Camp Creation Day 4 – Sun, Moon, and Stars
Note: Click here for the Day by Day List of Materials (PDF)
1. Theme of the Week: Creation Song (Song and Motion)
2. Welcome, Prayer, Song and Smile
David Fremo, Director/Superintendent, Catholic Education Ministries
Smiles: Speaking of the Sun, Moon and Stars…
3. Bible Story: Day 4 of Creation
Then God said: Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the seasons, the days and the years, and serve as lights in the dome of the sky, to illuminate the earth. And so it happened: God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night, and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky, to illuminate the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. Evening came, and morning followed—the fourth day.
4. Activities
Activity 1
View this Powerpoint-based prayer from the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development on Saint Francis’ Cantical of the Sun.
List some of the big things God created that you want to praise God for. Make your own ‘Powerpoint presention’ using crayons and sheets of paper, complete with words of praise. Older siblings or a parent can help you if you like.
Activity 2
Paint, color and create a paper plate depicting the sun, moon and stars (see Illustration 1) from https://ithappensinablink.com/creation-day-4/
5. The Wonder of God’s Creation
6. Lesson and Reflection
- What does the Sun do for us? What does it say about who God is?
- What do you like most about the Moon? Say a quick prayer telling God why you like it.
- Looking at all the Stars can make us feel so small, yet God loves each of us so much that He became human to walk with us and teach us about that love, including how to love others. How does that make you feel?
7. Psalm Response
Let us Pray:
Leader: Tender God, we thank you for all of your Creation!
Let us pray together (based on Psalm 148).
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all shining stars.
Let them all praise the LORD’s name;
for he commanded and they were created.
As we remember Jesus’ words calling us to be lights of the world, let us pray for those who need help and prayers:
(Invite all to express what they would like to pray for, and think of how you can be a light in their world)
Response to each petition (Psalms 119:105): Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.
Leader: We pray this as we pray all things, in the name of Jesus Christ, the one through which you made your love known to us in human form. Amen.
8. Dessert with Fr. Doug
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Oreo Cookie Time – Phases of the Moon!
Twist open an Oreo cookie, and… using a spoon, or preferably teeth, scrape away the filling to form the phases of the moon. Arrange them on the printable diagram. Consume them as you read the name of the phase and give thanks to God for the gift of the moon… and of the cookies (and pray for all those who had a hand in bringing the cookies to you). Note: you don’t have to consume them all at once.
Printable Moon Phases for Oreo Snack
Alternate Snack
Make a star with a tail! Or maybe it is being followed closely by some planets! Cut watermelon into star-shaped pieces and skewer on bamboo with blueberries!
9. Outdoor Activity
Activity 1
Play shadow tag outside (shadow tag is where, if someone steps on your shadow, you become ‘it’)! Talk about the Sun, and remind kids why we don’t stare at it. But we can see it’s effects by looking at shadows. Look at shadows of other things, and notice how each shadow is unique.
Activity 2
For after dark: Families may go out for a Star Walk–look for the Big and Little Dipper. Praise God for the sun moon and stars. Pray for brother and sisters looking up at the Southern Cross and waking up to a new day.
Activity 3
MAKE A SUNDIAL!
Did you know a sundial can help you tell time during the day? Let’s try it! You will be checking your sundial throughout the day.
You will need: a paper plate, a sharpened pencil, and a marker; a clock or phone to keep time
Click here to download the printable instructions
Here’s how:
- Push your sharpened pencil through the center of the plate to make a hole.
- Find a spot in an open outdoor area that receives sunlight all day. Place the plate and pencil in this spot, using the pencil to anchor the plate into the ground or taping it down if needed to keep it in place.
- Every hour on the hour, follow the shadow from the pencil and use the marker to write down the time. Draw a line if you’d like.
- Do this throughout the day until night time when you can’t see the shadow any more.
Now you have a sundial!
10. Share with others a Photo or Text mentioning what you learned today
This page contains a Padlet. Share what you learned about Dark and Light/Night and Day by clicking anywhere to upload a photo, or take a picture of something your made today, or simply post a text about how you will be a Light to the World today. Perhaps you want to share a prayer.
Click here to go to the VBS Day 4 Sharing Padlet
11. Closing Prayer
Let us conclude our time by giving thanks to the God who created us by praying together with the words Jesus gave us:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.