Several years ago, 25 ladies in my class at church collaborated and made Advent ornaments for a Jesse Tree. And while I have used those ornaments as we’ve celebrated advent, I know that this year, we won’t be able to use them. Not because there’s anything wrong with them, but because I have a very active toddler who likes to climb and destroy breakable objects.
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To celebrate advent this year, we needed something toddler-proof and out of her reach. So, I’ve created some Advent Cards that correspond with The Advent Jesse Tree book {FREE printable pack found at the end of this post.}
Free Printable Advent Cards
If you’re not familiar with a Jesse Tree, the idea is based on Isaiah 11:1, in which Jesus is referred to as a shoot growing from the stump of Jesse, King David’s father. To use it during the Advent season, you start with the Old Testament and work your way up to Jesus’ birth {on December 25th} hanging ornaments on a Christmas tree. With each story, your goal is to help kids see how Jesus is the main character.
But like I said, this year, all our breakable ornaments will remain safe in their container while we celebrate Advent a little differently…with Advent cards. On each card, you will find a name of Jesus as portrayed by the reading for that day. Some of the names of Jesus are found explicitly in Scripture, word for word {such as The Word or King of kings} while others are implied throughout Scripture {such as The Promise or The Ladder.}
To prep our cards, I printed off a copy {both print and script cards available}, laminated them and hole-punched them at the top, indicated by the circles.
Each day, we read the Scripture verse(s) that accompany the name {included on the cards and adapted from The Advent Jesse Tree book}, sometimes we read the children’s passage from The Advent Jesse Tree, then talk about the name of Jesus on the card and how it fits in with His story.
Beforehand, I secured a ribbon to our mantle and we used our 1-inch binder rings to add each card as we go along each day. Feel free to adapt how you display them to work for you.
Update: Advent Writing Activity
We’ve added another component to the Advent cards! It’s a Drawing/Writing Activity that kids can do after reading the passages and talking about the name of Jesus. The FREE download can be found at the end of this post.
Below is the activity in action for Day 2 and we used with “the Savior”. My Kindergartner drew Jesus saving him from sin and my 3rd grader wrote about it.
Every page is exactly the same, making it a predictable activity that can be used all or some of the days to extend the cards and Scripture readings. The page looks like this:
More Advent Printables and Activities:
- Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments {Confessions of a Homeschooler}
- Jesse Tree printables {1+1+1=1}
- Printable Advent Reading Plan {Not Consumed}
- Jesse Tree round-up {Meet Penny}
Download these FREE Printable Cards & Writing Activity Below:
Advent Cards- Print Font
Advent Cards- Script Font
Advent Writing Activity
~Becky
Thank you, these will be great for my preschoolers at church!
Awesome!
These are fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing. I’m printing off a set for our family.
You are very welcome. I’m so glad you can use them.
THESE are adorable! I love how you could easily do them for a fun school lesson too.
Thank you.
I like this idea very much! Thank you for sharing. A couple of years ago the children made advent number cards by cutting and collaging Christmas Cards we had received in past years. I’m thinking how we might be able to combine the ideas.
I love your cute idea.
Thank you!
You are welcome. 🙂
Thank you for refocusing our hearts to match God’s heart! Like you, instead of asking kids what they want for Christmas, I ask them what they are giving their lived one. We are being gifted this Christmas with 2 grandchildren. Your idea wasn’t around to use when my kids were growing but I have a chance to build in the lives of my grandbabies. Thanks for the encouragement and keep them coming! Have a blessed Christmas celebrating His first
coming. Terri