Family Prayer Tree

Looking for a way to get the family praying together without it feeling like a chore to get EVERYONE involved?!?!  Start a Family Prayer Tree.

Order one those tree bulletin board sets, here is a favorite of mine:
http://www.teacherstorehouse.com/product2.asp?product_key=89444&n=Big+Realistic+Tree+bulletin+Board+Set&order_key=&goto=default.asp%3Forder%3D%26pagenum%3D1%26type_key%3D1%26classification_key%3D2%26subject_key%3D%26language_key%3D%26season_key%3D%26grade_key%3D%26product_category_key%3D

Take a wall in the house that everyone passes by, put the tree up without leaves.  Use a ziplok baggie to hold the leaves or make a pocket to put on the wall nearby to hold the leaves.  Have each person take a leaf and a marker to write on the leaf a prayer request of theirs and date it (if a wee one, have them draw a picture and help them date it) and then hang on the tree.  Then pray over each request together.  When you come back together as a family, review the leaves already up on the tree and take them off the tree and stick them around the bottom like a fall tree scene that shows God answered it and write the date God answered it.

This will be a living visual of how God WORKS in your lives and cares about everyone's request no matter how simple, how complex, how weird, how strange, how impossible...

Chore Lapbook

So, if you are like me you probably have MANY things to do at home... wash the dishes, do the never-ending laundry, clean windows, pick up toys, vacuum, dust, and the list goes on and on.  Well, I decided to take a lapbook and turn it into a fun chore chart that will also help with learning the days of the week, counting money, and I added some special surprises too!

Front Cover
I used an orange file folder and did a shutter book fold.

Inside
Days of the Week: I used one of those bracket sliders, so I can switch the day on top each day and add the chores and/or surprise petal book.
Chore Pocket: Contains pictures of different chores (dusting, car wash, vacuum, clean toilet, wash dishes, etc.)
Extras: These are pictures of "special" times to be added to the surprise book on a day (I will use this sporadically) but I included things like ice cream cone, fruit snacks, movie night, extra 10 minutes of play time, etc.
Rewards envelope: This is where I will put "play" money, for Jordan to open once chores are complete on that day.
Earned $ Pocket: Puts the "play" money to turn in at the end of the week for "real" money.

Back Cover
This is where Jordan will learn to count money.  Since I am using "play" quarters, I will have him stack them 4 high on each circle to represent $1.  When he gets to the last square, which is 15, he can then go shopping for a new toy (which will most likely be a new Thomas Train).