Bible Crafts and Activities For Sunday School

Ants

Scripture Reference - Proverbs 6:6-8

"Consider the Ants" Bible Lesson on The Resource Room - In this Bible lesson, children learn that we can learn from the ants and become wise. The ants do their work even when they don't have someone telling them what to do or checking up on them. Following are some ideas from the lesson.

Free Home school Curriculum - This is a free sample lesson. It is great for Christian preschools, Sunday School, and home school. Click here to get your free sample lesson - Consider the Ants Free Sample Lesson.

This lesson is part of a series of lessons designed especially for Christian schools and home schools. They come with ABC learn-to-print worksheets and cursive writing worksheets. Each worksheet concentrates on one letter of the alphabet with a Bible verse and lesson to go along with the letter. They also contain other ideas in creative writing, mathematics, and other areas.

 

Crafts:

1. Make an Ant picture - Have the children draw an ant hill on a piece of paper (Or use the color sheet below). Show them how to press their fingers on an inkpad to make ants. Add legs and antennae. Talk about the body parts of an ant, head, abdomen, and thorax.

2. Color a picture of an ant - This lesson comes with a color sheet of ants on an anthill. If you aren't using a color sheet you can just have your children draw a picture of ants and an anthill. Children will also enjoy sprinkling glitter over the sand on the anthill to make it look more like sand.

3. Study Ants - Set up an ant farm. Watch the ants work. Go for a walk and look for ants. What are they doing? Follow them back to their homes. At the beginning of class set out a plate of different foods near an anthill. At the end of class go out and check up on the plate to see if any ants have come for a meal. What did they like best?

4. Practice printing and writing - This lesson was designed to go along with ABC worksheets using the Bible verse. Children practice writing the letter A in print or cursive or write the complete verse in cursive.

5. Make a list - Have the children make a list of things that they will try to remember to do without having to be reminded. This activity comes with a decorative sheet with ants all the way around the edge (available to Resource Room Members Only).

6. Pretend to be ants - Divide your children up into groups of three to four ants: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. The children who are the thorax and abdomen should place their hands on the shoulders of the child in front of them. Let them practice walking together saying left and right, left and right, as they go. Tell them to try to keep their feet all moving at the same time. Next, have them try marching to the Ant Chant.

Ant Chant

Left and right, left and right.
We work hard all day and night.

Left and right, left and right.
Working hard is our delight.

Left and right, left and right.
We don't whine, we do it right.

Left and right, left and right.
Jesus is our guiding light.
©Carolyn Warvel - Do not reprint without permission

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7. Make a letter "A" anthill - Show the children how to draw a large letter A on their papers. The A is the anthill. Show the children a picture of what an anthill look like inside. Have them draw in their own tunnels. They can also make ants using their fingerprints or glue raisins on the paper for ants.

8. Counting Ants - Draw anthills on ten paper plates and number them one - ten. Give your children raisins and have them place the correct number of ants on each plate. Then eat them all up!

9. Eat ants and sand! - Give each child a Ziploc bag of Graham cracker crumbs with raisins in it and let them pour it on a plate to explore and eat the anthill and ants.

Beatitudes Sunday School Lesson for Children - Recipe for Happiness

Scripture References: Matthew 5:1-12 - The Beatitudes, Psalm 146:5, and John 6:1-14

The following ideas come from the Sunday School lesson "Recipe for Happiness" on The Resource Room. In this lesson children learn that the happiness the world offers doesn't last very long, but true happiness comes from God and obeying his words. This lesson goes with the lesson "Taste and See".

Early Arrivals Activity

1. Decorate Happy Face Cookies - Before class make a batch of sugar cookies. Bring in icing to decorate the cookies, mini M&Ms for the eyes, and use black icing in a tube to make the smile.

 

2. Color "Recipe for Happiness" Picture - (Available to members only.)

3. Make Cookie Men Refrigerator Magnets

What you will need: Cookie colored paper, card stock, tape, googly eyes or eye stickers and small magnets.

What to do:

1. Before class print out cookie patterns onto card stock and cut them out. Print out hands and feet patterns and Bible Verse Patterns onto card stock and cut them out. (Patterns available to members only.)

2. In class have your children color the hands and feet patterns to match the cookie pattern and tape them to the back of the cookie pattern to make a cookie man.

3. Tape or glue the Bible verse card to the cookie man's hand.

4. Glue a magnet to the back of each cookie man so your children can stick them to their refrigerators at home.

4. Color pictures of the Beatitudes to be used during the lesson - Before class print out eight different pictures representing each Beatitude and have your children color them. If you have more than eight children, make extras. You can use more than one picture during the lesson. (Available to members only.)

5. Wooden Spoon Craft

What you will need: Wooden spoons, paper, yarn or fake fur for hair, googly eyes, pompoms for nose, and glue.

What to do:

1. Before class print out the clothes and hat patterns onto card stock (Outfit pattern and Hat Pattern) and cut them out. (Instead of using the Bible verse cards that are on the hat pattern use the Bible Verse Card Patterns from the cookie man craft.) (Patterns available to members only.)

2. In class have your children color the patterns and then glue them to the spoon.

3. Glue on hair, googly eyes, and a pompom nose.

4. To finish cut a slit just above the thumb and place the card in the slit so it looks like the chef is holding the card. Glue the card to the hand.

 

6. Decorate a Potholder

What you will need: Potholders and permanent makers or fabric paint. You can buy cotton potholders from Oriental Trading Company, Type in 48/2148 in the search box at the top of the page to find this item.

What to do:

1. Have your children write the memory verse on one side of the potholder and decorate the rest of it with permanent markers both back and front.

7. Make Chef's Hats - Go to FamilyFun.com for directions on how to make a paper chef's hat.

7. Decorate a Chef's Hat - S&S Worldwide sells Color-Me Chef Hat Craft Kits - including permanent markers, crayons and foam shapes - 12 for $15.49.

8. Bible Verse Review Concentration Game - Before class print out cookie men cards and cut them apart. (Patterns available to members only.)

In class place the cards face down on the table. Have your children take turns turning over two cards at a time trying to find matches. If you children are too small to read, read the words on the cards as they turn them over. They will help them to remember the verses and what they mean.

If a child finds a match, have him read the words on the card and give an example of what is written on the card.

9. Cookie Game

1. Before class print out Cookie Patterns and Cookie Jar Patterns onto card stock and cut them out. Patterns available to members only.)

2. Write one word of the verse on each cookie.

3. Prepare the Cookie Jar. Fold the Cookie Jar Pattern in half and tape along the side and bottom edge.

4. Hide the cookies in the room.

5. After the lessons write the Bible verse on the board and go over the verse. Then have your children go and find one cookie each. Tell them to go back and sit down when they have found one cookie. When all the cookies have been found go over the verse again, one word at a time. Ask the child with the cookie with the word you are looking at to bring his cookie up and place it in the cookie jar; or have him tape it to the wall.

You can also make a set for each child to take home and practice his or her Bible verse during the week. Use only the first half of the verse for younger children.

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:" Psalm 146:5

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Bible Verse Review and Memorization Ideas

1. Bible Verse File Card Holder

   What you will need: Macaroni and cheese box, glue, paint, and decorative trims (optional)

   What to do:
   1. Carefully open up the ends of your box. Leave the side glued together. Flatten out the box so that the front of the box is lying in front of you as shown in the first diagram. One of the side panels of the box should be on the top. The top and bottom flaps should be lying flat also as shown in the picture.
   2. Cut the top fold as shown with the top red line in the first diagram. Cut 1" down on the front of the box as shown in the first diagram by the second red line.
   3. The box should still be lying flat. Remove the part you cut away. Your box should look like the second diagram.
   4. Measure 1" down from each side of the box (the top and bottom tabs) and then draw a line up to the top where the bottom or top tabs meet the back panel as shown in the picture. Cut away the triangle shape.
   5. Turn the box inside out and glue it back together.
   4. Have the children paint the box and glue on decorative trims.
   5. You may also want to glue magnets to the back of the box so that the boxes can be stored on the refrigerator.
   

   If you don't have a Macaroni & Cheese Box, a pattern is available to members only. Print out onto card stock. Cut out the pattern on the solid lines and fold on the dotted lines. Glue the side flaps closed.

2. Bible Verse Frisbee

What you will need:

1. Cool-Whip or other dairy whipped topping container lids
2. Pre-printed or pre-made easy-to-learn Bible verses or pictures about the focus Bible story for the lesson (Pictures from magazines, old Christmas cards, Valentines or greeting cards could also be used- depending on the theme).
3. Stickers
4. Craft glue
5. Paint markers (washable or permanent - depending on the age).

What to do:

1. Before class print out the Bible verse your children will be learning on sticker paper or card stock. Cut them to fit the lid size and stick or glue them to the lid.
2. In class have your children decorate the lids with stickers or markers.
   Older children can draw a picture relating to the lesson on one side of the "Frisbee".
3. Have the children toss their Frisbees at a target, play catch, or just throw and run after them, repeating the Bible verse each time they throw them.
   Children can take their Frisbees home and share the verse or story and play with the Frisbee with the family.
   
   Sent in by Yvonne Bledsoe

3. Bible Verse Memorization Using the Memory Cross - Here is a great way for your students to memorize Bible verses. This origami cross can be folded over and over changing shapes and showing a different part of the Bible verse each time. Your children will find that it is hard to stop using them once they start. Memory Cross offers Bible verses that go along with many of the most popular Vacation Bible School programs. They also have one for the plan of salvation, which would be a great witnessing tool. They also have many other Bible verse packages you can pick from. If they don't have what you want, you can custom order them. Or you can order blank ones and have your children make their own. (See the pictures below.) Go to Memory Cross to order yours today!

Make You Own Memory Crosses

Go to Memory Cross to order yours today!

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Leafing Through The Bible

The tree on the left has leaves with the books of the Old Testament written on them and the tree on the right has the books of the New Testament. One book of the Bible is written on each leaf. We made a paper butterfly attached to a clothespin for each student. Their butterfly was attached to the leaf they could get to when reciting the books of the Bible. Sent in by Debbie Cleveland

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Bible Reading - Get Your Paws On a Good Book

I used a daily Bible reading theme by using a dog (similar to the one on your "Beware of the Dogs" lesson.) holding a Bible. I called it "Get Your Paws on the Good Book." Each child got a weekly "doggie bag"(a brown paper bag) with 7 dog bones (copied onto tan construction paper) with a daily Bible verse and a question about the reading. Each child brought his/her bag back each week with their signature and parent's initial that each passage was read and the question answered. I asked the parents to participate to encourage family devotions. Carol Weddle

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Books of the Bible

1. Play a fall leaf game and make a bulletin board display - Print out the leaf shaes and write one book of the Bible on each leaf.(A pattern for the leaves are available on The Resource Room. ) (You can make this a craft activity by having the children cut out and color the leaves and then write the books of the Bible on them.) Make enough sets so that every two children have a set. In class tell the children that on the word "go" they are to find the books of the Bible in order and place them in a pile starting with Matthew. The first team to finish wins. You can let them look in their Bibles if they need help. When all the teams are finished have them staple the leaves in order from the top of the bulletin board to the bottom. Have the words "The Books of the Bible are Falling into Place" written at the top. You can easily change the theme of this game to go along with the season you are teaching it. For instance, if you start at Christmas time, you can attach pieces of paper with the books of the Bible written on them to pieces of candy.

2. Hangman Bible Book Review - (Older Children) Play like hangman but use only the books of the Bible.

3. Hide and Seek - (Younger Children) Before class hide the books of the Bible written on sheets of paper around the room. (Tape them under chairs and tables, hang them from the ceiling with thread, etc.) On the word go have the children look for the books. When they have all been found have the children work on putting them in order.

4. Stack the Books - For each of the Bible use a cereal box or skinnier box and write the name of a different book of the Bible on each box. Use bigger boxes for the bigger books of the Bible and smaller ones for the smaller books. As your children learn the books have them stack the boxes to see how high they can make the stack. You can divide the children into two teams and have a competition between the teams, even offer a prize to the winning team. If you don’t want to use boxes, you can just use oold books you have around the house and put fake covers on them. You can play games with the boxes. You can mix them up and see how fast they can put them in order. You can also make up relay races to see which team can place their boxes in order first.When your children have learned all the books have them set the boxes up like dominoes and watch them fall.

5. Match Game - (Any age) Make two cards each for each book of the Bible you are studying. Turn the cards over and have the children take turns turning two cards over to see if they match. If they match, the child gets to keep the cards. If not, the child turns the cards back over and the next child takes a turn.

6. Memory Card Game - (Any age) You can also make up a memory game. Write some of the books of the Bible on cards, start with three or four books. Turn over the cards and have the children take turns turning them over. They must first look for the first book in your series. If you are using Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Num. and Deut, they must first find Genesis. If a child finds Genesis, he takes another turn and tries to find Exodus. If he finds Exodus, he can take another turn and try to find Leviticus. He keeps turning over cards until he gets one out of order. He must then turn all the cards back over. Don’t mix up the cards. The other children should be watching carefully so they can remember where the cards are. Keep playing until a child can turn over all the cards in order. For younger children, to make it a little easier, color code the cards, make each card a different color and make a sample of all the cards in order so your children know what they are looking for. You can read the cards for them as they turn them over. They will be learning the books when they hear you saying them over and over.

7. Dice Game - Print out the Books of the Bible cards - (A pattern for the cards available on The Resource Room) and write each book of the Bible you are studying on the colored blocks in order. Print out the large die pattern and write a book of the Bible on each side of the die matching the colors on the card.(A die pattern is availble on The Resource Room) Give each child a card with the books of the Bible written on it. Have your children take turns throwing the die. If the die shows the first book of the Bible, they can mark that book off on their card. If not, they must try again next turn. The children can only mark off the books in order. (If you have younger children, you can have them mark off the books in any order.) The child who marks off all their books first wins. If the die lands so it shows a book that is not the next in order, (or has already been marked off) the child loses his turn and must try again next time.

8. Toss Game - Before class write the books of the Bible you are studying on a large poster board. Color code the books. Make up cards that match the poster. For example, if Genesis is on a red square, make a red card with Genesis written on it. Make a set of cards for each team. Have the teams take turns throwing a beanbag onto the poster board that is placed on the ground. If the beanbag lands on a square with a book of the Bible that that team doesn’t already have the child who tossed the beanbag gets to pick up the matching card for their team and place the card in order. The team that gets all the cards in order first wins.

9. Game - A friend of mine has taken old CD's and made alabel foreachwith a N.T. book. She made a post, kind of like horse shoes. The kids stack the books on the post in order, learning five at a time. She made a game out of this by dividing the class into two teams. The team that has their post filled first wins. The only way to fill the post is for everyone on that team to say the books that are on the post. It's working, so far so good! Sent in by Connie

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

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Bread of Life

Begin class with a sandwich party. Let your children choose what they would like on their bread. While your kids are enjoying this yummy treat, discuss how often we eat bread. Ask them what kind of things they like to put on their bread. Show them different kinds of bread: Brown bread, flat bread, long bread, etc. Tell your children that their is another kind of bread, but we don't eat it. Let them guess what it could be. When everyone gives up guessing announce that Jesus is bread too. Explain how the Bible is food for our souls and we need it daily. Just as we need to have bread to fill our tummy's, we have to have Jesus too so our hearts don't get hungry. After clean up have your children color a picture of a Bible and a picture of bread. Memory verse should appear on their picture of the Bible "I am that bread of life." John 6:48

Allow kids to reenact what they just learned with their colored pictures. Holding up the Bible picture say "this bread is for my belly" holding up the picture of the colored bread say "this bread is for my heart" Sent in by Kelly Hamilton

Bread of Life Lessons and crafts on The Resource Room.

Soul Food- Preschool children learn that feeding their souls with God’s words is much more important than feeding their bodies and that they need a daily filling of God’s words to grow strong in their faith. They visit the "Soul Food Market" and shop for Bible verses to feed their souls.

Primary children will enjoy making a "Bowl of Soul Food" - Wrap candy with Bible verses written on long sheets of paper. Then wrap with pretty colors of Handi-wrap.

Go on a Spiritual Picnic - Tell the children to raise their hands if they like picnics. Picnics are a lot of fun. People get together and share their favorite foods and enjoy each other’s company. Tell the children that today they are going on a picnic -- a spiritual picnic. We are going to get together and share God’s words. Each child is going to bring their favorite “soul food” to the picnic. You will read it to the class and share why it is your favorite or one of your favorite verses.

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Bulletin Board Displays

1. "Thanks Mom" - Mother's Day Bulletin Board
2. Jesus Saves, That's Something to Crow About!
3. Lay Up Your Treasures in Heaven
4. "We're Hooked on Jesus" - Door Decoration
5. Jonah Bulletin Board Display
6. Friends Bulletin Board Display
7. "Look Who Popped In" - Bulletin Board Display
8. "We Are Learning How to Follow God's Word" - Bulletin Board Display
9. Assorted Sweeties - Bulletin Board Display
10. Jesus Warms the Heart - Bulletin Board Display
11. Keys to a Happy Heart - Bulletin Board Display
12. Spring Friendship Bulletin Board Display
13. "You are Kind and Forgiving" Bulletin Board Display
14. "Fully Rely on God" - Bulletin Board Display
15. "God is Our Shepherd" - Bulletin Board Display
16. Bee Theme - Bulletin Board Display
17. "Following in His Steps" - Bulletin Board Display
18. "Jesus is the Way! - Bulletin Board Display
19. "I am the Vine" - Bulletin Board Display
20. The Fruit of the Spirit - Bulletin Board Display
21. "Soar to New Heights" - Bulletin Board Display
22. "What Kind of Friend are You? - Bulletin Board Display
23. "God is Always with Us" - Bulletin Board Display
24. Easter and Palm Sunday Bulletin Board Display

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Cain and Abel Sunday School Lesson Ideas

The ideas for this lesson come from the lesson on The Resource Room, a members-only section of Danielle's Place.

Cain and Abel - In this lesson children learn about Cain and Abel, and how Cain made the wrong choice. They learn that sin separates us from God. Sin requires punishment, but God is a kind and loving God and forgives us, and restores our relationship with him if we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.

1. Color a Bible Verse Picture - Print out the pattern and make copies. In class have your children color the picture. Highlighters work very well for this project.(Pattern available to members only.)

2. Act out the Story - Place your children in groups of three and have each group practice making a skit about Cain and Abel and then have all the groups perform their skits in front of the class. If possible record the skits and replay them in class.

3. Make up a Skit - Place your children into groups of three and have them make up their own skits that is similar to the Bible story only using characters from a different time and place.

4. Play a Relay Game - Before class write words and phrases describing Cain and Abel on wooden clothespins and place them in a large bowl. In class divide your children up into two teams and place the bowl in the middle of the two teams just before the start line. Place empty jars at the end of the room across from each team. You will need two jars for each team one that says, "Cain" and one that says, "Abel". Each child, in turn, picks up a clothespin, reads the phrase, and then runs to the other side of the room, and drops the clothespin in the jar in which that describes either Cain or Abel. They must hold their arms straight out in front of them so that their arms are parallel to the floor. When the bowl is empty the game is over. The team that has the most correct clothespins in the jars wins.

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