From my notebook...

The Empty Manger

Give each child a smallish cardboard box (alternately, you can all work together to fill one "manger"). Decorate it if you wish. Each time a child does a good turn or a kind deed, they can add a piece of straw (even cut up yellow construction paper works!) to the manger. The goal is to make a soft, snug manger bed for Baby Jesus! After the children are asleep on Christmas Eve, add a sweet little Infant Jesus to the bed.