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Caleb Craft for Kids

A Caleb craft for kids in three levels, preschool to 5th grade. Kids make the mountain Caleb asked for, with footprints up the path. Free printable template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Caleb Craft for Kids
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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages
Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Scripture
Joshua 14:6–15
Bible story
Caleb Asks for the Mountain

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in green, tan (or light brown), brown and yellow, plus crayons for drawing Caleb
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed Hebron and Caleb at forty page (page 3), one per child, plus a blue crayon (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the mountain green, the path tan and the footprints brown.Color the mountain green, the path tan and the footprints brown.
  2. Draw Caleb in the oval on Caleb's card: an old man of 85 in a long robe, standing tall and strong (Joshua 14:10–11). Color the rest of the card yellow.
  3. Cut out the mountain, Caleb's card and the verse strip on the dashed lines.Cut out the mountain, Caleb's card and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  4. Glue Caleb's card on its dotted outline at the foot of the mountain, beside the path.
  5. Turn the mountain over and glue the verse strip on the back. Read it together.
  6. Tell it: walk two fingers up the footprints. When Caleb was forty, his feet walked on this land (Joshua 14:7, 14:9). Forty-five years later he said, "give me this mountain" (14:12), and Joshua gave him Hebron (14:13).Tell it: walk two fingers up the footprints. When Caleb was forty, his feet walked on this land (Joshua 14:7, 14:9). Forty-five years later he said, "give me this mountain" (14:12), and Joshua gave him Hebron (14:13).

This Caleb craft turns one printed page into the mountain Caleb asked for. When Caleb was forty, Moses sent him to spy out the land, and Moses promised him, "the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance" (Joshua 14:9). Forty-five years later, at 85, Caleb said, "give me this mountain" (14:12). Kids color the mountain, walk their fingers up the footprints on the path, and draw Caleb, old and strong, at its foot. It comes in three levels, with the template and teacher notes in one free PDF.

The finished craft, easy and medium level

The finished craft, harder level

What it looks like finished: easy and medium (first photo) and harder (second photo).

Why this craft works

  • Cheap and simple: one printed page, crayons, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids retell the story: they walk the footprints up the mountain, from Caleb at forty to Caleb at 85 (Joshua 14:7–12).
  • It follows the Bible closely: the footprints, the mountain and the walled city of Hebron all come from Joshua 14 and Numbers 13:22. No giants are drawn.
  • It carries the verse home: Joshua 14:8 (KJV) is glued on the back of the mountain.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue on the verse strip. Kids color, draw Caleb and glue his card on. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out and glue the pieces themselves.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also add the walled city of Hebron at the top of the path and a card with Caleb at forty, because Caleb was "as strong this day" at 85 as he was at forty (Joshua 14:11).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask how old Caleb was when Moses sent him (Joshua 14:7), how he followed the LORD (14:8), what Moses promised him (14:9), how old he was when he asked for the mountain (14:10) and what Joshua gave him (14:13). Then read Joshua 14:8 together.

Tips for the classroom

Cardstock keeps the mountain stiff enough to stand against a wall or a window at home. For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the verse strip on ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and glue Caleb's card. Have kids draw Caleb first, then color, so the card is ready to glue when the mountain is done.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Caleb lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Caleb craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's mountain, Caleb's card and verse strip ahead of time, and glue the verse strip on the back for them. Preschoolers color the mountain, draw Caleb in the oval and glue his card on the dotted outline. About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Caleb craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, a little glue, and crayons you already have. The template is free to print. The harder level adds a second page.

What Bible verse goes with a Caleb craft?

Joshua 14:8 (KJV), "Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God." It is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back of the mountain.

How can older kids make this Caleb craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also color and cut out the walled city of Hebron and a second card with Caleb at forty from page 3. They glue the city at the top of the path and young Caleb across from old Caleb, because Caleb was "as strong this day" at 85 as he was at 40 (Joshua 14:11).

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