Altar

Altar for Many Stories

During the Halloween season, these plastic caldrons with fans inside that blow a fabric flame on top are found all over the place.  I cut a hole in the bottom edge of the box it came in for the plug to come out the back. I cut a hole in the top of the box in the shape of a circle just about the same size as the caldron. I spray painted the box that it originally came in with gray and then spots of brown.  I then used a permanent marker to draw the stones.  Turn it on and use this altar when telling many different Bible stories. 

Naaman Is Healed - Surprise Story

Naaman Is Healed of Leprosy

II Kings 5  

Naaman is miraculously healed of leprosy by dipping in the Jordan River 7 times.  He didn't want to because it was muddy but he did so anyway.  Watch the video to see a surprising way to tell this story.

Naaman Pattern

Where Is Susie? Fliphcart

This cute flipchart has you looking everywhere for Susie.  Then you look at the time and realize she is in Bible class!  The song and flipchart are old, but I made them in a new way. 
 

Pattern

Sunprint Cross

Jesus is Crucified and Rose Again!

Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19

Sunprint paper gives an interest effect to many projects.  To make this one, I purchased some Sunprint paper from the local craft store.  It comes in packages similar to this one:

I just use this refill kit.  It says to use an acrylic sheet and cardboard but I have never done that.  

• Cut the paper into smaller pieces so you would have enough for each child.
• Use a die cut with an Ellison die or a Cricut, or just plain scissors to cut out a small white cross. 
• Give each child a piece of blue Sunprint paper and a white paper cross. Have them very quickly place the cross on top of the blue paper and then keep any light from getting to it until you can get it outside.  Sometimes you can tape the edges down very quickly. (I have them cover it with a book or hold it up next to their body tightly.)

• When outside, place the blue paper and the white cross quickly on the ground or on a table in the sun.  Leave it for about 2 minutes.  (Make sure it's in a place where the wind will not blow the cross off the paper.)
• Keep the paper cross exactly in place as you pick up both pieces and take it inside. (Don't take the cross off or you will expose the cross section of the paper to the sun and it won't turn out right.)
• When inside, take the paper cross off and quickly dip the paper in water.  Let it stay in the water for about 1 minute.  (Following instructions on the Sunprint package.)
• Take the paper out of the water and lay flat on a paper towel.  It dries fairly quickly.  The end result is the top picture.
• This can be used to make a dove for the baptism of Jesus story, an angel for many different stories, or countless other shapes for any other story.
• This project is quick and simple yet the children are always amazed.

 

Jesus Walks on Water Pop-up Page

Jesus Walks on the Water

Matthew 14:22-36

Pop-up pages can be an exciting way to retell the Bible story.  This one shows Peter sinking as he is attempting to join Jesus who is walking on the water.  You can use this same concept of making a pop-up page for many different stories!  I will include more pictures at a later time.

I cut out the boat and people with a die cut and construction paper.  The water (waves) is bulletin board border.

 

Jesus Walks on Water PowerPoint Instructions

God Made Me Flipchart

These are photos of a flipchart I made to go with the story of Creation.  The flipchart is entitled "I  Am Special".  On the back of each page it says, "God made me special.  God made my ____."  The blank is filled in by whatever is on the front.  "God made my eyes."  "God made my feet." And more.

God made me special.  God made my eyes.
God made me special.  God made my ears.
God made me special.  God made my hands.
God made me special.  God made my arms.
God made me special.  God made my feet.
God made me special.  God made my mouth.
God made me special.  God made my nose.
    

Forgiveness Blacklight

Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Matthew 18:21-35

When Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, Jesus says, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times."  The top picture holds 7 fluorescent large dots painted on with acrylic fluorescent paint found at the local craft store.  The bottom picture is lots of dots painted with the same paint.  I turn off the lights and turn on the blacklight to illustrate the difference in how many times we are to forgive.  The bottom picture is suppose to appear to be endless.

Disappearing Peter from Prison

Angel Frees Peter from Prison

Acts. 12

The following video shows instruction on how to set up and use this fascinating technique for telling this story. 

  

The top 2 photos show what I would use to tell the story to the children.

The bottom picture is what I would give the children to take home.  I would make the prison with permanent marker.  On this fabric, I would use the PURPLE disappearing ink pin to draw Peter (I know the picture shows blue, but use the purple).  Then give the piece to the children and tell them to take it home and guard their prisoner all week.  They must make sure that he does not escape.  What they don't know is that in 24 hours the purple ink will totally disappear on its own. (No water needed for that one.)  Boy, will they be surprised when their prisoner has escaped!  Can you imagine how Peter's guards felt when he suddenly disappeared?

Creation Game

Creation 

Genesis 1

Children have fun playing this game made from a plastic serving dish from a dollar type store and small items such as animals, clouds, moon, stars, plants, fish, etc. cut from fun foam.  Each portion of the dish has the number of a day of Creation.  Children sort the many fun foam pieces into the correct spot.  If it was made on day 1, it goes in the numeral 1 spot.  If it was made on day 5, it goes in the numeral 5 spot.

Birth of Isaac Scrapbook Story

I like to try to tell the Bible story in different and creative ways.  I was noticing how popular scrapbooking is today and thought about making a scrapbook or baby book to tell a story.  So I came up with this as an idea for telling the story about the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. (Genesis 18 and 21).

If you would like to print of the pages to insert in your own scrapbook, click on the links below:

(I printed mine front and back)

Scrapbook Pages to Print