Trace the children's hands on colored construction paper, or allow the children to trace their own hands if they are able. Each child should create one or two hands if the wreath will be kept in the classroom or several hands if they will each take a wreath home.Cut out the hand shapes. Allow the students to decorate their hand shapes with crayons, markers, paint, glitter or stickers. Older students may write a Bible verse pertaining to friendship on each hand. Glue the hands together in a circle to make a wreath. If they are making individual wreaths, distribute the hands so each child has a hand from each friend. An option is to write "God Gives Me Friends" on a sheet of paper or paper plate and attach it to the center of the wreath.
Make or purchase craft clay to make the beads. To save time, make the beads in advance by rolling them into small balls and poking a hole through the center. Use a straw for large holes or a toothpick for small holes. Allow 48 hours for the beads to dry. Each student may then paint one bead for each student in the class. When the paint is dry, each student can hand out the beads to the others individually while saying the children's names, "God gave me my friend Sarah." Cut lengths of embroidery floss, string, ribbon or yarn to the appropriate length or a necklace or bracelet. Allow the students to string the beads onto the string. Tie the ends together.
Friendship pins can be made from attaching pipe cleaners to pins used for making buttons. Have each child make circles out of one silver and one gold pipe cleaner and interlock the circles together to represent friendship. Other colors may be used. If the pin has an adhesive strip, remove the paper backing and press the pipe cleaners to the pin. Use craft glue if there is no adhesive strip. Once the pins are dry, allow the students to exchange them. They may repeat a phrase as they exchange them such as, "I am thankful for my friend."
You can use this craft to discuss how God makes each of your friends different. Print out pictures of children, such as the ones at Making Learning Fun. Purchase a bag of loose buttons or bring buttons you have at home. Allow the children to color the picture and discuss how each child looks different. Let them glue buttons on the picture. Write at the top of the page "God Gives Me Friends" or write this title on a bulletin board and attach the pictures around it for a classroom display.