Craft

Samuel Anoints David Craft for Kids

An easy Samuel anoints David craft for kids in three levels, a paper heart with Samuel's horn of oil and a window to draw David (1 Samuel 16:7). Free template.

Preschool–Grade 5

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⬇ Craft template + instructions (PDF) · 5 pages

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: 1 Samuel 16
Bible story: David Is Anointed King

What you need

The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
Crayons or markers in red, brown and yellow, and any colors for drawing David
Scissors and a glue stick
The printed sheep and harp page (page 3), one per child, and a black crayon (harder level)

Steps

Color the heart red, but leave the oval window white. Color the horn brown and the three oil drops yellow.
In the window, draw David, the youngest son, who kept the sheep (1 Samuel 16:11).
Cut out the heart, the horn, the three oil drops and the verse card on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
Glue the horn on the top of the right side of the heart, with its open end pointing down toward the window.
Glue the three oil drops in a line from the open end of the horn down to the top of the window: Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him (1 Samuel 16:13).
Glue the verse card on the back of the heart and read it together.

This Samuel anoints David craft turns one printed page into a big paper heart with Samuel's horn of oil. God told Samuel, "fill thine horn with oil, and go" (1 Samuel 16:1), and when Samuel looked at the oldest son, the LORD said, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (16:7). Kids color the heart, draw David in its window, and glue on the horn and three drops of oil, because "Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him" (16:13). The memory verse, 1 Samuel 16:7, goes on the back. It costs under 50 cents a child, takes about 20 minutes and comes in three levels, from preschool to 5th grade.

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 and crayons.
It follows the Bible closely: the horn of oil comes from 1 Samuel 16:1 and 16:13, and the heart from 16:7. The harder level's sheep and harp come from 16:11 and 16:23.
Every child draws David: kids draw the youngest son, out with the sheep, inside the heart, because God chose him.
It carries the verse home: the template includes 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV) on a card to glue on the back.

Three ways to make it

Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces. Kids color, draw David and glue the horn and oil drops with your help. No scissors.
Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw David, cut out the pieces and glue them on the heart.
Harder (grades 3–5): kids add a sheep and a harp from page 3 at the bottom of the heart (1 Samuel 16:11, 16:23).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask what God told Samuel to fill with oil (1 Samuel 16:1), which son Samuel looked on first (16:6), what the LORD looks on (16:7), how many sons passed before Samuel (16:10), where David was (16:11) and what Samuel did with the horn of oil (16:13). Then read 1 Samuel 16:7 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces ahead of time and help them glue the horn so its open end points at the window. There is no crown in 1 Samuel 16: David was anointed that day, but he became king later.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Samuel anoints David lesson and the Samuel anoints David word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Samuel anoints David craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's heart, horn, oil drops and verse card ahead of time. Preschoolers color the heart red, the horn brown and the drops yellow, and draw David in the window. Then they glue the horn and the drops on the heart with your help. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this David anointed king craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page and crayons you already have. The template is free to print.

What Bible verse goes with this Samuel anoints David craft?

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV), "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." It is printed on the verse card that kids glue on the back of the heart.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids add a sheep and a harp from page 3 at the bottom of the heart, because David "keepeth the sheep" (1 Samuel 16:11) and "took an harp, and played with his hand" for King Saul (16:23).