• For each child: a two- or three-inch diameter clay flower pot; a three-inch saucer or flower pot base; one battery-operated, LED tea light; a six-inch gift bag with handles; and, a paper plate
• Newsprint or large roll of paper
• Washable tempera paint in a variety of colors, and at least one dish with three paintbrushes for each color
• A permanent marker
• Tissue paper, at least one piece for each child
• Moistened paper towels
• Trash can with liner
• Optional: Paint smocks
• Optional: E6000 craft adhesive (glue)
• Optional: Digital camera or smartphone

• Obtain pots and saucers. Decide if you would like to pre-glue the pot and saucer/base together; they stack well and glue isn't necessary, but if you would like the pots to be in a chalice shape from the start, use E6000 craft adhesive, which takes 48 hours to cure.
• Cover activity tables with newsprint.
• Use the marker to write each child's name on a paper plate and on the inside of a gift bag.
• Squeeze the tempera paint into the dishes. Set out a variety of dishes of paint for every three children to use, with three brushes in each dish.

Children create a painted pottery chalice to take home in a gift bag.

If you haven't glued the chalice bases to the tops, show the children how to put together a chalice:

• Place a pot upside down and place the saucer right side up, on top of the pot.
• Place a tea light on the saucer.
• Place the chalice in the bag, using tissue paper to cushion the pottery.

Say, in these words or your own:

This is a "Chalice in a Bag." Today we will make our own chalices like this one, to take home.

Invite the children to the activity table. Optional: Help them put on smocks. Show them the variety of paints and brushes. Give each child a flowerpot and a saucer/base and invite them to paint their own chalice.

While the children are painting, write their names on the inside of their pots.

Let each painted chalice dry on the paper plate with the child's name on it.

Encourage the children to help clean up. They can put away the supplies, throw away any trash, and use moistened paper towels to wipe up any spilled paint. Have them wash their hands, and make sure that no one has wet paint on their clothes or shoes.

Place the bags, tissue paper, optional cloths, and tea lights on a table so that children can assemble their Chalice in a Bag immediately after the Closing. Make sure that they wrap their chalice in the tissue paper before they leave.