Rainforest VBS Craft: You Rock Paperweight

Let your students make rock paperweights for your Rainforest VBS program this summer. The Bible story the third day is the parable of the Good Samaritan. Give your kids a chance to be good Samaritans with this fun craft. (This craft is for Lily, who loved our VBS Flowerpot craft posted on March 3 and asked for more crafts to go with the Rainforest VBS.)

Collect a large, smooth rock for each child. Wash the rocks with warm, soapy water and scrub them with a brush. Let them dry. Bring acrylic paint, paintbrushes, felt, scissors, glue, permanent markers, glitter glue, and paint pens.

Cover the work area with newspapers or do this craft outside. Have each child put on a paint shirt. Old VBS T-shirts or small, short-sleeved adult shirts work well for paint shirts. Let each child think of a helper (or good Samaritan) at home or church (or in their neighborhood) to recognize with this paperweight gift.

Have each child paint his rock with acrylic paint and then brush it with glitter glue. Help him glue a piece of felt to the bottom of the rock. Let him use a paint pen or permanent marker to write YOU ROCK or GOD LOVES YOU on the rock. He can use a permanent marker to outline the painted letters so they stand out. Talk about the story of the good Samaritan as the children work. Say the memory verse together a few times.

Spray the rock with acrylic sealer spray or let the child brush it with a white glue and water varnish. If you have time, let each child make a card to go with the paperweight. Have the child print the memory verse (Matthew 22:37-39) on the card. (Print the memory verse onto mailing labels beforehand for younger children to add to the cards.) Let the child decorate the card with heart stickers and "sign" her name. Encourage each child to give her rock to someone this week.