Bible Crafts for Older Children

Crafts help children remember their lessons on the bible.bible image by iMAGINE from Fotolia.com

Teachers and parents often augment their bible study lessons with bible craft projects. Bible crafts give children an opportunity to express and reflect on what they have learned, making it more likely that they will remember the lesson. Older kids often feel that crafts are for young children but there are some bible crafts they can enjoy creating as well.

Praying Hands Sand Painting

Older children can create a sand painting of praying hands to go along with a lesson on the Lord's Prayer. Print out a picture of praying hands. Carefully cut out the picture and glue it onto a rectangular piece of cardboard. Draw a stained glass design around the hands. Mix sand or salt with a small amount of powdered tempura paint, adding more paint until you achieve the desired color. Mix several different colors of sand. Spread a very thin layer of white school glue on a small area of the picture. If the glue is too thick, mix some glue in a bowl with a small amount of water and use a paint brush to paint it on the picture. Cover the glue with colored sand and shake what does not stick on to a sheet of newspaper. Repeat this process until the picture is done. Seal the sand painting when it is dry by spraying it with hairspray or artist's fixative.

Draw the Star of Bethlehem on the paper backing of a small piece of clear contact paper. Cut the star out. Remove the paper backing and affix the star to the glass votive holder. Make sure that there are no bubbles and that the edges of the star are firmly pressed down. Place the jar on a piece of newspaper or a paper towel. Paint the entire outside of the votive holder with poster paint. Paint over the contact paper as well, making sure that the paint covers the glass right up to the edges of the star. Allow the paint to dry. Add another coat if necessary. When the paint is dry, carefully peel off the contact paper star. Place a votive candle in the holder.

With adult supervision, older children can practice basic sewing skills and create a pair of 10 Commandments pillows. Cut four rectangles from light gray, cotton fabric measuring 12 inches long by 10 inches wide. Round off the top corners of the rectangles. On a computer, use the word processing program to create two images. The first image is a list of the first five commandments and the second is a list of the last five commandments. Reverse the images. Print the images on to iron-on cool peel transfer paper. Make sure to use the transfer paper that is right for your type of printer. Iron the images onto the fabric according to the manufacturer's instructions. Pin the right sides of the fabric together and sew around each pillow, allowing a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Leave a 2 inch opening on each pillow. Turn the pillows right side out, stuff them with fiberfill and hand stitch the openings closed.