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Deborah Craft for Kids

An easy Deborah craft for kids in three levels, the palm tree of Deborah with a window to draw her judging Israel under it (Judges 4:5). Free printable.

Preschool–Grade 5

Deborah 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
Judges 4:1–24
Bible story
Deborah and Barak

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in light blue, yellow, green, brown and red, plus crayons to draw Deborah
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed fringed palm leaves page (page 3), one per child (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the card: the sky light blue, the sun yellow, the hills green, the ground yellow and the trunk brown.Color the card: the sky light blue, the sun yellow, the hills green, the ground yellow and the trunk brown.
  2. Color the palm leaves green and their round center brown. Color the window frame red.
  3. In the window, draw Deborah sitting under her palm tree, with long hair and a long dress.
  4. Cut out the card, the palm leaves, the window and the verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.Cut out the card, the palm leaves, the window and the verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
  5. Glue the round center of the palm leaves on the dotted circle at the top of the trunk. Glue the window on the dotted oval at the foot of the tree.
  6. Turn the card over. Glue the verse strip on the back and read it together.
  7. Tell it: point to the palm tree and say, "she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah… and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment" (Judges 4:5). Then say what she told Barak: "is not the LORD gone out before thee?" (4:14).Tell it: point to the palm tree and say, "she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah… and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment" (Judges 4:5). Then say what she told Barak: "is not the LORD gone out before thee?" (4:14).

This Deborah craft turns one printed page into the palm tree of Deborah. Deborah was "a prophetess" who "judged Israel at that time," and "she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah… and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment" (Judges 4:4–5). Kids color a tall palm tree, glue on its leaves, and draw Deborah in a window at the foot of the tree. On the day of the battle she told Barak, "is not the LORD gone out before thee?" (4:14). 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, glue, crayons and scissors.
  • Kids can tell the story with it: point to the palm tree where the people came to Deborah for judgment (Judges 4:5), then say her words to Barak (4:14).
  • It follows the Bible closely: the palm tree of Deborah comes from Judges 4:5, and Deborah has no sword, armor or crown, because Judges 4 gives her none.
  • It points to God: the LORD went out before Barak and gave Israel the victory (Judges 4:14–15).
  • It carries the verse home: Judges 4:14 (KJV) is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces. Kids color, draw Deborah and glue the leaves and the window on the card. 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 cut a bigger set of fringed palm leaves from page 3, glue them on top, and bend the fringes up.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who Deborah was (Judges 4:4), where she dwelt (4:5), why the people came to her (4:5), whom she called (4:6), what Barak said (4:8), what Deborah answered (4:9) and who gave Israel the victory (4:14–15, 4:23). Then read Judges 4:14 together.

Tips for the classroom

Cardstock keeps the card stiff enough to hold the fringed leaves. For preschoolers, cut out the pieces ahead of time. When kids draw Deborah, draw her under the palm tree of Deborah (Judges 4:5), with long hair and a long dress.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Deborah craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, palm leaves, window and verse strip ahead of time. Preschoolers color the palm tree, draw Deborah in the window, and glue the leaves and the window on the card. Glue the verse on the back for them. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Deborah 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?

Judges 4:14 (KJV), where Deborah said to Barak, "Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee?" It is printed on the verse strip that goes on the back of the card.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also cut out a bigger set of palm leaves from page 3, cut the short fringe lines along each leaf, and glue them on top of the flat leaves, then bend the fringes up so the palm tree stands out from the card.

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