From taking an Ascension Day climb to launching rockets to doing cloud crafts, these activities will inspire you to more fully celebrate the feast of the Ascension in your home.Â
Below, you’ll find crafts that call to mind the rise of Jesus through the clouds into Heaven, along with ideas for activities for Ascension Day.Â
Activities & Games to Celebrate the Ascension in Your Homeschool
- Spend the day hiking a large hill or in the mountains. Once you reach the top, enjoy the day with a picnic. Bring a blanket and spread it out at the top of the hill. Look at the clouds and talk about Christ’s Ascension into Heaven.
From All Year Round:
“Forty days after Easter, as described in Acts 1:2-12, the Risen Christ was “taken up” into the heavens and “a cloud received Him out of (the disciples’) sight.” The story gives us the picture of the disciples as they “looked steadfastly out toward heaven.”Â
In some parts of Europe, Ascension Day is a public holiday, but no longer in England. If it is possible to take an outing, try to leave the car behind and walk to a hilltop. Find a space there to day-dream awhile, to watch the mist rising, to see the showers fall, to feel one’s mind and soul broadened by the boundless creative life of the far-ranging clouds.
At this time of year, when the meadow flowers open their thousand blossoms to the sun, and the dandelion clocks give their little stars to the breeze, nature appears secure in the promise of the future. Whether the clouds overhead are black or white, we too can feel linked to the stream of blessings which unite heaven and earth. The soft summer clouds lie beyond the grasp of little fingers, but a billowing, silken parachute is perhaps the next best thing …”
- Blow bubbles to represent the upward rise of Christ to Heaven.
- Fly paper airplanes.
- Draw clouds on heavy white paper and cut them out. Glue cotton balls onto the paper to make fluffy clouds. Punch a hole in the top of the clouds and run a string through the hole. Suspend the clouds over your dining room table for your Ascension feast.
- Begin your Pentecost novena to the Holy Spirit.
- Release white helium balloons and watch as they ascend into the sky. You can print a picture of Jesus to color, cut it out, and tie it to the balloon with string. You children will love watching Jesus ascend into Heaven!
- Fly kites for the Feast of the Ascension. Even better, make your own kites!
- Shoot off some fireworks.
- Talk with your children about doing things that connect us to those who are no longer living near us. This can be praying for those far off loved ones, writing letters, Zoom calling, and sending small gifts through the mail.
- Decorate your home altar with cotton batting pulled into “clouds.” You can hang a statue of the Risen Christ on some clear fishing line above your home altar or from the lights above your dining room table.Â
- Recall how difficult it was for the disciples to say good-bye to Jesus. They were scared and felt alone. We can offer up our daily fears to God to turn into good in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Remember that Christ is always with us!
- Collect dandelion flowers that have gone to seed. Blow the seeds into the breeze to watch how they float up.
From Festivals with Children:Â “All children love the dandelion with its many golden, sunlike blossoms! On an Ascension walk with the children, we can let the children pick dandelion puffs and blow the seeds with their little stars into the wide world. This works best when done from a small hilltop with a slight wind blowing. The festival of Ascension is threatened with extinction through neglect. Yet, all those who have experienced, even a little bit, the greatness of this ten-day festival will want to do all they can to plant in the hearts of children a seed of understanding for the tremendous meaning of this event.”
Rockets Ascending for Ascension Day
Do a homeschool science project with rockets. You can construct rockets and then send them ascending on Ascension Day as an image of the ascension of Christ up to Heaven.
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Ascension Day Crafts
Ascension Craft – Ten Kids and a Dog
The Ascension of Jesus Craft – Catholic Teacher Resources
The Ascension Glowing Cloud Craft – Catholic Inspired
3-D Ascension Craft – Catholic Inspired
Ascension Day Coloring Pages – The Catholic Homeschool
Printable Ascension Day Craft – Sekola Minggu
Printable Risen Jesus – Catholic Icing
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