Tapestry of Faith: Wonderful Welcome: A Program for Children Grades K-1

Activity 3: Story - The Real Gift

Activity time: 10 minutes

Tapestry of Faith, Wonderful Welcome, Session 1 JPEG illustration for The Real Gift

Download a coloring sheet (PDF) for the story, "The Real Gift."

Materials for Activity

Preparation for Activity

  • Print out and read the story. Prepare to read or tell it to the group.
  • Optional: Print the coloring sheet and copy for all participants. Place coloring sheets and crayons where children can use them when invited but will not be distracted beforehand.

Description of Activity

The story emphasizes the importance of appreciating gifts we cannot see, such as love, time, and welcome.

Invite the children to make themselves comfortable for listening to the story. Read or tell the story.

After the story, encourage discussion by asking:

  • Why was Nelson worried about having his grandmother live with him?
  • Why do you think the story is called The Real Gift? What do you think is the real gift? Is there more than one real gift?
  • Was Nelson still worried at the end of the story? What happened to Nelson's worried feelings?
  • What do you like to do when you spend time with someone you care about?
  • If you spend time with someone you love, but you do not make a blanket or something else together, are you still giving each other a gift? What would you call this kind of gift?

Including All Participants

Offer children the opportunity to color the illustration provided for “The Real Gift” to engage different learning styles and to help children focus on or relate to the story. A coloring activity can be a "preview" of a story. It can work as a quiet activity to help children physically settle. You might use it afterward to help the group recall and respond to the story.