Vacation Bible School (VBS) Crafts and Activities Page

Crafts for Any VBS

1. Fun Foam Bracelets

What you will need: Strips of craft foam approx. 2cm in width. (The length you need depends on the sizes of the children's wrists and is best cut to size individually during the class) and sticky-back Velcro pads. To decorate use sequins, fun foam shapes, 3D fabric paint, twine, and beads. Use materials appropriate for each age group.

What to do:

1. Measure the craft foam strips to the child ’s wrist, cut to size and attach the Velcro pads to the ends.

2. Let the children write WWJD, or other message, on their bands and then decorate them as they wish.

3. To add beads, use a hole punch to make a hole to loop twin through then add beads and tie a knot in the end to secure. Sent in by Anglea

2. VBS Rocks! Paperweight Craft - Children glue small rocks into Plaster of Pair molds, paint them, and then write "VBS Rocks!" or "Jesus is my Rock!", etc. on the outside. Go to the Father's Day Crafts page for directions on how to make these.

3.  Make VBS Keepsakes - Take pictures of the children using props and costumes to fit your VBS theme. Have the children decorate picture frames to go with the pictures. This idea came from Loretta Turner she wrote, "My co-teachers and I have found that parents love having a picture keepsake from VBS of their children, so each year we build a "set" in our room (last year we did the stable scene from Jesus birth) and then have the kids dress up as the main characters (i.e. Mary and Joseph).   We took the film to the one-hour photo lab and the kids had the picture and frame (that they made in class) to take home to their parents.  It also served as a great reminder of the bible story."

4. Make a video - Our church this year made a video with all the children in it. Our theme was Ocean Odyssey so they had each child put on goggles and snorkels and wave to the camera. They also included pictures of children making crafts, at recreation, etc.  They sold the videos to the parents to help pay for the program.

5. Handling Craft Projects - Hand out a brown paper bag and small paper plate for each project. The children should put their names on both before they start their craft. The paper plate keeps you from having to clean paint off the table and off your hands when the children are done with their projects. You just pick up the paper plate with their projects on them and move them to a table to dry without having to touch the wet project. When the project dries stick them in the paper bag to store.  (We kept all the projects until the last day)  They were then taken to the children's rooms. After our closing program the children took their parents to meet their teachers and pick up their projects. This was a good incentive to get the children and parents to come back.

VBS Craft Kits and Supplies

Oriental Trading Company

Oriental Trading offers easy, inexpensive, ready-to-assemble Vacation Bible School and Christian Crafts! To check them out click the Oriental Trading Crafts picture to the right.

Memory Cross -Bible Verse Craft and Memorization Helps 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 have one for the plan of salvation which would be a great witnessing tool for your VBS. 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!  
 

VBS Craft Projects 

Here's a Great Craft for any VBS Program! - This origami craft is fun to play with and educational at the same time. It is designed so that each time it is folded it shows another picture or part of a Bible verse and then keeps repeating over and over. The Memory Cross will help your children remember their Bible verses as they play. They can be used with any VBS program. Children of all ages will enjoy designing their own Memory Crosses. The small Memory Crosses cost 40 cents each and the 7" x 7" cost 50 cents each.

Go to Memory Cross to order yours today!
 

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1. Vacation Bible School Songs:

Here at Our Bible School
(Sung to: Up On the Housetop)

C
Here at our Bible School we have fun,
F          C       G
Lots to do for everyone.
C
This is the only place for me.
F               C     G           C
Come and visit and you'll see.

F                   C
We have fun, we all pray,
       G7                       C
We learn about Jesus every day.
C                                   F
Here at our Bible School we have fun,
C                              G     C
There's a lot to do for everyone!
©Mary Flynn

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Vacation Bible School
(Sung to: You Are My Sunshine)

              C
I love my Bible School, Vacation Bible School,
                F                  C
This is the only place to be!
                  F                           C
We pray to Jesus and we have fun here,
                         G7                      C
And it's the only Bible School for me!
© Mary Flynn

If you like these songs, consider purchasing "Praise 4 God ~ Just 4 Kids©", a collection of more than 75 simple songs and poems of praise..

2008 VBS Programs

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“UMI has captured recreational fun as a component for Chosen Champions for Jesus.  Ten biblically-based lessons, crafts, snacks, music and more make up this awesome VBS program. Take on the actions and attitude of Jesus Christ and other Bible characters as you explore the many ways to be a champion in your life.”  “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (from 1 Peter 2:9, NIV).

This web site does not endorse or recommend any particular VBS program and may or may not agree with what is taught in each curriculum. It is up to the reader to determine if the teachings agree with his or her beliefs.

Other VBS Links

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New Children's Ministry Forums - http://www.childrensministry.net/ideaswap.html - This site has VBS ideas for all the major VBS programs.

Vacation Bible School Planning - http://www.gbgm-umc.org/marshltn/vbsmain.html

Vacation Bible School Forum by Delphi Forums
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=VBSinfo

A VBS Overflowing with Love
http://www.gbod.org/evangelism/programs/offeringchrist/vbs.html

Vacation Bible School; Then and Now
http://www.skypoint.com/members/dbc/VACATIONBIBLESCHOOL.html

Vacation Bible School Tips
http://sschool.com/content/vbs.htm (top)

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