Ten Bridesmaids Magic Window

 Ten Bridesmaids

Matthew 25:1-30

This magic window is a fascinating craft to make when telling this story.  At the beginning of the story, the kids see the oil lamps with no flames.  At the end of the story, when they slide the paper, the kids get excited when they see 5 flames burning on five lamps and no flames on the other oil lamps.

There is a video on how to make magic windows on my blog.  Click on "Aaron's Rod that Buds" and scroll down the video under "Aaron's Rod that Buds Magic Window".

Magic Window Instructions

Ten Bridesmaids Oil Lamps

Ten Bridesmaids Flames

Esther

Esther

This is a PowerPoint which tells the story of Esther made from pictures of settings made with Barbie dolls. The king is actually an action figure from the Star Wars collection.  We found the beautiful princess looking Barbie and just had to create the story of Esther with this doll.  All the furniture is made from boxes wrapped in gold foil.  The sceptor is a hat pin wrapped in foil. The background is contact paper.

In one of the scenes, the brick wall is just a piece of scrapbook paper as a background. At the feast, the silver goblets and dishes are just Barbie dishes wrapped in silver foil and the "bread" in the king's hand is really a cashew.

Think outside the box and have fun with creativity!

Esther PowerPoint

Elisha Is Jeered

 Elisha is Jeered

II Kings 2:23-25

This is a different way to tell a Bible story.  A man at our church made this story telling board for me.  He cut the board the size I needed (18 x 24 inches).  It can be any size.  The he cut slits in the board one inch apart.  These slits allow my pictures to stand up.

I bought this sand dune looking border at Mardel and cut it to fit my board to make the background.  I used to pieces.  I slid one into the very back slit and one into the next to the back slit to give it a more three dimensional effect.

I purchased some Old Testament figure pieces from Mardel and picked out pieces that would work for this story.  It did not have a tree so I had to make one some on the computer.

 I keep adding pieces as I tell the story:

 

The kids like to use these pieces and help retell the story. 

The neat thing about this concept is that any story could be done this way.  Store bought pictures or computer generated pictures would both work.

Plastic Plate Shield

 Front of Shield

 Back of Shield with Handle

This shield was made from a gray plastic plate, some paper brads, and plastic strip with holes in it from a hardware store.

I used this when teaching the story of David and Goliath (I Sam. 17), Elisha's Army (II Kings 6), Joshua and the Walls of Jericho (Joshua 6).

Tax Money in a Fish

Tax Money in a Fish

Matthew 17:24 - 27

I found this magnetic fishing game at a store where everything is a dollar.  I glued a penny to the bottom of one of the fish.  The kids take turns fishing until they find the tax money.  Then we throw all the fish back in and let another child have a turn.

Jesus Walks on the Water Blacklight

I got a $5 sheet and cut it in fourths. (This works best with an off-white sheet.)  I used a coloring book page for the ship and Jesus. I printed the coloring book page on a transparency and used an overhead projector to enlarge it on my sheet. (It could be done with a computer and projector as well.)  I drew the picture on the sheet with fabric markers leaving a space for Jesus.  I drew the picture of Jesus by painting it with glow in the dark paint.  When the lights are on, Jesus does not appear.  But turn off the lights or use a blacklight, and Jesus magically appears!

Styrofoam Shackles

The long pieces of Styrofoam were used for packaging some electronics.  I lined them up with the flat sides facing me and drew where I wanted the arm holes to be cut.  I used an exact o knife to cut them out from each piece. I painted them brown. I did not glue them together. When I need someone to act out the stories of Paul and Silas in Prison (Acts 16:16 - 40) or Peter in Prison (Acts 12), the kids or teens can easily get in and out of the shackles as needed.

Lost Sheep PowerPoint

This PowerPoint tells the story of the lost sheep with a few silly animations.  This PowerPoint was created using the NIV version of the Bible.  There are no words on the slides so you can just read it from the Bible.

Lost Sheep PowerPoint

Aaron's Rod Magic Window

Aaron's Rod

Numbers 17

This is a magic window craft.  Aaron's rod (staff) is just like everyone else's (in the bottom picture) but it magically buds when you pull on the right edge of this craft!

For instructions on how to make one, see video below.

Aarons Rod Magic Window Instructions

Rod Pattern

Leaves Pattern

Logs from Dog Toys

I found these dog toys at the grocery store!  I also found some like them at the pet store later.  I took out the squeakers.  They make perfect logs for many stories that have a fire in them such as Jesus cooking breakfast on the beach!  They are light weight and easy to carry!  Add some red, orange, and yellow cellophane and you have a  pretty cool fire.

Creation Cups

Creation

Genesis 1

These stackable cups help the children remember what was created each day; and they love making them!

To make the numbers, I printed them onto circle labels from Avery found at an office supply store.  To make many of the stickers, I found the pictures I wanted and printed them on small return address labels.  I made the words using small return address mailing labels as well.  For the 7th day, I just used a gold cup and no stickers.

The kids really enjoy putting on all the stickers, stacking them and unstacking them in order as we sing songs about creation.

Joseph in the Well

Joseph's Dreams

Genesis 37

Here is Joseph being lowered into the well by his brothers. 

Instructions:

Prep ahead of time

1. Get an empty juice can and wash it out.  Let it dry.
2. Cut a strip of contact paper large enough to cover the outside of the juice can.
3. Cut a small rectangle from fabric to be the clothes. 
4. Cut a string long enough to go around the clothespin doll and tie.
5. Cut a large string for lowering and raising Joseph.

What the children do:

1. Get a clothespin doll.
2. Fold the rectangle piece of fabric in half.  Cut a small hole at the fold for the head to fit through. 
3. Slide the head through the hole.
4. Tie the small string around his waist.
5. Draw a face if desired.
6. Tie the larger string around his waist.
7. Put the contact paper around the juice can.
8. Retell the story!