This time of year children are seeing pumpkins everywhere — at the store, in yards, on bulletin boards, and in crafts they are making. Their excitement for Halloween is building. I decided to tap into this excitement and create an activity that connects our faith to the fun.
I bought two plastic Jack-0-lanterns and cut the eyes, nose and mouth out of one of them. I used a sharp knife to cut the plastic — definitely a job for an adult!
Put a battery-powered tealight into each plastic pumpkin and, if possible, darken the room.
Which Jack-o-lantern puts out the most light? See how the Jack-o-lantern with the eyes, nose and mouth cut out lets more light into the room.
Did you know that Jesus wants us to be like the Jack-o-lantern with the holes that let out the most light?
Jesus wants us to light up the world around us.
Do you have a candle in you so you can light up the world? No.
So how can we be like a Jack-o-lantern? Jesus wants us to light up the world around us by saying and doing good things. Then when people listen to us or watch what we do, they will learn something about Jesus.
(Give each child a battery powered tea light.)
I’m going to say some things that you or other people might do.
I want you to put the candle in front of you if what I say would let Jesus’ light shine through you.
I want you to put the candle behind your back if what I say doesn’t let Jesus’ light shine through you.
- smile at someone (candle in front of child)
- calling someone a name (candle behind back)
- sharing your toys (candle in front of child)
- hitting (candle behind back)
- visiting an elderly person (candle in front of child)
- saying thank you (candle in front of child)
- not sharing your candy with a friend (candle behind back)
- helping pick up your toys (candle in front of child)
- not obeying your parents (candle behind back)
- saying please (candle in front of child)
What other things can you do to let your light shine?
Make “Shine with the Light of Jesus” Jack-o-lanterns:
We are going to make a jack-o-lantern for you to put your candle (tea light) in to remind you to let Jesus’ light shine through you.
Print on white cardstock a Jack-o-lantern for each child.
The children color the Jack-o-lanterns. Cut them out as shown in the picture. Remember to cut out the eyes and mouth. In my Little Lambs class, parents cut while the children are coloring. If you are doing this in a class with children only, you may want to cut the eyes and mouth out before class, depending on the ages of your children.
Tape the Jack-o-lantern together. First line up the tab on the one with the face to the dotted line on the other. Tape in place. Do on both sides. Tape the sides of the Jack-o-lantern together.
When you are finished it will look like this.
When I create a sample for a class, I do not color it so the Jack-o-lantern on the right is my sample for class. I’ve found that when I don’t color my sample, the children are much more creative and are not concerned about making it look like mine!
I suggest that the children put their candles (battery powered tea lights) in their Jack-o-lanterns and use it during their bedtime prayers to remind them to
Shine with the Light of Jesus!
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