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Jesus Feeds 5000 Craft for Kids

An easy paper plate Jesus Feeds the 5,000 craft for kids in three levels, preschool to 5th grade, with a free printable basket, loaves and fish template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Jesus Feeds 5000 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
John 6:1–14
Bible story
Jesus Feeds the 5,000

What you need

  • 1 plain white paper plate per child (9 inch, uncoated)
  • The printed basket, loaves and fish template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers (green, brown, golden tan and blue-gray)
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed weaving basket page (page 3), one per child (harder level)
  • A yellow crayon or marker for the weaving strips (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the rim of the paper plate green, like the grass where the people sat down (John 6:10).
  2. Color the basket brown, the five loaves golden tan and the two fish blue-gray.
  3. Cut out the basket, the five loaves, the two fish and the memory verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
  4. Turn the basket over. Rub glue along the left side, the right side and the bottom edge. Do not put glue on the top edge.
  5. Press the basket onto the bottom half of the plate, with the open top edge toward the middle of the plate. Hold it while you count to ten.
  6. Count the five loaves and two fish out loud as you put them in the basket (John 6:9). Put a dab of glue on the bottom of each one and tuck it into the top of the basket, so the top half sticks up above the rim.
  7. Glue the memory verse strip on the back of the plate and read it together.

This Jesus Feeds the 5,000 craft turns a paper plate into a grassy field with a basket that holds five loaves and two fish. Kids color the grass, cut out the basket and the food, glue the basket on as a pocket and count the loaves and fish into it. It costs under 50 cents a child, takes about 20 minutes and comes with a free printable template and memory verse strip. It 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: a paper plate, one printed page and crayons.
  • It retells the story: the grass where the people sat, the boy's five barley loaves and two small fish, and a basket like the twelve baskets of leftovers (John 6:9–13).
  • Kids can tell it again: the five loaves and two fish peek out of the basket, so kids can count them for their family and retell the story at home.
  • It carries the verse home: the template includes Philippians 4:19 (KJV) on a strip to glue on the back.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces ahead of time. Kids color the grass rim and the pieces, press the basket onto the plate and count the food into it. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): kids color and cut out the basket, five loaves and two fish, glue the basket on as a pocket, fill it and glue the verse strip on the back.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): kids use the weaving basket page instead. They cut six slits in the basket and weave four paper strips over and under to make a real woven basket front, then glue it on, fill it and say the verse from memory.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who had the five loaves and two fish (a lad, John 6:9), what Jesus did before He handed out the food (He gave thanks, John 6:11), and how many baskets of leftovers there were (twelve, John 6:13). God gives us what we need (Philippians 4:19).

Tips for the classroom

Use plain, uncoated paper plates so the glue stick holds. For preschoolers, cut out all the pieces before class, so all they do is color, press and count. For the harder level, print the weaving basket page too.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Jesus Feeds the 5,000 Sunday school lesson and the Jesus Feeds the 5,000 word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Jesus Feeds the 5,000 craft for preschoolers?

Cut out the basket, loaves and fish ahead of time. Preschoolers color the plate rim green and color the pieces, you help glue the basket onto the plate, and they count five loaves and two fish into it. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Jesus Feeds the 5,000 craft cost?

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

What Bible verse goes with a Jesus Feeds the 5,000 craft?

Philippians 4:19 (KJV), "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." It is printed on the verse strip in the template, which goes on the back of the plate.

How can older kids make this Jesus Feeds the 5,000 craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Instead of the plain basket, kids cut out the weaving basket on page 3, cut six slits in it and weave four paper strips over and under to make a real woven basket front. Then they glue it on the plate, fill it with the five loaves and two fish and say Philippians 4:19 from memory.

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