Main Street VBS: Prodigal Son Craft

Let your students make a story wheel to help them remember the story of the Prodigal Son from Day 4 of Inside Out and Upside Down on Main Street VBS. Bring a dinner-size paper plate and a paper fastener for each child and copy the pattern page below. Provide scissors, crayons or markers, and glue. Talk about the story of the Prodigal Son to help the children review the story events.

Have the children cut out the word strips, the arrow and the story circle. Let them glue the story circle in the middle of the paper plate and glue the corresponding word strip next to each picture. Let older children help younger ones read the word strips and match them to the pictures. Punch a hole in the arrow as indicated. Poke a hole in the middle of the paper plate. Help each child add the arrow to the plate with the paper fastener.

Talk about the events in the Bible story as the children move their arrows to the appropriate picture. Then say the memory verse together a few times.

Click on the image below to download the craft pattern for just $3.99. Then make as many copies as you need for your students.

Click on the image above to download the craft.

SonSurf Beach Bash VBS Sand Candle Craft

Before your VBS begins, cut the bottom two inches off an empty water bottle for each child. Cover the cut edge with electrical tape to prevent scratching. Do not use masking or painter's tape, since they are flammable. Save the top portion of the bottle for a future craft. (Cover the cut edge of the top with tape, too.)

Cover the work area with newspaper. Give each child a water bottle bottom with the cut edge taped. Let each child use a permanent marker to print his name on the outside. Then help him fill the bottle with colored sand or salt (or rice) to the halfway point. If you have time, bring 2/3 cup of sand (or salt or rice) in a sealable plastic bag for each child, let him add several drops of food coloring, and knead it until it is all colored. Children may alternate colors of sand, if they wish. Talk about Psalm 139:17-18 as the children work. 


Say, "God’s thoughts of love toward us are more numerous than these grains of sand. We are so precious to Him! He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us -- He loves us so much!" Give each child a tea light candle (optional). Say, "Only light your candle with your parent’s permission. Never leave a burning candle by itself. When you see your candle, remember that Jesus died and came alive again just for you, and you are very precious to Him."

Hometown Nazareth VBS Craft: Riding to Nazareth

The Bible Point for Day 3 of Group's Hometown Nazareth VBS is "Jesus had a home...we do, too." The Bible story is about Joseph and Mary escaping to Egypt with little Jesus.

Before your VBS, collect a small, empty gelatin box for each child. Print stickers with the Bible point, "Jesus had a home...we do, too." Print one sticker for each child. Also print the craft page below for each child. Cut a 10-inch length of yarn for each child. Cut out the pattern beforehand and prefold it if you have younger children in your group.

During the lesson, give one child a sticker with the Bible point. Have the child read the Bible point aloud. Talk about how God gives us each a home. (Be sensitive to children who may come from a difficult home situation.)

Then tell the story of Jesus' family escaping to Egypt from Matthew 2:13-14 and 19-23. Point out that God was with the family wherever they went and God is with us, too. After you tell the story, hand out scissors, crayons, glue, tape, a 10-inch length of yarn, and an empty gelatin box to each child. Let each child cut out the pattern and print his name on it. Help the child fold the pattern on the broken lines. Then help him glue the folded pattern around the gelatin box and tape each end of the yarn around the donkey's neck to Mary's hands.

Show the child how to pull the yarn gently to make Mary and Joseph move. As you retell the story, have him pretend to pull the family to Egypt then to Nazareth. Say, "Just as God took care of Jesus' family and gave them a home, God cares for us and gives each of us a home, too. God is with us wherever we go." Encourage the children to take home their crafts and tell the Bible story to their family members and friends.

Click the image above to download the craft

PandaMania VBS Craft: Jonah Puppet

The Bible Point for Day 3 of PandaMania VBS is "God watches over you." The Bible story is about Jonah trying to run from God. Download this Jonah craft for just $1.99 and make as many copies as you need for your students.

Before your VBS, print stickers with the memory verse in the Bible version you use for Psalm 139:12 — "Even in darkness I cannot hide from you." Print one sticker for each child. Also print the craft pages below for each child. Cut a slit in the boat on each first page. Have fabric scraps and craft sticks available.

During the lesson, have a child read the memory verse aloud from the Bible. Say it together a few times.

Then tell the story of Jonah and the big fish. After you tell the story, hand out scissors, crayons, glue or tape, and a craft stick to each child. Let each child cut out the Jonah puppet and add a craft stick handle to it. The child can glue a fabric scrap on the sail and print his name on the puppet and the boat. Older children can print the memory verse on the back of the boat.

Show the child how to slide the puppet into the slit to show Jonah on the boat. As you retell the story, have him jump Jonah out of the boat and into the waves. Explain that God took care of Jonah and provided a big fish to carry him to land. Say, "Just as God took care of Jonah and watched over him, God cares for us and watches over us." Say the memory verse together once more. Explain that God is with us wherever we go. Encourage the children to take home their crafts and tell the story of Jonah to their family members and friends.

Click here to download the craft.

You may also want to download the PandaMania Coloring Pages—a set of five coloring pages with the Bible Point and daily memory verse for just $4.99. Available in NIV or NLT memory verses. Just copy as many as you need each day.

SonSurf VBS Craft: Egg Carton Jellyfish

The theme for Day 2 of SonSurf VBS is "Look up to Jesus." The Bible memory verse for this day is Psalm 56:3 — "When I am afraid, I will trust in you" (NIV), and the Big Answer is "I can look up to Jesus and ask His help because He is trustworthy." Let your students make an egg carton jellyfish to help them remember to trust Jesus.

Collect an egg carton for every 12 children. Cut the carton cups apart so each child can have one cup. Also bring thick yarn, scissors, glue, wiggle eyes, markers, construction paper, tape, and string. If you use a cardboard egg carton, let the children paint the cups. If you use foam egg carton cups, the colored ones look best. If you use white, you can tell the children they are making moon jellies.

Help each child trim the egg cup to even out the edges. Let him glue two wiggle eyes on the cup (after painting it). Cut eight pieces of thick yarn into 6- to 8-inch lengths for the tentacles. If you use thin yarn, have the children braid three strands of yarn together for each tentacle. In that case, cut 24 pieces.

Spread a generous amount of glue inside the egg carton cup. Stick one end of each yarn piece into the  glue. Let dry. Glue a piece of yarn or string to the top of the jellyfish for hanging. Give each child a slip of paper on which to print the memory verse, Psalm 56:3. As the children work, talk about trusting Jesus. Tape the memory verse to the yarn or string hanger, just above the jellyfish. Have the children say the verse together.

Say, "God did not create you to be like the jellyfish—with no backbone. God promises to help you overcome your fears when you trust in Jesus. God will give you strength and courage when you ask Him and then trust Him." Review the Day 2 Bible story of Jesus healing the official's son (from John 4:45-54), if you have time.

Visit Shop VBS to order your SonSurf Starter Kit and supplies. Starter Kits have already started shipping and will continue to ship in January.

Make Your Own Play Clay

Play clay can provide children with hours of entertainment, but the fun doubles when the play clay is homemade. Children love working with something they've made themselves or have watched being made by an adult. There are other added benefits to making your own play clay—you get to choose what color to make it, and you have the option of making it scented! Adding a teaspoon of peppermint or cinnamon flavoring to the play clay mixture gives it added pizzazz.

Before your VBS, combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar. Add 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon cooking oil, a few drops of food coloring, and a fragrant flavoring such as wintergreen, cloves, vanilla, cinnamon, orange, lemon, or peppermint extract. Cook three minutes over medium heat or until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pad. Remove from the pan and knead slightly almost immediately. Do not let the children help with cooking or kneading since the dough may be hot. After it cools, the children will enjoy having a chance to mold and knead it.

This play clay will keep for several weeks, if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. A small can with a plastic lid (especially a colored plastic lid) makes an ideal storage container.

This clay has a soft, almost velvety feeling, making it very pleasing to the children. Keep some on hand during your VBS week, Sunday school, or Bible club for students who arrive early or need to stay late. Let them sculpt a reminder of the day's lesson.

Salt Dough Cross Craft

Let your students make salt dough crosses to reinforce your Bible story about Jesus' death and resurrection. Before your lesson or VBS day, make salt dough by mixing together 1/2 cup salt, 1 cup flour, and 1/2 cup water. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. 


Knead the dough on a floured surface until it is elastic and smooth. Roll it out to about 1/4” thick. Cut a small cross for each child (one batch makes about 20). Use a drinking straw to cut a hole in the top of each cross. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 2 hours. Cool completely. 


The day of the lesson, cover the work area with newspapers. Give each child paint shirt, a salt dough cross, a chenille wire, and a paintbrush. Let him paint the ornament, initial the back, and thread a chenille wire hanger through the hole. Provide wet wipes for clean up and small plastic bags for taking the crosses home.


As the children work, talk about the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins (the wrong things we say and do). Invite children to talk with you individually if they have questions or would like to join God's family.

Pandamania Craft: Butterfly Puppet

The Bible story for Day 4 of PandaMania VBS is from Luke  23:1–24:12, where Jesus dies and comes back to life. Have your students make this fun butterfly craft to help them remember the day's memory verse, Psalm 129:34—"Lead me along the path of everlasting life."


Before your VBS week, send a note home asking church members to bring old, clean socks so you have one for each child. Also cut a 5-inch “square” pair of wings (connected) from felt for each child. Give each child a sock, a chenille wire, a felt pair of wings, two wiggle eyes, glue, felt scraps, scissors, and a marker. Make a sample puppet to show the children. Encourage older children to help younger ones with this craft.


Show the child how to put his fist in the sock and draw a smiling mouth on it. Let him glue wiggle eyes above the mouth. While the eyes dry, let him glue felt shapes onto the wings to give them color. Help him glue the wings a couple of inches below the sock toe. Help him push the chenille wire through the sock just above the wings and back out again. Let him twist each end of the wire to make antennae. 


When the wings are dry, show the child how to turn the sock inside out slightly so the wings and antennae no longer show but so the eyes still show. The sock will look like a fat caterpillar. Let the child tell the story of how Jesus changes us and gives us new life just as the caterpillar changes into a beautiful butterfly. Have him turn the sock right-side-out so the wings show, put his hand in the sock, and let the butterfly fly.


This would be a good time to explain the salvation story. Talk individually with any child who wants to learn more.

Colorful Parrot Craft

Let your students make a Colorful Parrot craft for your Rainforest VBS program this summer. Choose one of the Bible verses from the week and print it on a sheet of poster board so the children can copy it onto their craft. (Or print the Bible memory verse of your choice onto stickers or labels. Make one sticker for each child.)

Give each child a drinking straw, various colors of construction paper, glue, tape, a 9-inch piece of yarn, scissors, and crayons or markers. Bring a hole punch (or several, if you have a large group). Copy the Parrot pattern for each child. This pattern is a download you can purchase for just $1.99. Then print as many patterns with instructions as you need. 

Make sure names are on the parrots after they are completed. Let each child add a memory verse sticker to the craft or print the memory verse on the parrot as a reminder of the Bible story and daily VBS theme.

As the children work, talk about ways they can tell others about Jesus this week. Say the memory verse together a few times.

Click on the image above to download the Parrot Pattern and craft instructions.

Paint-Your-Own VBS T-Shirts

Here's a great way to let your students make their own personalized VBS T-shirts. Ask each child attending your VBS and each volunteer helper to pre-register so you can collect their shirt sizes. Order inexpensive cotton blend T-shirts, all in the same light color. Pre-washed shirts work best. You may want to charge a small registration fee to help cover the cost of your shirts.

Collect paper grocery bags and lunch-size paper bags so you have one for each child. Lunch-size bags are for your XS shirts. Provide fabric paints and fabric markers. (Tip: Fabric markers work fine with older kids, but younger ones may have difficulty getting them to make dark enough colors.)

Make the shirts on your first day of VBS so the children have time to take them home and wash them (if you wish). They can wear their shirts on the last day of VBS or for your closing program or Sunday service. Cover your work areas with plastic tablecloths. Tape or clip the tablecloths so they won't move as the children work. Place a paper sack between the front and back of each T-shirt so the paint won't bleed through and cause the fabric to stick together.

Copy the designs below and cut the sheets in half so every two children can have a design sheet. These are for inspiration only. Encourage your students to be creative! Let each child create a design (preschoolers can create squiggles, shapes, or line art) and paint or draw it on his shirt. Have older children help younger ones so the paint doesn't puddle or clump. You may want to provide paint brushes so younger children can spread the paint around if it comes out too quickly.

Provide wet wipes and paper towels for clean up. Make sure each child's name is on his T-shirt. Set the shirts aside to dry overnight. Then send them home so the children can wear them at the end of the week. We would love to see photos of your VBS T-shirt creations. Have fun!

Sample T-Shirt Designs & Logos (copy and cut in half):

Click on the image above to download the design page.

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.

High Seas VBS Craft: Peter in Prison Puppet

Reinforce your High Seas VBS Bible story with this fun puppet craft.

The Bible story on the first day of the High Seas Expedition VBS is from Acts 12:1-19, where God frees Peter from prison. Make a Peter in Prison Puppet craft to help your students remember the Bible story. 

Give each child an unsharpened pencil or a drinking straw, a plain paper cup, and two index cards. Provide markers and tape. Punch a hole in the bottom of each paper cup. Cover the work area with newspapers. Provide paper towels and wet wipes for clean up.

This puppet craft is a download you can purchase for just $1.99. Then print as many sets of instructions as you need. 

The Bible point for the first day of  the High Seas VBS is "God's Word is true." As the children work, talk about how God freed Peter from prison. Tell the children that God is with us when we go through hard times, and all His Words are true. 

Explain that Peter was put in prison, but God freed him from the prison. Even after Peter was freed from prison, he kept telling people about Jesus. Peter was faithful to God, even when things got hard for him. Encourage the children to be faithful to God, too.

VBS Craft: Fishing for Memory Verses

This fishing craft can be the “catch of the day” for whichever memory verse your students are learning.

Before your lesson, collect a small magnet and a dowel rod or unsharpened pencil for each child. Also bring 12 metal paper clips for each child.

Give each child a dowel rod or unsharpened pencil, a small magnet, and 12 metal paper clips. Also provide tape, construction paper, and scissors. Let each child cut 12 fish shapes and a hook shape from construction paper. Have the child set aside the hook shape. Let him print a word or two from the memory verse on one side of each fish, leaving the other side blank. Have him print the Scripture reference on the same fish as the last word of the verse (or on its own fish). Then tape a paper clip near the mouth or head of each fish. Encourage older children to help younger ones. Glue the small magnet to the hook shape. Tie one end of a long length of yarn to one end of the dowel rod, and tape it in place. Tape the hook shape to the other end of the yarn. Explain that the fish should be spread out blank side up on the floor. The object is to fish for the words from the memory verse using the fishing pole and place the fish in verse order on the floor before your partner does. (At home children may time each player and the fastest one wins.) Let the children play the fishing game in pairs (each using his own fish and rod), if time allows.

VBS Craft: Rainsticks

Let your students make rainsticks for your VBS program this summer. Collect an empty paper towel tube for each child. (You may want to collect empty wrapping paper tubes for your older kids.) Also provide markers, stickers, paint, paintbrushes, paint shirts, construction paper, glue, water, paper towels, wet wipes, wide clear tape, scissors, dried beans (or split peas or rice or popcorn kernels) and foil. Print your Bible memory verse on a sticker for each child.

Cover the work area with newspapers. 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 paint a cardboard tube the first day. Encourage them to be creative with stripes, dots, squiggles, and a variety of colors. Make sure names are on the tubes. If you don't have time to let the children paint the tubes, have them cover the tubes with construction paper (after filling the tubes as described below) and decorate the tubes with markers and stickers so the rainsticks can be finished in one day.

Then give each child a 12 x 7-inch piece of foil (much longer if you're using wrapping paper tubes) to crumple loosely into a snake shape slightly shorter than the tube. Let the child place the foil snake inside the tube and tape one end of the foil to the tube to hold it in place. Give the child two 5-inch squares of construction paper. Let him use one paper to cover one end of the tube and tape it securely in place with an 8-inch strip of wide clear tape. Make sure there are no openings before the child drops in the beans. Give the child about an eighth of a cup of dried beans (or split peas or rice or popcorn kernels) to put into the tube. (Use 1/4 cup for the longer tubes.) Have him use the other paper to cover the open end of the tube and tape it securely in place with an 8-inch strip of wide clear tape. Now help the child cover the tube with construction paper, if it wasn't painted earlier.

Give each child a Bible verse sticker to add to the rainstick. Make sure names are on the rainsticks. Show the child how to hold the rainstick with the ends facing the ceiling and the floor and turn it slowly so the opposite end is facing up to hear the rain sound. Let the children experiment with their sticks. Let the children use their rainsticks to provide sound effects during your skit time. They also make good attention-getters when you need a signal for everyone to be quiet and listen.

Egypt VBS Craft: Joseph's Wristbands

Bring the feel of ancient Egypt to your VBS with this fun, decorated wristband craft.

Give each child two white paper cups. Cut off the bottom of each cup. Larger cups can be cut in half. Save the bottom for future craft projects. Cover the work area with newspapers. Provide paper towels and wet wipes for clean up.

If the child's hand will fit through the cup, slide it onto the child's wrist. If his hand is too big to fit through the cup, cut the cup in half so it will wrap onto his wrist like a bracelet. Help him trim it to the size he desires. Do this for both cups. Encourage older children to help younger ones.

Let the child paint the wristbands or decorate them with markers. He can glue or stick plastic gems and stones around the wristbands. (Point out the picture of Joseph on the cover of the "Joseph in Egypt Coloring Pages" posted on March 25 for wristband ideas.) Encourage creativity.

Another option is to have the child print the day’s memory verse or Bible point on one of the wristbands. Have the words preprinted onto stickers or mailing labels for younger children, and let them add the stickers to the wristbands.

The Bible point for the first day of  Joseph's Journey is "God gives us hope." As the children work, talk about how God gave Joseph hope during the tough times in his life. Explain that God gives us hope when we go through hard times, too.

Christian Ed. Publishers has created a new Joseph in Egypt Preschool VBS to supplement your elementary VBS program from Group, Egypt: Joseph's Journey this summer. Written especially for 2- to 5-year-olds, this five-day preschool VBS program includes Bible stories, snacks, crafts, and games with reproducible student sheets and colorful visuals on CD-ROM. Order the spiral-bound book with CD-ROM or, if you need it tomorrow, order the download.

High Seas Craft: Spyglass Telescope

Set sail for your High Seas Expedition VBS with this fun telescope craft.

Give each child one piece of construction paper, a blank mailing label, and one empty paper towel tube. (Clear plastic lids are optional. Clear lids from chip cans and yogurt cups work well.) Have the child paint the paper towel tube and decorate it to look like a spyglass or telescope.

While the tube dries, have him print the day’s memory verse or Bible point on a mailing label. Have the words preprinted for younger children. Say the memory verse together while the children work.

When the tube is dry, help each child roll a sheet of construction paper into a tube that will just fit inside the painted tube. Have him place the paper roll in the tube and tape it together so the paper roll is as large as possible. Encourage older children to help younger ones.

Show the child how to twist the tubes so the paper roll slides in and out of the cardboard tube to form the scope. Have the child say a silent prayer of thanks for each classmate as he looks at him or her through the telescope.

To cover the end of the telescope, give each child a clear plastic lid or a piece of clear plastic. Have him trace the end of the paper roll onto the lid or plastic and cut out a circle slightly larger than the opening of the roll. Let him glue or tape the plastic circle to the end of the paper roll.

The Bible point for Day 2 of the High Seas Expedition VBS is that God’s Word is comforting. As the children work, talk about how God comforted Paul in a storm and how God comforts us when we go through hard times.

Kingdom of the Son Craft: Loaves & Fishes

Day 2 of the Kingdom of the Son VBS features the Bible story of Jesus’ miracle with the loaves and fishes and the left-over baskets of food. Here’s a craft you can use to help your students remember the Bible story and the memory verse. Copy the craft pattern for each child. This pattern is a download you can purchase for just $1.99. Then print as many patterns with instructions as you need.

Hand out scissors, markers, and tape. Also give each child a 2-inch square of construction paper. Let each child cut out a boy and the rectangle of baskets from the craft page. Have each child print the memory verse (or the Lord’s Prayer) on the back of the rectangle. Continue by following the directions on the craft page.

Encourage the children to show the craft to their friends and tell them about the miracle Jesus did and all the food that was left over. Show the students how to unfold the baskets as they tell the story, then turn the baskets over to show the memory verse or Lord’s Prayer.

Click on the image above to download the Loaves and Fishes Craft.

Hero Headquarters Craft: Naaman Puppet

Let your students make a Naaman puppet craft for your Hero Headquarters VBS program this summer. The Bible story the first day is about the servant girl who told Naaman's wife that God's prophet would be able to heal him of his leprosy.

Before your first day of VBS, print the Bible memory verse (I Timothy 4:12) onto stickers or labels. Make one sticker for each child.

Give each child a craft stick, some small white hole punch dots (optional), glue, tape, blue construction paper, a paper cup, scissors, and markers. Copy the Naaman puppet pattern for each child. (There are two puppets per page.) This pattern is a download you can purchase for just $1.99. Then print as many patterns with instructions as you need. 


Let the child cut out the Naaman puppet and fold it in half. Have the child glue the figure around the craft stick so the stick becomes a long handle for the puppet. Have him add some round white stickers or hole punch dots (if you wish) to Naaman’s arms and legs on just the leprosy side of the puppet.

Help the child cut a slit in the bottom of the paper cup so the craft stick can fit into it. Let him cover the outside of the cup with blue construction paper or decorate it with blue markers so it looks like the Jordan River. Show the child how to put the end of the craft stick into the cup and poke it through the bottom of the cup. Let him pull the craft stick until the puppet is completely inside the cup.

If he wishes, the child can glue a small amount of tissue paper around the inside bottom of the cup around the puppet to give the effect of water. Push the craft stick up and down as if Naaman (with leprosy spots) is dipping himself in the river seven times. After the seventh time, turn the cup so Namaan comes out of the water without spots, cleansed of his leprosy.

Make sure names are on the cups. Let each child add a memory verse sticker to the craft. Kids can also print the Scripture reference, 2 Kings 5:1-14, on the cup as a reminder of Naaman’s story and where the story is found in the Bible.

As the children work, talk about ways they can tell others about Jesus this week. Say the memory verse together a few times.

Click on the image above to download the Naaman Puppet and craft instructions.

Rainforest VBS Craft: Flowerpot Plants

Let your students make flowerpot plants for your Rainforest VBS program this summer. The Bible story the first day is the story of the sower. Give your kids a chance to be sowers during your craft time.

Collect a small flower pot for each child. Also provide potting soil, a craft stick and a few small stones for each child, permanent markers, stickers, construction paper, glue, tape, paint, paintbrushes, paint shirts, water, paper towels, wet wipes, grass seeds (or bean or flower seeds), and plastic spoons or small scoops.

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.

Before your first day of VBS, print the Bible memory verse (Psalm 119:11) onto stickers or labels. Make two for each child.

Have each child print his name on the bottom of his flowerpot and then paint it. Encourage the children to be creative, painting swirls, stripes, dots, flowers, or whatever they choose on their pots. Let each child put a few small stones in the bottom of his pot and then just cover the stones with potting soil. Have him sprinkle some seeds on top and fill the pot with soil. Let him water the soil. (Eyedroppers work well for preschoolers so the plants aren't over watered.)

Give each child a craft stick and let him decorate it as a "garden marker." Let him decorate it with markers and stickers. Have him add the two Bible verse stickers to the top of the craft stick (placing the stickers back to back) to complete the marker.

As the children work, talk about ways they can "sow God's Word" or tell others about Jesus this week.  Say the memory verse together a few times.

Tips for VBS Crafts

When selecting craft activities for your students, ask yourself these five questions:

1.   Does the craft help the children feel valuable and worthwhile?

2.   Can the children experience success with this craft or activity?

3.   Do the children do the work?

4.   Does the craft allow the children to express themselves?

5.   Does the craft encourage creativity?

When you turn your art projects and activities into learning experiences, you give the children worthwhile lessons that will be with them long after the project is gone. Here’s how: focus on what the children can learn rather than what they can make. As the children work, talk about the Bible lesson or theme of the day. Keep the focus on the Bible story or the memory verse. Tie the craft back into the day’s point.

Help the children have a fun time. Don’t let them get frustrated. If a craft becomes too difficult, switch gears and adapt the craft to the child. For example, if threading yarn becomes tedious, stop the threading and let the child add stickers to the craft or decorate it with markers or jewels. Turn your time with the child back into a fun experience. If a child finishes early (or just gives up), let him move to a free play area or begin a coloring project.

Allow each child to be the creative being God has made him or her!