Little Flowers for God

To help the children discover how they can follow Saint Therese's Little Way to God

The children will see how they can follow the example of Saint Therese's Little Way by finding concrete ways to practice the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Markers
• Glue
• Large piece of butcher paper or newsprint
• Chalkboard or flip chart

• After discussing the life of Saint Therese, tell the children that this saint is also known as The Little Flower because she considered herself just a small flower in God's wonderful garden.
• Brainstorm with the children to think of the names of various flowers. Invite each child to choose a flower from the list to represent him or her. (Encourage each child to choose a different kind of flower.)
• Using construction paper, have each child create his or her own flower with petals large enough to write on and to write his or her name in the center of the flower.
• Share with the children that Saint Therese called her way to become a saint of the Little Way because she tried to do everything out of love for God and for others. In this way, no choice or action was insignificant, but rather, everything she said or did could be used to express her faith, hope, or love of God.
• Write the words FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY across the top of a chalkboard or chart paper. Brainstorm simple actions that when done with the right intention would express one of these three virtues.
• After the children have created their flowers, ask them to choose one or more of the ways to imitate Saint Therese's Little Way. Have them write their choices on the different petals of their flowers.
• Finally, have each child glue (or tape) his or her flower to the butcher paper to form a garden of Little Flowers for God

Art/Space Smart, Word Smart

If there are children in your group with special needs (physical, visual, hearing, language, or behavioral disabilities), adapt the activity accordingly.