Here are a few crafts that can be used when you are teaching children about New Testament stories. They are not difficult to make and require few materials.
Mosaic Fish Picture: Use with Fisher's of Men or Calling of First Disciples
Materials:
- Cardstock paper (white)
- Pencil
- Construction Paper (various colors; blue for the water)
- Glue or glue stick
Directions:
- Draw a big fish in the center of the cardstock. Do not give the fish a lot of detail. The simpler the better.
- Choose the colors you want your fish to be. Tear off small pieces of construction paper. Remember to tear a lot of blue for the water.
- Spread glue on part of the picture and stick on the colored paper. Start with the water and then work on the fish. Let dry.
Painted Pebbles: Use with story of Stephen or a God is My Rock theme
Materials:
- Large, smooth stones or pebbles
- Poster paint (various colors, but definitely white)
- Paint Brushes (various tip sizes)
- Varnish
Directions:
- Wash the stone and dry.
- Paint the stone with a thick layer of white paint. Let dry.
- Paint a picture on the stone, using a small-tipped paint brush. Let dry.
- Brush the stone with varnish to keep it from chipping. Let dry.
Seashell Sailboats: Use with Jesus Calms the Storm or Paul's Shipwreck
Materials:
- Seashells (medium and large size)
- Modeling clay
- Leaves
- Small sticks
Directions:
- Stick a small piece of modeling clay in the seashell.
- Thread leaves onto the small sticks.
- Push the sticks into the modeling clay.
Finger Puppets: Use with any Bible Story
Materials:
- Copy paper
- Pieces of felt (various colors)
- Fabric glue
- Scissors
- Fine point marker
- Pencil
Directions:
- Draw a pattern for the puppet you want to make on the copy paper first.
- Using your drawing as a template and cut out the body of the puppet twice (front and back). Remember that puppet has to fit on your finger.
- Draw the features of your puppet on other pieces of felt using a fine point marker and cut them out. You can make hair, arms, legs, ears, tails, etc.
- Glue around the body at the outer edge. Now press the two body pieces together to they line up. Leave the bottom edge of the body open.
- Now glue on the features of your puppet.
Dough Models: Use for Last Supper or other Bible Feasts
Materials:
- 1-1/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 3/4 c. water
- 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1-1/4 c. salt
- Poster paint (various colors)
- Paint brushes
- Cookie sheet
Directions:
- Set oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix the flour, water, salt, and oil into a soft dough. Add more water if necessary.
- Sprinkle some flour on a table. Knead the dough on the table until it is smooth and stretches.
- Model the dough into different shapes, like food, a bowl, a plate, etc.
- Place the shapes on a cookie sheet and bake them for 20 minutes.
- Once the shapes cool, you can paint them with poster paint. Let dry.
- Coat the shapes with varnish to keep them from cracking. Let dry.
Other crafts you might enjoy: Sunday School Crafts and Preschool Bible Crafts. Even more Bible crafts can be found at Preschool Sunday School Central.
The copyright of the article New Testament Bible Crafts in Christian Parenting is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish New Testament Bible Crafts in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
