Materials

• Maple leaf tags (download below)
• Wide-mouth canning jars (1/2 quart)
• Variety of popcorn kernels, dried beans, lentils, peas, etc.
• Spoons or small scoops
• Bowls
• Votive or tea light candles or LEDs
• Glue
• Ribbon or raffia in fall colors
• Scissors
• Crayons or markers

Instructions

Print one maple leaf tag on card stock for each student. Have students color their leaf tag then cut it out and set aside.

Pass out one canning jar and one candle to each student. Pour each kind of dried beans, etc. into separate bowls for students to share. Have the students scoop one color at a time of the dried beans into their jar, layering the different colors. Fill the jars about ¾ full. Place the candle into the center of the beans, gently pushing it down so it is stable.

Tie a length of ribbon or raffia around the jar near the top. Use a dot of glue to hold it in place. Glue the leaf tag onto the center of the ribbon or directly onto the jar.

Discussion

You can take this candle home and use it on Thanksgiving Day to remind you what we learned about God today. James 1:17 tells us God is the Father of lights. He is the Creator of the whole universe! He created dark and light, day and night, the sun, moon, and stars. And we should thank and praise him for his creation. But even though the lights in the sky change, God will never change—he is immutable. And that’s a great thing because we can trust God completely, knowing he will always be the same.