“White as Snow” Globe (Junior)

Materials

• 9-oz. clear plastic punch cups with lids, 1 of each per child
• Small pinecones, 1 per child
• Corrugated cardboard, one 2¼-in. diameter circle per child*
• Epsom salt, 3 T. per child
• Mod Podge®, amount varies
• Verse Tags (DVD-ROM or supplemental material download below)
• Red cardstock, 1 sheet for every 32 children
• Isaiah 1:18 Verse Cards (DVD-ROM or supplemental materials download below)
• White copy paper, 1 sheet for every 72 children
• Thick jute twine, approximately 11 in. per child*
• Glue dots, 4 per child
• Snack-size zippered baggies, 1 per child
• Optional: White glitter, amount varies

*Sizes and lengths may vary depending on the style of plastic punch cups and lids purchased.

Tools and Basic Supplies

• Hot glue gun
• Craft glue
• Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• 1/4-in. hole punch
• Small craft paint brushes

Pre-Prep

• Photocopy the Verse Tags onto red cardstock. Then cut out the tags and hole punch, 1 per child.
• Photocopy the Isaiah 1:18 Verse Cards onto white copy paper. Then cut out 1 verse per child.
• Cut the corrugated cardboard into circles that will fit into the center circle “valley” of the plastic lids (when lid is upside down).
• Use a hot glue gun to glue a pinecone to each cardboard circle. A generous amount of glue is recommended so the pinecone won’t come loose.
• Cut jute into approximately 11-in. pieces, 1 per child. The jute should be long enough to cover the valley created by the cup lid when the cup is upside down with the lid snapped on.
• Cut a small V-shaped notch out of the rim of each plastic lid.
• Measure 3 T. of Epsom salt into zippered baggies, 1 per child.

Teaching Tie-In

Have you ever had a bloody nose or a cut that bled a lot? It's really hard to get blood stains out of clothes. But God shows us a word picture in Isaiah 1:18 that says our sins are like scarlet, the color of a blood stain. Our sins are hard to "get out" on our own. In fact, they're impossible to get out! We can't do it. But the good news is, God can! Only God can take the stain of sin from our life and make it white as snow. He sent His Son Jesus to the earth. Jesus died on the Cross, shedding His blood, because Jesus' blood was required to get rid of sin. He took the sin of the world and in exchange makes His children white as snow!

Have you ever taken a walk through freshly fallen snow that has no dirt or stains on it yet? That's the picture God is giving to those who ask for His forgiveness of their sins and who realize they need Jesus as their Savior. Where are you in your life? Have you realized your sinfulness and your need for a Savior? Talk to someone today if you are wondering about that.

Let's use today's craft as a reminder to thank God for His ability to make our sins be as white as snow.

Class Time Directions

• Pour the Epsom salt into the cup.
• Place cup lid upside down in front of you. Then attach the pinecone on its cardboard base to the center of the lid with 4 glue dots.
• Use a paint brush to apply Mod Podge® to the tips of the pinecone scales, the cardboard base, and the surrounding plastic lid.
• Take the lid (with the pinecone), turn it over, and snap it onto the cup. Then turn the cup over, letting the Epsom salt wash over the wet Mod Podge® so that some will stick to the pinecone and the surrounding base.
• Glue stick the verse card onto the tag. Then thread the verse tag onto the piece of jute.
• A small V-shaped notch has been cut out of the lid rim to accommodate the verse tag. Avoiding the V-shaped notch, apply a bead of craft glue into the valley created by the cup lid.
• Gently press the jute into the glue so the verse tag fits into the V-shaped notch and the jute lies flat all the way around the cup.
• Optional: If there is embossed lettering on the bottom of the cup (top of the snow globe), apply glue stick and a thin layer of white glitter.

Tip Corner

1. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge® to the verse tag to stiffen and protect it.
2. Glue stick can be used in lieu of Mod Podge® and small craft paint brushes (Step 3).
3. Baby wipes (cut in half) work well for removing glue from sticky fingers.
4. Epsom salt should not be ingested.