Star Advent Calendar Lapbook ~ v. Spanish

For Compassion Sponsored Children

by Lisa Pickering

“To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.”
   Phyllis Theroux

I love to send letters to my Sponsor Girls in Honduras and Nicaragua. I decided to make them an Advent Calendar Lapbook this year. After doing a lot of research to see what kind of Advent Calendar could easily be made of paper and within the dimensions that Compassion has given us, I created these “Star Bible Verse Advent Calendar Lapbooks” in Spanish.

The Stars are made from two 2×2 inch squares of scrapbook paper. One square folded into a triangle has the bible verse printed on it, and the other square was cut into two triangles. I used these to form the Star, with the front folded piece opening up to see the bible verse. The bible verses were downloaded from Bible Gateway from a Spanish Bible. This way there is no translating of the Calendars to be done.

I could not find any number stickers to put the numbers on the front, so I used a Sharpe marker to write them, in Gold and Silver. The first Calendar I printed in four patterns, but then disorganized them around the lapbook. The second-fourth, I printed at the same time, so split the verses up, so I was able to put them in numerical order in the lapbook. It is covered in scrapbook paper, and extended to create a large book then just the regular pocket folder.

I cut down the pocket, so it is still there, but only about 1 3/4” deep. This allowed me to include my letter, a story about Candy Canes, (in Spanish), and an Advent Coloring book I downloaded from the net, and added in Blue the translation into Spanish. There was very little words, so I was able to use Bing translator. I printed the book double sided, to save space and to make it a little nicer.

I created a “Feliz Navidad” bookmark for the girls with their name on it. I preprinted their Compassion number on the back, so I did not have to add a sticker. I laminated the bookmark to make it more durable, and double sided.

To finish it off, I laminated only back and front to make it a little sturdier, which will help the Lapbook to stay open during Advent, and making it easy to see.

My letter told the Girls a little history about Advent Calendars and how to us it, in case they have not had one in the past.

My Bible verse to them was John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

There were so many great ideas on the Net, and a few I would like to make for our Sunday School children, but they would not have passed the Compassion requirements.

I hope they enjoy them with their family and friends, and have a blessed Christmas this year!

Additional Photo’s

PDF version of Candy Cane History – El Bastón de Caramelo

References:

Advent Coloring Page – http://ministry-to-children.com/advent-coloring-book/

Bible Gateway http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=NBLH

El bastón de caramelo – (The Candy Cane Story in Spanish) http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/121174/El-bast%C3%B3n-de-caramelo