, I also seek to guide the Lenten experiences of my students.  I have some classroom activities in place that we do each Lent (you can see many of them under the Church Year tab), but I tend to create something new each year to help the students' individual prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  Last year it was these student created lists based on the Works of Mercy, and another year it was focused on the Stations of the Cross.  This year I wanted to challenge the students to pray, fast, and give each day.

I created a printable that easily makes three pockets to hold ideas for these three marks of Lent.  I also brainstormed a list of possible kid-friendly ways they can pray, fast, and give.  You (or your kids) could also create your own ideas and write them on small cards or strips of paper.  I would suggest that then each child pulls one idea from each pocket each morning and has the goal of completing that sacrifice or prayer by the end of the day.  Then, the next morning, they choose three new things.  I think this short term focus can help them be successful over the course of the long 40 days, and it also can stretch them in a new way each day, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.

Here's how to make the foldable:
***Update! Printables also available in Spanish and Portuguese!  
Español (Folder here and idea strips here) and Português- Post here***

1. Print both the Lent foldable and Pray, Fast, Give ideas.  (Links to pdfs at bottom of post.)  The Lent page should be printed back to front (you can run it back through your printer if you don't have two sided capability).  The "Pray, Fast, Give" side should be printed upside down relative the the "Lent" side.  I recommend printing on cardstock if possible.  Color if desired.

2. Fold up the bottom of the "Pray, Fast, Give" side along the dotted line.  My printer didn't print quite to the edge, so I also trimmed off the extra space along the bottom.

3. Then I stapled two staples on each side and two staples in between the three pockets.  The nice thing is that a standard stapler will easily reach that far in, so no bending or weird folding necessary.

4. Cut out the "Pray, Fast, Give" suggestions (or create your own). I would recommend cutting out all the prayer ideas, then all the give ideas, etc. so that they don't get mixed up.  Parents and teachers, this is an opportunity for you to pull out any of the suggestions that may not be appropriate to your children's situation, age, etc.  There are also three blank strips for the students to add their own ideas.

5. Add the selected strips to the correct pockets.  Hang up the Pray, Fast, Give printable on the fridge, or above a desk, or on a chalkboard and have the kids draw the prayer and sacrifice they will offer each day.

Click here for the Pray, Fast, Give Foldable:


Click here for the Pray, Fast, Give ideas:

Click here for a Lent: Pray, Fast, Give  coloring page: 


 Click here for a Lent coloring page:
And go check out all of my other ideas for Lent here.  What are you planning to do for Lent in your homes and classrooms?

65 comments:

  1. I have to say, you knocked it out of the park. This is amazing. I LOVE the idea of doing all three every day, but also the idea of changing it up every day.

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    1. Glad you like it, Laurel! :)

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    2. You give Spanish templates, but I don't see English templates.

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    3. Hi! All the English printables are at the end of the post. Where it says "click here" and the image of the different files follows. Click on the image and the file should open in a separate tab.

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  2. We are doing what we always do - but are including THIS in our plans for the season! Fabulous!

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    1. So glad to be added into your plans! :) Have a blessed Lent!

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  3. Love this idea for my 3rd grade RE class! Thank you.

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  4. This is HUGE help for my 7th and 8th grade PSR class!! So thankful for all you do and share so we can teach the faith in an engaging and fun way!

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    1. So glad, Pamela! :) Thanks for your kind words!

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  5. Love this! Thanks Katie!

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  6. Thank you! In the past, I've just trifolded a piece of purple construction paper and had them write 2-3 ideas for each.

    I love this! I am definitely going to use this in my 3rd grade RE class this week!!

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    1. Happy to share, Susie! Hope it works well with your students!

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  7. I love it! I added something for my kids. Every time they do one they get to paste a cut out flower on our cardboard cross. Then on Easter (hopefully) the cross has tuned into a bouquet of sweet smelling flowers.

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  8. It says free printables and I cannot print them.

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    1. Hi! Were you clicking on the white images of the printables at the bottom of the post? Those links should open up to a new tab where you can download/save/print. I just checked and all of the links are working. Can you describe your problem a little more specifically? Hopefully then I can help. You also are welcome to email looktohimandberadiant (at) gmail (dot) com with your question.

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    2. This is just a great idea for kids my school kids loved so I am sure others will.

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  9. Ah! This is perfect for my kids! THANK YOU!

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  10. I love this idea! Thank you so much for sharing. We have faith families at our school and I am always looking for fun ideas to help teach religious values. Thanks for your help. My kids will love it!

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  11. This is a great idea to help the students truly experience the season of Lent--thank you! In my classroom we are giving up talking in the hallway as a class--we'll see if we can make it through the season!

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    1. Ooooo, can I make my students offer that as a sacrifice too? ;)

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  12. Thank you! It always helps having a visual for the little guys durning lent. Thank you for your time in creating wonderful useful worksheets!

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  13. Looking forward to using this with my third graders and my own children this year. Thank you for this thoughtful and meaningful idea!

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  14. Thank you for being so willing to share your AMAZING ideas. Hope you know how talented and appreciated you are.

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  15. Thanks so much for sharing this and all of your resources. I am planning to use this with my own kids this lent.

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  16. Big thanks~ and congratulations!

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  17. God bless you more... Thanks for sharing your creativity and great idea for Lenten Activities!

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  18. I was searching on Pinterest when I remembered an email with your information. WOW! I'm so pleased with this activity! I'm printing everything out now and we will begin the activity at our next CCE class at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Houston, Texas.

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    1. So glad it is helpful! This is one of my favorites for Lent! :)

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  19. I just made it and colored it. Beautiful and we will use it for Children's Liturgy. I made enough papers for every child to take one. Thank you!

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  20. I'm having a hard time obtaining the pdf. It won't download to print.

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  21. Thanks so much for this idea!
    Did you make one for your entire class or did each student have their own?

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  22. This is perfect for the kids I'm working with. Thank you for sharing your work and creativity!

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  23. Katie,
    This is such a wonderful idea! Sadly we are not able to have Sunday School classes in person at this time. Would it be okay if we sent out to the kids to do at home for Lent this year? I just wanted to check with you before doing that!
    Thank you!

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    1. Please do! I'd be honored if you shared it with them!

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  24. Did you give one to all of your student.

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  25. This is so wonderful! I've used this with my kids and am now using it in the classroom with the whole group as our daily class message/goal. THANK YOU!

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  26. this is awesome, already operational in our household this Lent. thank you!

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  27. This was a wonderful activity for my Catechism class. It was also very helpful to have the Spanish version for my students and parents. The kids loved it and it was a good starter activity to discuss what they could do during Lent.
    Thank you!

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    1. Thanks for the Spanish version as a Spanish speaker myself I find it hard to find. Thanks again lent blessings 🙏

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  28. Thank you so much, Katie!

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  29. Thank you , Katie. As a last minute leader for our Children's Liturgy of the Word, this was perfect and you didn't charge me, which was a God send!! You are awesome.

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  30. Thank you! This is wonderful!

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