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Valley of Dry Bones Craft for Kids

An easy valley of dry bones craft for kids in three levels. Glue the bones together, bone to his bone, in a paper valley (Ezekiel 37:7). Free printable.

Preschool–Grade 5

Valley of Dry Bones 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
Ezekiel 37:1–14
Bible story
The Valley of Dry Bones

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in light blue and light brown
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed four winds page (page 3), one per child (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the valley card: the sky light blue, and the hills and the valley light brown. Leave every bone white, because they were very dry.Color the valley card: the sky light blue, and the hills and the valley light brown. Leave every bone white, because they were very dry.
  2. Cut out the valley card, the nine bones and the verse strip on the dashed lines.Cut out the valley card, the nine bones and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  3. Glue the verse strip on the back of the valley card.
  4. Tell it: the hand of the LORD set Ezekiel down in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones (Ezekiel 37:1). Scatter your nine bones all over the valley: very many, and very dry (37:2).
  5. Say together, "O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD" (37:4). Then glue the bones on the dotted bones in the valley, end to end, three in each row: "the bones came together, bone to his bone" (37:7).
  6. Finish the story: sinews, flesh and skin came upon them, and when the breath came into them, "they lived, and stood up upon their feet" (37:8–10). Turn the card over and read the verse together.Finish the story: sinews, flesh and skin came upon them, and when the breath came into them, "they lived, and stood up upon their feet" (37:8–10). Turn the card over and read the verse together.

This valley of dry bones craft turns one printed page into the valley God showed Ezekiel, full of bones, "and, lo, they were very dry" (Ezekiel 37:2). Kids scatter nine paper bones over the valley, say "O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD" (37:4), and glue them together, because "the bones came together, bone to his bone" (37:7). The memory verse, Ezekiel 37:4, 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, two crayon colors, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids act out the moment: they scatter the bones, speak God's word, and put them together, bone to his bone (Ezekiel 37:4, 37:7).
  • Gentle for little ones: the bones are simple rounded shapes, with no skulls and nothing scary, and the story ends with life (37:10).
  • No people drawn, and never God: the craft shows only the valley, the bones and, for older kids, the four winds (37:9).
  • It carries the verse home: Ezekiel 37:4 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole set, is glued on the back.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue the verse on. Kids color and glue the bones together. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, cut out the pieces and glue the bones together, bone to his bone.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also cut four wind spirals from page 3 and glue them on the corners: "Come from the four winds, O breath" (Ezekiel 37:9).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask where God set Ezekiel down (Ezekiel 37:1), what the bones were like (37:2), what God asked (37:3), what Ezekiel said to the bones (37:4), what happened when he prophesied (37:7), what was still missing (37:8) and what happened when the breath came (37:10). Then read Ezekiel 37:4 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the verse on ahead of time, so all they do is color, shake and glue. Let everyone shake their cards for "a noise, and behold a shaking" (Ezekiel 37:7), then glue the bones together.

Teaching the story first? Use the free valley of dry bones lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple valley of dry bones craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's valley card, nine bones and verse strip ahead of time, and glue the verse on the back. Preschoolers color the sky light blue and the hills brown, then glue the white bones on the dotted bones while you say, "bone to his bone." About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this valley of dry bones 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?

Ezekiel 37:4 (KJV), "Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD." It is the memory verse for the whole set, and it is printed on the verse strip on the back of the card.

Is this craft too scary for little kids?

No. The bones are simple rounded shapes, with no skulls and nothing frightening, and the story ends with life: the breath came into them, "and they lived" (Ezekiel 37:10). Older kids add four paper wind spirals for the breath from the four winds (37:9).

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