Clay Footprints

To answer the call to be like Jesus and to pray the Stations of the Cross

The young people will be able to understand their call to be like Jesus and why we pray the Stations of the Cross.

• One ball of clay per child
• Ingredients for making salt dough clay (flour, water, salt, vegetable oil, red and blue food coloring) (See recipe in Hints.)
• Dark-colored markers
• Pen and Paper

• Before the activity, invite the young people to share what they already know about the events of Holy Week and the significance of the Stations of the Cross.
• Continue the discussion by saying: We pray the Stations of the Cross and meditate on the events of Jesus' suffering and death. Remembering each station is like following in Jesus' footsteps through Jerusalem.
• When you feel that the young people understand the significance of following Jesus' footsteps by observing the Stations of the Cross, provide each child with a ball of clay.
• Invite the young people to flatten the clay to the shape of a thick pancake.
• Direct them to imprint the clay with their hand or bare foot.
• As the imprints dry, ask the young people to write on a piece of paper one way they will walk in Jesus' footsteps or lend a helping hand like Jesus in their observance of Holy Week.
• When the clay prints have dried, invite the young people to copy their way to be like Jesus in the imprint of their foot or hand. Provide the young people with dark markers to write their promises.
• Invite the young people to share their clay imprints and their plans to observe Holy Week with the rest of the group.
• Encourage the young people to share their imprints with friends and family members at home.
• Close the activity by saying: Jesus carried his cross willingly. We want to follow Jesus willingly, even when it is hard. Walk with Jesus this week and prepare to rejoice with him on Easter.
  

Art/Space Smart, Self Smart

• Prepare the clay before the start of the session:
  
  Salt Dough Recipe
  
  Ingredients:
  4 cups flour
  1 cup salt
  1 1/2 cups hot tap water
  2 tsp vegetable oil
  blue and red food coloring
  
  Directions:
  Mix salt and flour together. Slowly add hot water until the dough becomes elastic.
  
  Add two teaspoons of vegetable oil. If mixture is too sticky, add more flour. If mixture is too crumbly, add more water.
  
  Add blue and red food coloring to turn the dough purple to reflect Holy Week.
  
  The dough can be stored in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to two days.

Be sure to create a space for young people to work that will be easy to clean because activity may be messy.