SUBJECT: Art and Religion
GRADE LEVEL(s): 3rd grade up

OBJECTIVES:
To develop a greater appreciation of the rosary.
To encourage the children to say the rosary.
TIME: One class period approximately one hour in length

TEACHER REFERENCE:
Kids Explore America’s Catholic Heritage pgs. 159-161

MATERIALS: (per child)
one six-foot length of cord
53 beads of one color to use for the Hail Mary prayers
6 beads of a different color to use for the Our Father prayers
1 rosary knot-making tool (optional)

ACTIVITIES:
1. Share background information in Kids Explore America’s Catholic Heritage pgs. 159-161.
2. Tie a knot two inches from one end of the string.
3. Put 10 beads on the string.
4. Tie a strong knot.
5. Put an Our Father bead on.
6. Tie another strong knot. That was your first decade.
7. String ten more beads for your second decade.
8. Tie a knot again.
9. Add an Our Father bead and tie another knot.
10. Repeat the steps 5 through 7 for the next two decades.
11. For the last decade string on ten beads and then tie a knot.
12. DO NOT add another Our Father bead!
13. Take both ends and tie them in a big knot.
14. Cut off the shorter string close to the knot.
15. Take the longer string and put on an Our Father bead.
16. Tie a knot.
17. Now string on three beads for the Hail Marys.
18. Tie another knot.
19. Add one Our Father bead.
20. Pull the string through the crucifix.
21. Tie a knot.
22. Cut off the tails of the longer string and put clear fingernail polish on the knots where you cut off the ends of the strings.

NOTE: You can also get rosary making kits that come with their own special directions. Try checking with your church or Archdiocese offices about volunteers willing to come in and help make the rosaries.)

EXTENSIONS: Have students make rosaries using materials from home such as nuts and bolt, straws, flowers, bird seed, cotton balls, pictures of Mary, or pictures drawn on construction paper.
This project could be done as a service project and the rosaries could be given to those who need them.