Craft ideas: 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.

Browse the list or click to go to a particular section:

Aimed at preschoolers

Aimed at 5-11s

Aimed at all ages 

Christmas

Aimed at preschoolers

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Aimed at 5-11s

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	The Encyclopedia of Bible Crafts (Barnabas) RRP £12.99   187 crafts with at least one for every book of the Bible.   Each craft includes step-by-step instructions and teaching points. They are easy to prepare, easy to do - with age-level icons help identify appropriate crafts - and generally require little equipment or materials.
	Ultimate Craft (Kathryn Copsey and Christine Orme, Scripture Union) RRP £12.99 Hundreds of ideas in clearly categorised sections. The book is navigable either by type of craft or by subject, and there is a comprehensive index at the back to help out.   There are different levels of complexity - some ideas are simple and quick to prepare, others require more time, preparation or resources.   Includes diagrams and photocopiable templates plus tips on the kind of craft resources to keep handy and putting together a craft box for your group.   2010 conference recommended title
	100 Simple Bible Crafts (Sue Price, David C Cook) RRP £8.99 100 crafts for 7-11s and younger children. 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.
	Big Book of Bible Crafts (Gospel Light) RRP £17.99 100 crafts using easy-to-find supplies. Divided into sections for younger and older children. Photocopiable, perforated pages.
	Bible Fun Stuff: Through-the-Bible Crafts (David C Cook) RRP £14.99   26 crafts that illustrate the biblical world.   Aimed at 5-7s.
	Bible Fun Stuff: Memory Maker Bible Crafts (David C Cook) £14.99 26 crafts to make and keep as reminders of Bible memory verses.   Aimed at 7-9s.
	Make & Do Bible Crafts (Leena Lane and Gilliam Chapman, Barnabas) RRP £9.99  48 Biblically themes crafts including Christmas and Easter. Ideal for 6-10s.
	Paper Plate Bible Crafts (Anita Reith Stohs, Barnabas) RRP £7.99   58 easy to do ideas for 5-7s each using a paper plate and other readily available materials.   Each craft has accompanying Bible references, things to talk about and other Bible stories for which it could be used.   Includes photocopy permission.

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Aimed at all ages 

Hands on Bible Creativity (Scripture Union) RRP £11.99 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.

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Christmas

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1 2 3 Christmas (Jocelyn Miller, Lion) RRP £5.99   NEW (September 2010) Decorations, cards, gifts, thank you notes... 16 crafts that can be achieved in just 1, 2, 3 steps with each step explained in easy to follow diagrams.   Crafts include: angels, jolly holly vases, cards to keep, brilliant bags, surprise cracker gifts, simple stockings, Christmas pudding truffles, pyramid boxes, snowball cakes and pepperming creams.   Ideal for 5-7s

	Christmas Make and Do (Gillian Chapman, Barnabas) RRP £5.99   The Christmas story told in ten episodes with practical craft ideas.   Bring the first nativity to life! Complete with full instructions and colour spreads.   Ideal for 7-11s
	Make and Do Christmas Cards and Crib (Jan Godfrey, Barnabas) RRP £5.99   A classic retelling of the Christmas story and everything you need to make 12 Christmas cards to send to friends and family.   It also includes a 3-D crib scene to press out and display.   Ideal for 7-11s
	First Festivals; Christmas (Lois Rock, Lion) RRP £5.99   Projects, stories and crafts which explain the reason for the season.
	I Can Make Angel Things for Christmas (Jocelyn Miller, Lion) RRP £5.99   This book provides lots of ideas on how to borrow some of the angels' legendary sparkle for making decorations, cards, gifts, treats and more.   Step by step instructions make it easy for everyone to get great results using paper, paint, glue, and - of course - foil, glitter, sequins, tinsel, and anything else that sparkles!   At the same time, the angel theme provides the perfect link to the Nativity story and the values that are at the heart of Christmas.
	I Can Make Starry Things for Chistmas (Jocelyn Miller, Lion) RRP £5.99   All over the world the star is one of the most popular motifs for Christmas crafts. This book provides loads of ideas for how to use it to make decorations, cards, gifts, treats and more.   Step by step instructions mean that everyone can get great results using paper, paint, glue -and, of course, glitter.   At the same time, the motif provides the perfect link to the Nativity and the story and the values that are at the heart of Christmas.

Make and Do Christmas Puppets (Jane Martin-Scott and Gillian Chapman, Barnabas) RRP £5.99   The story of Christmas in ten scenes with detailed instructions for beautiful puppets. Present the story of Christmas and have fun on the way.   Ideal for 7-11s

 

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