Free printable Thanksgiving Pilgrim and Native American craft projects

Thanksgiving in the US celebrates the survival of the Puritans, also called pilgrims, who came on the Mayflower. Thanksgiving remembers the difficulties the New England pilgrims faced and the help they received from local Native American Indians. The Thanksgiving dinner honors the feast shared by the New England pilgrims and native Americans as they gave thanks for getting through their early trials. Here are free printable pilgrim crafts.

The Toymaker has loads of free holiday crafts for a diverse array of world celebrations. Here is the Toymaker's Thanksgiving craft projects page. You can print a plethora of Thanksgiving pilgrims crafts. There's are other cut and paste paper craft projects like a 3D model of the Mayflower, Make free printable Thanksgiving greeting cards with pilgrims giving thanks. Create cute cut and paste Thanksgiving turkey table decorations. There are cut and paste Thanksgiving napkin rings and photo frame greeting card, Thanksgiving dinner place cards and a treat box, (or bonbon box as it's called in Great Britain) and many other holiday crafts.

Making friends is one of the largest free printable crafts websites on the internet. Making Friends has free Thanksgiving pilgrim paper craft projects and printables.. There are also free printable Thanksgiving pilgrim paper craft projects, paper dolls, coloring pages, decorations, party supplies and greeting cards. Check out the Mayflower coloring pages and crafts too.

Disney Family has loads of adorable free Thanksgiving craft projects in Disney character themes. Check out the printable pilgrims crafts featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as a cute pilgrim couple. There's a cut and paste 3D Goofy pilgrim hat to print. You'll find many other ree printable pilgrim crafts, turkey craft projects, native American Indian crafts. Print pilgrim themed party decorations, coloring pages, greeting cards, crafts and lots more. This site is definitely worth bookmarking and checking regularly for more great free holiday activities. Artists helping Children has many more cut and paste Thanksgiving paper craft projects, too.

Most all of these free printable paper craft projects require that you have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer so that you can open the links. You will also want to shut off any pop-up blocker software that you may be running. The printables open in windows and pop-up blockers sometimes prevent them from opening.

Free printable Diwali and Rangoli crafts and activities for Hindu and Sikh children

Hindus, Sikhs and Jains began celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights. In 2014, it began with Dhanteras on October 20 and moves to the official Diwali on October 23 and 24. Diwali, also spelled Deepavali, is the Hindu calendar new year. There's lots of feasting, decorating, worship, lighting of diya (lamps) and fireworks. Rangoli are special Hindu designs used in crafts and decorating. Here are free printable rangoli patterns for Diwali.

Activity Village has dozens of lovely free printable rangoli patterns.

Activity Village also offers free printable Diwali crafts, There are Diwali coloring pages, greeting cards, games, puzzles, money envelopes, stationary and writing

Use Free printable Diwali rangoli patterns and Festival of Lights crafts for lesson plans Print rangoli paper, bookmarks and scrapbook pages, plus printables for Bhaiya-Dooj the holiday that ends the Festival of Lights. Print Bhaiya-dooj coloring pages and crafts.

Use rangoli patterns as stencils to decorate fabric, create murals, or chalk your walks. To design a pretty Diwali welcome sign on your front walk, rrint patterns on zoom to expand. Then trace on sidewalk. Color in design with sidewalk chalk or paint. The picture above shows how. Arrange little votive diya candles around your design. To give holiday greetings, say "Shubh Diwali!"

Free printable All Saints Day party activities, games, crafts for Catholic Christian families

Most people know that October 31 is Halloween, or All Hallows Eve. Fewer know that there's only a Halloween because of the days that follow. November 1 marks the Catholic holy day of obligation, All Saints' Day and November 2 is All Souls' Day (celebrated as Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead in Mexico). Halloween was a pagan blowout that anticipated the solemnity of the proceeding holy day. Use these free printable Catholic saints coloring pages, crafts and lesson plans to learn more about All Saint's Day and Halloween. Use these for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 and other saints' feast days. 

* Catholic Mom's All Saint's Day activities page has printable crafts and coloring pages, plus tips for celebrating a Christian Halloween. Visit the Catholic Kids home page for free printable liturgical lesson plans with age-appropriate activities linked: free printable puzzles, word searches, study sheets, crafts, Bible verses, games and activities.

* Catholic Playground has free printable Catholic saints coloring pages. They're alphabetized and listed according to the Catholic liturgical calendar. Check out the free printable Stations of the Cross coloring pages.

* St. John the Baptist Religious Education has a plethora of free printable saints coloring pages. There are also printable Stations of the Cross coloring pages. There are coloring pages of Bible stories, Miracles of Jesus, parables and life of Christ.

* ABCatholic has a free printable Catholic alphabet coloring book with images of saints, Bible stories and sacraments.

* Waltzing Matilda features handmade free printable Catholic saints coloring pages. The blog moderator has nicely-drawn images for sacraments and liturgical use also.

* Paper Dali is another mom blog with homemade free printable saints coloring pages. Some are free and some must be purchased.free her Etsy shop. Scroll around for the freebies. All are very attractive and well worth the nominal fee.

* Catholic Icing offers handmade All Saints' Day printables and crafts. Read through the blog posts and sidebar menu for crafts, games and printables.

* JClub has free printable Bible and Catholic saints coloring pages.

* EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) Kids offers free mass readings, prayer activities, crafts and coloring pages for children. Users must create a free account with user name and password.

Use these coloring pages to help create saints costumes for All Saints' Day parties. Use for year-round CCD, religious education, VBS and Children's Liturgy of the Word activities.

Free printable Labor Day coloring pages of workers, jobs, occupations

Labor Day is celebrated the first Monday in September in the US. It remembers the social and economic contributions of organized labor, unions and workers. Here are free printable Labor Day coloring pages of workers, jobs, occupations, careers and community helpers. Use these coloring activities for preschool lesson plans or Labor Day parties. Teachers and homeschoolers, start your school year off with a social studies unit on career awareness that explores community helpers, workers, occupations. Teach the history and importance of Labor Day.

Apples 4 the Teacher has free printable occupations coloring pages. Click the link on the right side of the page for more occupations coloring pages. Variety includes disc jockey nurse, road worker, surgeon, gardener, painter, photographer, plumber, cobbler, policeman and tailor. I like how pictures reflect variety of blue collar and white collar workers, service, business, artisans and trades people.

First-School offers free printable careers coloring pages featuring occupations of police officer, mail carrier, janitor, teacher, fire fighter, chef and many more. Edupics has almost 400 free printable professions coloring pages. Super Coloring Pages has many more occupations and workers coloring pages to print in different categories: education, politics, service, helping professions and more. 

Hello Kids has a nice collection of educational jobs coloring pages featuring realistic, detailed pictures of people in their jobs. Use these links to create a booklet of Labor Day activities for school, homeschool, church, day care, scouts or 4H groups. Help students become good citizens and community helpers themselves with these activities.

Free Printable Catholic Saint Valentine Lesson Plans, Activities

The story of St. Valentine has zero to do with schmaltzy flowers and candy. It has nothing in common with romance as we know it. But Valentine's story is spiritually romantic. Valentinius was a Roman Christian priest. In those days, this was not popular. In fact, it was illegal.

Then Emperor Claudius II decided he'd make marriage illegal too--so men would give up women go fight his battles. Not exactly an even quid pro quo. Valentine understood human nature better and performed underground marriages to keep people from burning in lust. And was jailed for his pains.

He wrote notes of encouragement to his fellow incarcerated and signed them "Your Valentine." There grew the card-sending tradition. Valentine was martyred on Feb. 14. It became a Holy Day -- holiday.

Predictably, we now ignore the spiritual bits of the story for the commercial. True, it's based on legend, but most stories of antiquity are oral tradition. I like it better than flowers and candy. If you do too, here are Catholic St. Valentine activities and lessons. I don't get anything from sharing these sites except a warm, fuzzy feeling.

www.catholicinspired.com/2013/01/saint-valentines-day-printables-and.html

catholicicing.com/printable-saint-valentines/

www.abcteach.com/free/r/rc_valentine_legend.pdf

busyteacher.org/classroom_activities-vocabulary/holidays_and_celebrations/saint_valentines_day-worksheets/(this one has Valentine kitsch but also some history-based activities)

I'll end as our saint wrote in his valentines. "Be of good cheer. Don't lose hope. Your Valentine Mar." (Very loosely translated from the Latin).

Free printable Halloween, Day of the Dead crafts

The holiday season kicks off with Halloween or All Saints Day or Dia de los Muertos if you're Catholic or Latino. Looking for Halloween or All Saints or Day of the Dead printables? Count down the days to Trick or Treat with dozens of free printable Halloween activities, coloring pages and crafts from Making Friends.com. Print free craft projects for all sorts themes. Making Friends has a really holiday activities, coloring pages, cut and paste, paper dolls, Trick or treat wrappers, worksheets, Halloween puzzles and mazes. Print word searches, crossword puzzles and word games, perfect for Halloween language arts lessons. Print Halloween card games, flash cards, dioramas, masks and pumpkin carving patterns and stencils.

Here free printable Halloween lesson plans, worksheets, games, coloring pages, activities and puzzles. Use for Trick or Treat themed math, reading, writing, literature, science, language, social studies and crafts. All Free Printables has free Halloween crafts, greeting cards, party invitations, decorations, cut-outs, coloring pages, masks, party invitations, name tags, treat bags, pumpkin cut-outs, book marks, picture frames and lots more. Puzzlemaker lets you create templates for printable Halloween worksheets, puzzles, mazes, jigsaws, dot to dot, Soduku, crosswords and activities galore.

Print Activities is another mega site for all your school and family activity printing needs. Look for units, printable worksheets and lessons focused around Halloween and trick-or-treat. Disney Family offers a plethora of free printable Halloween Disney activities, crafts and coloring pages. Coolest Holiday Parties has free printable Halloween party supplies. You'll find cards, invitations, treat and punch bowl printables, banners, place cards, name tags, wall hangings for a ghoulish party.

Free printable Teddy Bear Picnic fun: Winnie the Pooh, Build-A-Bear, Care Bears | Examiner.com

I know, I know, Teddy Bear Picnic Day in July, but who says you have to wait till July 10 for the official Teddy Bear Picnic Day? Parents and children, you can have a Teddy Bear Picnic any time you want. February and March are good times, when it's cold and wet and miles from any holiday. Looking for free printable crafts amd coloring pages for a Teddy Bear Picnic? How about free printable Winnie the Pooh, Build-A-Bear and Care Bears coloring pages? Build-a-Bear Workshop offers a free online gaming site for children called Build-A-Bear ville. Here are Build-A-Bear coloring pages. There are a few bear coloring pages and activities on Build-A-Bear ville. Here are a few more Build-A-Bear coloring pages.   Free printable Teddy Bear Picnic fun: Winnie the Pooh, Build-A-Bear, Care Bears

Free printable Mardi Gras masks, homemade mask crafts for kids parties

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday or Carnivale, is a Catholic Christian celebration. Fat Tuesday is only one day, before Ash Wednesday, In New Orleans it one long party starting in January after Epiphany. There are costumes, parades and feasting before the Lenten fast. Mardi Gras parade troupes, called krewes, spend months making masks and costumes. Looking to dress up for Mardi Gras? Here are free printable Mardi Gras masks, great for kids.   Free printable Mardi Gras masks, homemade mask crafts for kids parties

Free printable Groundhog Day lesson plans, groundhogs worksheets, coloring pages

Okay, who's sick of winter? Hopefully Punxatawney Phil or one of his groundhog cousins is as well. Don't know who those guys are? They're the official Groundhog Day rodents whose shadows determine how much winter is left. Groundhog Day is Feb. 2 and you know people must be desperate for a holiday if they'll celebrate an animal getting out of his den for a stroll. Here are free printable Groundhog Day lesson plans, crafts, games, activities and worksheets with groundhogs.   Free printable Groundhog Day lesson plans, groundhogs worksheets, coloring pages

Free printable preschool Valentine worksheets, games, crafts, activities

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, Pinterest, email, and blogs overflow with valentine crafts. Alas, many are also costly. So, don't pay. Here are free printable preschool valentine worksheets, games, crafts, learning activities and lesson plans. Fru-gals and fru-guys, use these for Valentine's Day fun.  Free printable preschool Valentine worksheets, games, crafts, activities

Free printable Lenten calendars, Catholic liturgical calendars, Lent printables

Our Lenten journey in the Catholic church begins on Ash Wednesday and follows Jesus Christ for forty days of suffering in the desert, up to Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. Here are free printable Lenten calendars to help your experience of Lent.   Free printable Lenten calendars, Catholic liturgical calendars, Lent printables

Free printable Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, Lantern Festival lesson plans

China's lunar calendar system is centuries older than the Gregorian calendar. The Chinese New Year begins in on February 8, 2016. The beginning date for Chinese New Year varies from late January to mid February on the western calendar. 2016 celebrates Chinese New Year of the Monkey (or KangXi). Each of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac is represented by a different animal and the calendar repeats every 12 years. It was Chinese New Year of the Monkey in 2004 and will be again in 2028. CNY kicks off the Spring Festival in China and ends with the Lantern Festival, a quaint, charming holiday.   Free printable Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, Lantern Festival lesson plans

Free printable New Year's Eve party decorations, New Year crafts, games, lessons

 Planning a New Year's Eve or New Year's Day party? Are you finding it hard to keep kids happily productive and as you prepare for the party? Why not involve children in the holiday decoration making? Here are free printable New Year crafts, party decorations, games and activities. For the most economical printing, set your printer to "draft" and "black ink cartridge only." Printing activities in black and white turns them into coloring pages which kids can color--value added! You can save lots of money on printing ink and still get a nice quality print-out. Free printable New Year's Eve party decorations, New Year crafts, games, lessons

Free printable Christmas ornaments: Secular, religious holiday decorations kids can make

Many schools start Christmas holiday vacation soon. Students rejoice, but parents worry that they've got so much work to do and so little time. Here's a first aid kit for bored kids and distracted parents. Make free printable Christmas ornaments and holiday decorations. Put children to work coloring and assembling greeting cards, Christmas ornaments, religious holiday decorations, secular Christmas decor, gift tags and holiday crafts. All you need is a computer printer, paper (recycled is great!) scissors and crayons and voila, troublesome kids are quietly and productively entertained for hours!  Free printable Christmas ornaments: Secular, religious holiday decorations

Free printable Christmas paper chain crafts and holiday countdown activities

Remember the fun of making Christmas countdown chains? It's an easy, cheap festive child-minder craft. You can make it from recycled paper. It keeps little ones productively busy. It's good practice for math, fine motor skills, counting, writing and reading. Here's how to make a Christmas paper chain.  Free printable Christmas paper chain crafts and holiday countdown activities

Free Printable Halloween Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Trick-or-Treat Jack-o-Lantern Patterns

Ah, the smells and colors of fall! And what would autumn be without carving the traditional Halloween pumpkin? It's a rite of trick-or-treat. And it's lots of fun! Looking for creative pumpkin carving stencils for your jack-o-lantern? Here are free printable pumpkin stencils. Free Printable Halloween Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Trick-or-Treat Jack-o-Lantern Patterns

Free Printable Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages

Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15. Our Lady shows us to pray the rosary; the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries. Here are free printable coloring pages and devotional activities of Mary, and the rosary.

  Family in Feast and Feria (click here) has made available in free printable PDFs a lovely little devotional booklet entitled The Rosary Color Book, written and illustrated in 1949 by Ettore Fattori. Lovely vintage Bible images.

 The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary include The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel, Visitation (Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who is carrying John the Baptist), The Birth of Jesus (Christmas), The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple (for circumcision and blessing) and The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Jesus, at 12 was found in the temple teaching the elders.)

These mysteries include The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning With Thorns, Jesus Carries His Cross, The Crucifixion.

The Glorious Mysteries include The Resurrection of Our Lord, The Ascension into Heaven, The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, The Assumption of Mary into Heaven, The Crowing of Mary Queen of Heaven.

No Luminous Mysteries--book was published before those were created. www.catholicactivities.blogspot.com.
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Free Printable 4th of July party planner and crafts

Planning a 4th of July bash? Need party planning tips and printable crafts? Look no further. Here are patriotic games, American history coloring pages, red white and blue crafts, flag crafts and fun family ideas. Free Printable 4th of July Crafts. 

Free Printable 4th of July Coloring Pages, U.S. History Lesson Plans

4th of July, or Independence Day, commemorates the US signing of the Declaration of Independence. It's our nation's birthday. How people celebrate differs. I remember lavish picnics, parades as a kid. Then going to the beach and fireworks with our kids. I also threw holiday-themed parties, homeschooling our children. Here are free printable Fourth of July games, flag crafts and coloring pages, American history lesson plans and worksheets and patriotic activities. Use as party invitations, games and decorations. Combine free printables with activities and recipes listed in my other 4th of July party articles (linked) Read on  4th of July Free Printable Coloring and Games

Free Printable Father's Day Greeting Cards and Craft Activities

Oh dads, dads--why are you so hard to shop for? Father's Day rolls around and I have no clue what to get you! And young kids may find themselves with little cash to get daddy a gift. Well, young or old, why not make your dad a card for Father's Day. Or do a craft together. Here areFree Printable Father's Day Greeting Cards and Craft Activities