Craft books: Hands-on learning

Most children enjoy making things and well-chosen crafts can reinforce learning. They can also be fun time fillers.

Many session resources will give craft ideas to complement the teaching but you may be looking for extra or alternative ideas; crafts that fit with materials where suggestions aren't provided or when you are writting your own sessions; crafts for mid week clubs or all-age events; or crafts for a rainy day at home.

Below is a selection of books that should meet your needs.

Not all children, or leaders, are creative but most will enjoy the active process of making something. It is generally wise to choose projects that are well within the capability of most of your group – the aim is usually to reinforce your teaching and to have fun and you don’t want to spend hours in advance preparing the activity, or precious group time that you could spend talking with the children rushing from child to child threading needles or helping cut out intricate shapes. If you are making crafts to keep or gifts that do need to be more ‘finished’ then enlist extra helpers for your session.

All of these books give instructions for crafts that have Biblical references or themes. They are broadly listed in age order from those appropriate for preschoolers through to older children.

Glitter and Glue ~~£9.99~~ £9.49
101 crafts designed for preschoolers and all linked to a Bible passage. Includes templates. Photocopiable.

Make and Do ~~£9.99~~ £9.49
Art and craft for preschoolers.

Bible Fun Stuff: Stick 'em Up Bible Crafts ~~£14.99~~ £13.49
26 crafts designed for preschoolers.

The Big Book of Bible Story Art Activities ~~£17.99~~ £17.09
Art activities for 100 Bible Stories aimed at 3-6s. Fully photocopiable.

Step by Step Christmas Crib ~~£3.99~~ £3.79
Simple instructions to make the characters that accompany a retelling of the Christmas story. Ideal for 4-7s.

Bible Fun Stuff: Through-the-Bible Crafts ~~£14.99~~ £13.49
26 crafts that illustrate the biblical world. Aimed at 5-7s.

Make & Do Bible Crafts ~~£9.99~~ £9.49
48 Biblically themes crafts including Christmas and Easter. Ideal for 6-10s.

Big Book of Bible Crafts ~~£17.99~~ £17.09
100 crafts using easy-to-find supplies. Divided into sections for younger and older children. Photocopiable,
perforated pages.

Bible Fun Stuff: Memory Maker Bible Crafts ~~£14.99~~ £13.49
26 crafts to make and keep as reminders of Bible memory verses. Aimed at 7-9s.

Bible Crafts for all Seasons ~~£9.99~~ £8.99
Over 50 crafts and covering major (US) holidays and seasons.

Funtastic Kid Crafts ~~£12.99~~ £11.69
48 crafts with Bible references.

Paper Capers ~~£12.99~~ £11.69
All paper-based crafts. Photocopiable.

Ultimate Craft ~~£12.99~~ £11.69
Includes diagrams and photocopiable templates.

100 Simple Bible Crafts ~~£8.99~~ £8.09
100 crafts for 7-11s and younger. Includes 30 Bible story crafts that you could make and use as visual aids. Each craft relates to a Bible passage or its application. Includes Christmas and Easter crafts and photocopiable templates.

Make and Do Christmas Puppets ~~£5.99~~ £5.69
Craft and present the Christmas story. Ideal for 7-11s.

Celebrations Make and Do ~~£5.99~~ £5.69 Currrently out of stock

Crafts for all the major church festivals excluding Christmas. Ideal for 7-11s.

Christmas Make and Do ~~£5.99~~ £5.69
Including cards, wrapping paper, decorations, advent calendar and nativity tableau.

Hands on Bible Creativity ~~£9.99~~ £9.49
25 crafts for all ages to encourage individuals and groups to use their gifts, skills and imagination to grow in their understanding of the Bible and God. Photocopiable.