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Daniel's Diet Craft for Kids

An easy Daniel's diet craft for kids in three levels. Lift Daniel's paper heart to find pulse and water, and count ten seeds (Daniel 1:8–14). Free template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Daniel's Diet 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
Daniel 1:1–21
Bible story
Daniel's Diet

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in red, brown, yellow and blue
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed four friends strip (page 3), one per child, plus crayons in any colors, green for the frame, and a pencil (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the bowl and the cup brown, the water blue and the ten seeds yellow. Count out loud as you color each seed: one day, two days, all the way to ten days. Color the heart red on both sides.Color the bowl and the cup brown, the water blue and the ten seeds yellow. Count out loud as you color each seed: one day, two days, all the way to ten days. Color the heart red on both sides.
  2. Cut out the card, the heart and the verse strip on the dashed lines.Cut out the card, the heart and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  3. Glue the heart: put glue only on the dotted strip at the top of the card. Press the top of the heart on it, so the heart covers the card like a flap.
  4. Turn the card over and glue the verse strip on the back. Read it together.
  5. Tell it: "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). Lift the heart: he asked for "pulse to eat, and water to drink" (1:12). Count the ten seeds for the ten days Melzar proved them (1:14).Tell it: "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). Lift the heart: he asked for "pulse to eat, and water to drink" (1:12). Count the ten seeds for the ten days Melzar proved them (1:14).

This Daniel's diet craft turns one printed page into a card with a heart flap. Daniel was brought to the palace of the king of Babylon, and the king gave him a share of his own meat and wine. But "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). Kids lift the paper heart to find what Daniel asked for, "pulse to eat, and water to drink" (1:12), and count ten seeds for the ten days Melzar proved them (1:14). The memory verse, Daniel 1:17, is glued on the back. It costs under 50 cents a child.

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, four crayon colors, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids act out the story: the heart shows that Daniel "purposed in his heart" (Daniel 1:8), and lifting it shows the pulse and water he asked for (1:12).
  • It counts the test: kids color ten seeds, one for each of the ten days (1:14).
  • No people drawn: older kids draw Daniel and his three friends themselves in four windows.
  • It carries the verse home: Daniel 1:17 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole set, is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue the verse strip on. Kids color, count the ten seeds and lift the heart. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, cut out the pieces, glue the heart flap and tell the story with it.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make the four friends strip from page 3, drawing Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah after the ten days (1:15).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who the king of Babylon was (Daniel 1:1), what the king gave the young men (1:5), who the four from Judah were (1:6), what Daniel purposed in his heart (1:8), what he asked for (1:12), how many days they were proved (1:14) and what God gave them (1:17). Then read Daniel 1:8 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the verse strips ahead of time, so all they do is color, count and lift the heart. Keep the focus on obeying God, not on which foods to eat. Cardstock makes the heart flap last longest.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Daniel's diet lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Daniel's diet craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, heart and verse strip ahead of time, and glue the verse strip on the back. Preschoolers color the bowl, cup, water and ten seeds, counting to ten, and color the heart red. Then you help them glue the heart on top. About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Daniel's diet 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 this craft?

Daniel 1:17 (KJV), "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." It is the memory verse for the whole set, printed on the strip kids glue on the back.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also make the four friends strip from page 3: they draw Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah in four windows, looking healthy after the ten days (Daniel 1:15), write their names on the back and glue the strip under the card.

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