Big Book of Ideas for Children's Faith Formation: Fun Activities, Projects, Crafts (Paperback)

~ Beth Branigan McNamara (Editor), Gina Wright McKeever (Editor), Sue Robinson (Editor) "God gives every person many gifts that include his or her abilities..." (more)
Key Phrases: adult help write, have the children decorate, decorate with markers, Scissors Glue, May Day, Scissors Markers (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879730188
• ISBN-13: 978-0879730185
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #252,954 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Big Book Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too many secular activities...., March 14, 2005

By	J. Stevenson (Southwest US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has many charming, useful, and varied ideas; however, I rated it just two stars due to the following:

1. There are WAY too many secular activities in this book; since the title reads "...for Faith Formation" I expected the activities to be all (or mostly) faith-related. For example, there are seven activities that begin with the word "Easter" and only two of these mention Jesus or Christ. (My FF students get enough bunnies and butterflies at public school.)

2. Some activities are cost-prohibitive; one immediatly comes to mind that requires the purchase of a soccer ball for each student. (I have 24 students in my class and am a volunteer; there is no funding except for what comes out of my own wallet.)

3. At least a couple of the activities I read about required the use of a stove and said the activity was appropriate for "all ages." A stove activity is NOT appropriate for all ages (unless the leader is doing most of the work, and what fun is that for the little ones?). Also, many FF leaders don't have access to a stove in or next to their classrooms.

4. The index is, thankfully, sorted by themes but the book itself has an impractical alphabetical activity layout (for example, there are seven consecutive activities that begin with the word "Easter" but a few pages later you'll find an activity about the stone being rolled away from the tomb that begins with a word other than Easter). So, rely on the Index if you don't want to overlook a particular theme activity.

Now for the positive:
1. The "month by month" pages are a marvelous resource.
2. Secular activities can always be tailored to a faith theme and are sometimes very appropriate for FF.
3. The activities seem equally distributed for the entire primary age range (4-10).

This book, overall, is not the resource I was hoping for. It might be a *perfect* fit for your needs, though!

God bless you as you lead Faith Formation. :-)

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book school or family, November 30, 2004

By	Mommy and teacher "montereymommy" (Monterey Bay CA) - See all my reviews

This book is such a great resource. This is one of those books that you may find yourself wishing you had owned all along. I am impressed with the number of fun, simple craft ideas and activities. I appreciate that this was generously published in one book rather than forcing us to buy a book from a series for each type of activity.

Whether you are teaching a Bible story, discussing any of the many wonderful gifts of our Faith, or simply want to use something with a religious twist in your regular curriculum, this is a great resource.

THIS BOOK WOULD MAKE A GREAT GIFT for a CCD or other religious education teacher, a youth group leader, a homeschooling family, or anyone who loves and cares for a child from ages 3 to 10.

The index has projects listed under the following subheadings: Community Building
Conversation starters
cooking/recipes
creation, faith shapers
family
friends
games/movement
gift ideas
holidays
liturgical seasons
lent/Easter
Prayer/Blessings
Puppets
Saints
fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
self-esteem
service
songs and fingerplays
stories
signs and symbols
teacher aids