SUBJECT: Art and Religion
GRADE LEVELS: Can be adapted for most grade levels

OBJECTIVES:
To define what a good deed is.
To emphasize the importance of doing good deeds
TIME: one class period a minimum of about 35 minutes

TEACHER MATERIAL(S):
Kids Explore America’s Catholic Heritage pg. 162

MATERIALS (per child):
A piece of string 18 inches long
Ten wooden or pony beads
A crucifix and a religious medal of your choice

ACTIVITIES:
Share the information about good deed beads from Kids Explore on pg. 162.
Take the medal you’ve selected and put it in the middle of the string.
Tie a knot right after you put the medal on.
Take a bead and put the string through one of the beads from one side. Then take the other end of the string and put it through the opposite side of the bead and then pull both the strings tight.
Repeat this until you have ten beads strung.
When you are finished with the tenth bead, leave a space about an inch long and tie on a crucifix. You can pull the beads up or down. This allows you to move one bead at a time.
Pull a bead closer to the crucifix when you do a good deed.
Have students refer to Kids Explore America’s Catholic Heritage chapter on Faith In Action page 133 -155. After reading some of the articles, have students discuss how doing good deeds that are small can lead to putting your faith in action.

EXTENSION: Have the priest bless your good deed beads. You can make good deed beads for everyone in the family and at the end of the day tell God how many beads you and your family pulled. You can keep your good deed beads in your pocket as a reminder.