Lost Coin Flashlight Book for Older Children

I have started teaching some older children this quarter.  I decided to adapt my Lost Coin Flashlight booklet and make it quite a bit more challenging so older children would enjoy it.  I took regular coloring pages and used Photoshop to place a hidden coin in each picture.  I used some coloring pages about parables first and then used some pages with modern day scenes.  

Lost Coin Flashlight Booklet

Lost Coin Flashlight Booklet for Younger Children

How to make this one:

1. Print the cover page and cut it in half.  (It can be printed in black and white.) Fold the two pages in half to make books.
2. Print the first page (parables coloring page) onto a transparency.  Then cut the transparency into fourths.
3. Print the second page (modern day coloring page) onto a transparency.  Then cut that transparency into fourths.
4. Cut pieces of black construction paper the same size as the transparencies.  You will need 8 of these pieces.
5. Place a piece of black construction paper behind each transparency.  
6. Place all those pieces into a stack (transparency, black paper, transparency, black paper, etc.) and put the cover page on it.  Staple the side to make a book.
7. Cut a small piece of white paper to be the flashlight. (See photo in the instructions page mentioned above.)
8. Place the flashlight between the transparency and the black paper to search for the lost coin on each page.

Sock Puppet

This cute little puppet was made from a child's sock.  I cut out a long oval from white felt.  I squeezed the middle of the oval together and tied it with sewing thread.  I hand sewed the white felt ears to the top.  I let the children draw a face with permanent markers.  I made one like this with black ears to be sheep.  I made it with brown ears to be a dog.  The children love using this puppet to tell other people the Bible stories.

Creation CDs

Creation

Genesis 1

I made these from old CD's.  One or two of them were made from the clear CD's that come one the top of the package of new CD's.  I cut a round piece of felt the same size as the CD and glued it on a CD.  Then I used a die cut machine to cut out felt pieces that would help tell what was created on that day.  The kids put the pieces on the felt CD as you tell the story.  The neat thing is that they all stack up and store very easily.

Fish

 

Make your own small sea to use with many of the different Bible stories that have fish in them.  

Materials:

Ziploc bag

Aquarium rocks

Shredded green paper

Small sea shells if desired

Colored poster board

Small fun foam fish

1. Cut two pieces of poster board slightly larger than the ziploc bag.  Cut a square hole in the center of one of them.  Set both of them aside.
2. Cut out some small fish from colored fun foam.
3. Put the shredded green paper ("seaweed") inside the bottom of the ziploc bag.
4. Pour a small amount of colored aquarium rocks inside on top of the green paper.
5. Put in sea shells and fish.
6. Seal the Ziploc bag.
7. Sandwich the Ziploc bag between the two pieces of colored construction paper.  Staple it all the way around.

Large Aaron's Rod Magic Window

Aaron's Rod

Numbers 17

I like to use this large Magic Window to tell the story of Aaron's Rod that Buds when he is chosen to be the leader.  After using this large Magic Window to tell the story with, I then let the students make their own smaller version to take home and share the story with family and friends. 

Aaron's Rod

Buds for Budding Rod

Student Take Home Instructions

Student Take Home Pattern 1

Student Take Home Pattern 2

Beanbag Fish

Miraculous Catch of Fish

Luke 5

I made a bunch of these beanbag fish to use with many fish stories.  I like to use these the most with the story of Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish.  I like to use a real net and have the children fish on one side of a pretend boat.   After quite a while of not catching anything, I have a child pretending to be Jesus tell them to cast the net on the other side. When they cast their net on the other side, we fill the net with these fabric fish.  They are HEAVY!  It gives them the feeling that the nets are about to break like it says in the Bible story.  When these fish are filled with rice, they feel floppy and feel more like real fish.

For a pattern with instructions, click on the photo.

Jacob and Esau PowerPoint

Genesis 27

A friend and I made this PowerPoint to tell the story of Jacob and Esau. There are no words because the words come from the Bible.  The pictures can be printed to make a flipchart or book if you'd like.

Jacob and Esau PowerPoint

Miraculous Catch of Fish

Miraculous Catch of Fish

John 21:1-19

I have told this story to small groups using this smaller package but I have also told this story to large groups using a poster sized package.  They both work great.  Every time I tell it, the kids are amazed and ask "How did you do that?"  

I have made another story using this concept called "Naaman" which has already been posted.  The next story using this concept is about the Boy Who Shared His Loaves and Fish and will be posted at a later date.

Balaam's Donkey PowerPoint

Balaam's Donkey

Numbers 22

I made this PowerPoint to tell the story of Balaam's Donkey.  Just like the other PowerPoints I made, this one can be printed to make a flipchart, made into a small booklet for the children, and many other things.  See the Zacchaeus and Jesus Walks on Water PowerPoints (selected from the list on the right) for some sample ideas.

Balaam's Donkey PowerPoint





Jesus Walks on the Water

Jesus Walks on Water

Matthew 14:22-36

I found this really beautifully done PowerPoint on www.sermons4kids.com. Click on Art by Henry Martin and scroll down to the bottom of the page for several really good PowerPoints. When you click on the "Jesus Walks on Water" PowerPoint link, you will first see the pictures only.  If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can download the entire PowerPoint.  Henry Martin does really gorgeous work on this PowerPoint.  

I like to make things from the PowerPoints such as this small book.  I print out each picture to make a small book like this for each child so he/she can have their own book to look at while I am telling the story.  I just glued the pictures to dark blue construction paper, laminated it,  and bound it with a binding machine.  You can use packing tape or staples to bind it instead.  Then I send the book home with the child to read with their family.

This same thing can be done with any PowerPoint including the ones from this blog and others.

For older children, I make the book without laminating it.  I have these children read the Bible story and then write their own words to put in the book.

Saul's Conversion Blacklight Story

Saul's Conversion

Acts 9:1-19

I drew this picture  on 1/2 of an off white sheet.  I used a coloring page for a pattern and blew it up on an overhead projector.  I just traced the outlines with a fabric pen then painted over the lines that I wanted to glow with glow in the dark paint (from the local craft store).  I heat set it in the dryer. It can be used as a glow in the dark picture or used with a blacklight.  

After telling the story, I let the children make the "Saul's Conversion Take Home" (Click on the word Saul on the index at the right to find this craft.)  The children then have their own version of this picture so they can go and tell others the story in a unique way.

Altoid Tin Fishing Game

Altoid Tins make great crafts.  I took this one and spray painted it blue. This is a game for older children as the pieces can be pretty small.

I cut out some small fish from fun foam and hot glued magnets on the back of each one.  I made a small fishing pole with a string attached (and a magnet on the end of the string).  I have used this game when teaching about Tax Money in a Fish (Matthew 17:24-27).  I glue a small paper coin on the back of one fish and they have to find it.  I have also used this game for Jesus Calling His Disciples or  "Fishers of Men".  I wrote the names of the apostles on each fish and they had to fish out each one and put them in the order in which they were called. 

Night Night Peek-a-boo Book

The children really enjoy this little Peek-a-boo book.  They love looking under each flap to see what is there (even though they were the ones who put the stickers there).  This is a small sampling of the book.  For a full page with photos of how the completed book is done, click here.
I die cut some pieces for the children to tape on to become the flaps.  (I have used the Cricket machine for this as well.) The pieces are flowers, trees, waves, rocks, etc.  The children then put the animal stickers under the flaps and fold the flaps closed.  Then they put star stickers on the top of each page to make a starry night.
The words are "Night night little ______ God loves you.  He watches over you all night through."  This is a song to the tune of "Baa, Baa Black Sheep." (The song was adapted from "Good Night Little ___" from See and Know Bible Songs by Lois Whitaker at www.seeandknow.com. Used with permission.)
When the book is complete, we sing each page.  The kids are thrilled to see what is under each flap!

Goliath Game

David and Goliath

I Samuel 17

Whack Goliath in the head!  Here's how to make it:

1. Gather materials (Styrofoam or other small cup, a sturdy picture of Goliath (from a coloring page), a string, a cotton ball, and some tape.)
2. Tape the Goliath picure to the cup.
3. Tape one end of the string to the bottom of the cup.
4. Tape the other end of the string to the cotton ball. (I wrapped the tape all the way around the cotton ball.)
5. Play the game by picking up the cup and swinging the cotton ball on the string until it hits Goliath on the head.

Isaac Gets a Wife PowerPoint

Genesis 24

A friend and I made this PowerPoint to tell the story of Isaac getting a wife. We intentionally left off the words.  The story is from the NIV. 

Sometimes I print out the pictures to make small books for younger children.  I type up a paraphrased story that would be easy for them to read (or be read to).  For older children, I print out the pictures, make a booklet, and have the kids write the words to the story.  

When I don't have access to a laptop for Bible class, I print the pictures and make a flipchart.

Isaac Gets a Wife PowerPoint

Ways to Make Gold Jewelry

There are many ways to make gold jewelry for stories about Egypt, the Golden Calf, the Building of the Tabernacle, Esther, etc.  Pictured above is wired Christmas ribbon folded in half and stitched together at the ends.

These are loose leaf O rings with pony beads on them all spray painted gold.  These fit around a child's ear pretty easily.

 This bracelet is made from gold elastic string with glittery gold beads.

This necklace is made from a juice can lid spray painted gold with a hole punched in it.  The "jewels" are little girl's stick on earrings.  The string is just plain gold string.  I made a larger necklace like this using those clear CD's that come at the top of a package of blank CD's or DVD's.  I spray painted it gold and hot glued larger "jewels" (beads with flat backs purchased at the craft store).  I strung the string through the hole in the middle of the CD.  I like to use that one with Pharoah or Egyptian women.

Joseph's Coat

Joseph's Coat

Genesis 37

Cut the shape of a robe out of a coffee filter. Lay a paper towel or paper sack under the robe.  Let the children color on it with WASHABLE markers.  Let the children use a squirt bottle and generously spray the robe with water.  Watch the colors run!  Let dry.

Lost Coin Flashlight Book

 Parable of the Lost Coin

Luke 15:8-10

When telling the story of the lost coin, I make a small booklet like this for each child. One page has a bedroom scene, one a living room scene, etc. In each picture, there is a hidden coin.  Children are to use their paper flashlight to look for the lost coin.  When the paper flashlight is placed between the picture (which is on a transparency) and the black paper, the picture really "pops" out.  It is a truly amazing effect.  Watch the video below to see how to make it.

Unfortunately, the camera gives away too much of the bedroom scene (as does the video camera in the video below).   The black paper behind the picture is much darker in person which makes it difficult to see the bedroom scene. You don't want the children to see too much of the scene until they use their paper flashlight to look at it.

I have remade the pages for this booklet using free clipart from the web in black and white.  

Lost Coin Flashlight Book

Moses

 

I found this "Father Christmas" character at a garage sale.  I changed his clothes and he became Moses.  The neat thing about him is that is arms move up and down.  I like to put a staff in his hands to tell the story of the Israelites defeating the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16).  When Moses' arms were holding the rod up, the Israelites were winning.  When the rod was down, the Amalekites were winning.  This character can be used for any other story with Moses as well.

Cardboard Sheep

A really sweet friend showed me how to make these sheep.  I made several and used them in lessons on David, the Shepherd and Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

• Cut out a sheep shape from cardboard.  You can get a very simple coloring page and blow it up to be a pattern.  We made ours in various sizes.  (We cut out some patterns and put them on the table on the right of the picture.)
• Spray paint the cardboard white. Let it dry.  Spray paint the other side of the cardboard.  Let it dry.
• Cut PVC pipe to make 4 legs per sheep.  The length depends on the size of the sheep.  
• Put black duct tape around the bottom of the PVC pipes to be the hooves.
• Hot glue the top 1/4 to 1/2 of each PVC pipe leg to the white cardboard.  Make sure the legs are all glued at the same height so the sheep will stand up.
• Get some quilt batting.  Cut out the same sheep shape but also cut out a small place for the face. (Cut out two pieces per sheep.)
• Using spray adhesive, glue the batting to the cardboard on both sides of the cardboard sheep.
• Draw eyes with a permanent marker.

Zacchaeus Book from a PowerPoint

I have used many PowerPoints in my Bible Classes.  Then I decided to use the PowerPoint pictures in a different way.  I decided to make books for the kids to take home using those PowerPoint pictures. I found amazing PowerPoints (including this one on Zacchaeus) on a website called www.sermons4kids.com.  The art is by Henry Martin.  The pictures are just beautiful! I use this PowerPoint to tell the story then make books for the kids.

I printed out the pictures and put them into a book form.  The top picture is the cover page.  The next few pages have the PowerPoint pictures and words glued on them like a normal book.  However, I made a few of the pages unique and interactive (well, sort of).  The following page is the page where Zacchaeus is too short.  I made the page a pop up page (see instructions for pop up pages under Jesus' Miracles on the side of this blog - it's called Jesus Walks on Water Pop Up).  I used the same concept to make this page.  I put the crowd and the words in the front.

 

I put Zacchaeus on a smaller tab in the back.

 This is what it looks like from the top.

 Another page that I created differently was the page with Zacchaeus climbing the tree.  In the PowerPoint, he moves up the tree.  So in the book, he has to move up the tree too!  I made this page to fold up.  I cut out Zacchaeus and taped him onto the bottom of a piece of clear lamination film leftover from laminating something. He is not attached to the page. I cut a slit in the top of the page (at the top of the tree) with an exacto knife and slid the lamination through from front to back. 

 If I pull on the lamination, Zacchaeus climbs up the tree.

 The rest of the pages are simple like the one below.  Just having a few pages that are interactive is enough to make it exciting.

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