Camp Creation Day 1 – Dark/Light and Night/Day
Note for Parents: You are the Leaders of the Domestic Church! Please check out this video by StrongCatholicFamilies.org. Also, click here for the Day by Day List of Materials needed. (PDF)
1. Theme of the Week: Creation Song (Song and Motion)
2. Welcome, Prayer, Song and Smile
David Fremo, Director/Superintendent, Catholic Education Ministries
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Jesus gave to me, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Don’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Smiles: Speaking of Day and Night, Dark and Light, or black and white… like the colors of snowmen!?! and more…
3. Bible Story: Day 1 of Creation – Dark/Light and Night/Day
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth – and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters –
Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Evening came, and morning followed—the first day.
4. Activities
Activity 1
Download and print out the Dark/Light Decotrope Template.
Cut out and fold the circles over to create one circle, black on one side, white on the other. Glue over a round stick (a pencil will do). Twirl the circle. What happens?
Activity 2
Paint or color a paper plate showing dark/light or night/day (see Illustration 1) from https://ithappensinablink.com/creation-day-1-day-and-night-craft/
5. The Wonder of God’s Creation
6. Lesson and Reflection
- What comes to mind when you think of Dark? How is darkness a gift?
- What comes to mind when you think of Light? How is light a gift?
- Jesus is the Light of the World. What does that mean to you?
- How are you a Light of the World for God? Can you ‘co-create’ Light by doing good things? What does that mean?
- What does the Church say about being Lights to the world?
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 the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels;
give praise, all you his hosts.
Praise him, highest heavens,
you waters above the heavens.
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
Black and White Popcorn
Ingredients:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 4 cups popped popcorn
Directions:
1. Pop your popcorn using either sea salt flavored microwave popcorn or make it from scratch, tossed with some sea salt.
2. Add 1/2 cup of the semi-sweet and white chocolate chips to your popcorn and toss.
3. Melt the remaining semi-sweet and white chocolate chips.
4. Spoon your popcorn mixture into individual bowls and drizzle the melted chocolate on top with a fork.
5. Eat up, and reflect on God’s creation of dark and light!
**Note for tomorrow: You may want to make your Berry Blue Jello today for tomorrow’s snack so it is ready to go.
9. Outdoor Activity
Activity 1
Build a dark fort! 
Preferably outside to get some fresh air, but can be done indoors as well. Give your learners a flashlight to reflect on the darkness without light, and the light without darkness. Have them make a hand shadow on the wall… or a shadow puppet.
Hand Shadow: Can you make animal shadows with you hands?
Shadow puppet: Download this worksheet, cut out the animals, tape to a stick, and write your own shadow puppet play! Which of the animals can you see during the day? Which at night? You can make your own shadow puppets.
Activity 2
DAY / NIGHT and BLACK / WHITE Scavenger Hunt
Get up and move! Go outside and look and listen! Check the box if you heard or saw it, then check the box for day or night, or both boxes of day and night! Use the blanks to add anything you saw or heard that is not on the list.
Click here for the Daytime VBS scavenger hunt
This is an alternative scavenger hunt gear for after dark, for those students and parents who can venture out after sunset.
Click here for the Nighttime VBS Scavenger hunt
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 1 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.