Years ago I shared about our Christmas Story bracelet we made for our Sunday School class. Well, I’ve changed a few things. The general Christmas story bracelet is staying the same, but I decided to add a poem for the kids to take home. This has been wildly popular with the kids in my Sunday School class as they put them together to take home.
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Before I forget, this was inspired by Little Wonder Days and their adorable Christmas story bracelet, since I had to go out and buy supplies I changed up what I did ever so much.
How I ended up making this poem by accident
I’ve always been rather fond of rhyming poems for children, but I’ll have to admit I’m not the best at creating them. So, I turned to Jeff, because he’s much better at it. He took my rather clumsy Christmas story poem (it’s on the subscriber page, go sign up for my email list) and turned it into a great bit of poetry (in my not the least bit biased opinion).
Supplies for the Christmas Story Bracelet
These are the quickest and easiest way to get all of the supplies, not the most economical necessarily. Sometimes convenience wins out in my house.
- Bead Box Kit
- Jingle Bells 1/2-Inch, 48/Pkg, Gold
- 125-Piece Multi Glitter Star Beads
- Chenille Kraft Big Box Of Pipe Cleaners
(pipe cleaners are easy for kids to string beads onto, you could also use yarn, but that is harder)
Alternate list from when I first wrote this (I combined that post into this one, since it made zero sense to have two different posts about the same craft)
This list pulls each individual bead out, perfect if you plan to make this craft for a LARGE group of people (I bought this version so I could have enough supplies to make this project for years): white beads, Blue Pony Beads, brown pony beads, Gray Pony Beads, jingle bells, star beads, green beads, purple beads, yellow beads, red beads, light purple beads
I put the supplies for one bracelet into a jewelry bag (which I also use for organizing board game pieces) along with the poem (you want to join my newsletter right?)
Creating the Christmas Story Bracelet
As I went back to update this post I realized there are no instructions, so you simply follow the order of the poem for putting on the beads, it’s that simple.
Princess The Artist likes it, even if it’s not clear from the shot. She’s modeling my version, which has an orange star……. I accidentally cut the yarn for hers too short, so I need to fix her necklace.
CHRISTMAS STORY BRACELET MEANING
- White- for the angel who came to Zechariah and told him his wife would have a baby.
- Blue- for Mary who believed what the angel told her and trusted God.
- Brown- for Joseph who was going to divorce Mary, but stopped when an angel told him to trust Mary.
- Grey- for the donkey Mary rode to Bethlehem because of the Roman decree.
- Gold bell- for Jesus, the bell rings to remind us to tell everyone of the Good News, and it’s gold because Jesus will wear a gold crown.
- Star- for the star that appeared above Jesus.
- White- for the angel that appeared to the shepherds to tell them of Jesus’ birth.
- Green- for the shepherds who ran to see the newborn babe.
- Light purple- for the magi who traveled so far to see the baby Jesus.
- Yellow, purple, and red- for the gifts the magi brought. Gifts fit for a king.
This is of course in the poem, which is so much more elegantly said.
If you want more Advent ideas to point your Christmas to Christ, then check out our Christmas Story Ideas page, I’ve also got 25 Christ-centered Christmas crafts if you just want some more crafts.
Originally published December 22, 2012
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I couldn’t enlarge the picture to read the poem. The necklace looks pretty!
Should be fixed now, I forgot to upload the PDF to make it readable…….
I could not read it either.
After you click on the picture it should take you to a PDF of the poem. When I try it on my computer, it works. What happens when you click on the poem picture?
I WISH I had this before today! My Sunday School kiddos would have loved to make these- “pinning” it for next year…
Excellent job!
I posted it as soon as I finished writing it. I thought of it yesterday as I was putting the kits together for my class. Of course all the boys in my class took their cute little poems, and then folded them into paper airplanes. I was less than happy.
I love Christmas story bracelets … and they’re even better with the printable poem! Thanks for so generously sharing, Ticia! I featured your post as the Free Printable of the Day at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow and on Pinterest. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you! I discovered I actually do have some skill at rhyming and poetry when I wrote this. It was quite a challenge.
What a great idea – I think I remember this, maybe from your blog in a previous year? Thanks for sharing the poem!
Good eyes! I posted one last year, but wrote the poem that morning when I posted this, and thought it made a great add on to the bracelet. I’m trying to think of a good Easter one……..
I cannot enlarge the poem is it somewhere else where I can get it. I teach 3 year olds and would love to do this with them this Christmas.
Hmmm, that is odd, it’s supposed to be a download, let me look and see what happened to it.
All right, it should be fixed now so when you click on the picture and on the words “Christmas story poem” it will take you to the PDF to print it.
Sorry about that, I apparently broke something between posting and this year. If it still doesn’t work let me know and I’ll figure something out.
I love the Christmas Story Bracelet! I love poems that rhyme all the way through so I did a little more work on your original idea to use with my 3rd Grade class. I hope that’s ok. Let me know if you’d like to see it. Thank you for a great idea!
I’d love to see it!
How do I show it to you?
I really enjoyed finding this Christmas bracelet and poem. I have used it when I worked at an alcohol and drug rehab center for the clients to have something to do and that they could send it too their family members while they were there during the Christmas season
I recently took over managing a residential care facility and have my residents make these. They really enjoyed doing it. It worked their minds and their hands.
I recommend this too everyone young and old!!!!!!!