1-2-3 Come Make Some Vacation Bible School Crafts With Me

Having taught 3-year-olds in Sunday school, I discovered there is not a whole lot out there for this age group.

Crafts, that came with pre-packaged programs, were way beyond their skill level, attention span and time available.

Vacation Bible School programs were not really much different.  They had wonderful activities for older kiddo's, but again materials and crafts for this age group were lacking.

The director of our Children's ministry, asked me if I could design 5 quickie crafts with Bible verses for the 3,4, and 5 year-old age group for this year's VBS.

They group them together, as it's never that big of a group, despite having anywhere from 100-200 kids.

I love designing crafts and helping out, so this was a no brainer "Sure!"

Since I've had several requests for Christian teaching materials, I thought I'd post these, as they turned out really cute.

Their theme this year was Stand Strong in the Kingdom, so I made castles, crowns, and knight shields, however these crafts are general enough that they could work for just about anything.

So people wouldn't have to go out and buy a bunch of stuff, I designed the crafts trying to use materials I knew were readily available.

To make all of the projects pictured, you'll need: construction paper, card stock (for the shields), aluminum foil, scissors, glue sticks, crayons, rhinestones, glitter, curling ribbon, foam, a stapler, hole punch, brass brads, pipe cleaners, tooth picks, Elmer's glue, sticky notes, scrap paper (to use as work mats, newspaper works wonderful) and gold glitter.

I find it best with this age group to skip giving directions. Simply hold up your sample and say, "I'm so excited! We're going to make a castle today!"

Whatever craftivity you are doing with little ones, do NOT pass out all of the materials at once.

This is not only overwhelming for them, they also won't sit still long enough for you to say, do this first, only using these materials. ie for the castle:

1. Pass out castle. Have them cut out.  Have them pre-cut for 3's.
2. Pass out pre-cut triangles. Have them glue the triangles to the castle.
3. Have them cut the door.  Remind them not to cut this completely out, but STOP so there's a hinge.  Show sample at each step.
4. Pass out the door verse and have them glue it behind the castle door.
5. Pass out turrets. Have them roll the turrets. Staple to the castle.
6. Pass out brown crayons to color the door and write their name on their castle.
7. Read the verse together and explain why they did the project, so they can share that info with their parents.

I thought it would be cute to add a toothpick flag. These can be pre-made; ask the child where they want their flag.  

Scotch tape it to the back. Do not let 3's hold the toothpicks.

I made the flag with a sticky note.  No glueing necessary and it wraps right around the toothpick!

Children who finish early can work with a helper learning their verse.

Preparation for these projects is simple.  Run off the templates on construction paper, and pre-cut the smaller pieces to expedite things.

I traced a child's "praying" hand once on a folded sheet of paper and then cut once to make 2.

For the "lamp unto my feet" you need to fold the yellow lanterns in half horizontally for easier cutting. I traced a child's foot with their shoe on.

Click on the link to view/download the Kingdom Crafts.

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"So many books; so little time." -Frank Zappa