Craft

Hezekiah Craft for Kids

An easy Hezekiah craft for kids in three levels. Slide the paper shadow back ten steps on the dial of Ahaz, as in 2 Kings 20:11. Free printable 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: 2 Kings 20:1–11
Bible story: Hezekiah's Prayer

What you need

The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
Crayons or markers in light blue, yellow, green, gray and brown
Scissors and a glue stick
The printed wall flap page (page 3), one per child (harder level)

Steps

Color the card: the sky light blue, the sun yellow, the ground green and the ten steps yellow.
Color the stones on the wall piece brown. Color the shadow piece gray, tab and all.
Cut out the card, the wall, the shadow and the verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
Find the dotted wall shape above the steps. Put glue only on the two small striped squares at its ends. Press the wall on the shape. Do not glue the middle, so the wall makes a sleeve.
Hold the shadow with the round tab at the top. Slide it up under the wall from below until the tab pokes out above the wall. Now the shadow slides up and down over the steps.
Turn the card over. Glue the verse strip on the back and read it together.
Tell it: slide the shadow down over all ten steps. Hezekiah asked for the hard sign, "let the shadow return backward ten degrees" (2 Kings 20:10). Count to ten as you slide it back up, because the LORD "brought the shadow ten degrees backward" (20:11).

This Hezekiah craft turns one printed page into a card with ten steps and a paper shadow that slides. Hezekiah was "sick unto death," and he "turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD" (2 Kings 20:1–2). God answered, "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee" (20:5). For a sign, Hezekiah asked for the shadow to go back ten degrees, and the LORD "brought the shadow ten degrees backward" (20:11). Kids slide the shadow down the steps and count ten as they push it back up. 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: slide the shadow down the ten steps, then count ten as it goes backward, the sign Hezekiah asked for (2 Kings 20:9–11).
It follows the Bible closely: the ten degrees, the shadow going backward and the wall Hezekiah faced to pray come straight from 2 Kings 20:2 and 20:11, and nothing is added about how the dial looked.
It points to God: God heard Hezekiah's prayer and saw his tears (20:5), and only the LORD could turn the shadow back.
It carries the verse home: 2 Kings 20:5 (KJV) 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 wall on. Kids color and slide the shadow. No scissors.
Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, cut out and glue the pieces themselves.
Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also add a stone wall flap from page 3 that lifts to show their drawing of Hezekiah praying and God's answer, "I have heard thy prayer" (2 Kings 20:5).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who was sick (2 Kings 20:1), what Hezekiah did (20:2), what God said He had heard and seen (20:5), how many years God added (20:6), what they laid on the boil (20:7), and which way the shadow went for the sign (20:10–11). Then read 2 Kings 20:5 together.

Tips for the classroom

Cardstock keeps the shadow stiff enough to slide. Glue the wall only at its two ends, or the shadow won't move. For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the walls ahead of time. Talk about how God heard Hezekiah's prayer: He hears ours too.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Hezekiah craft for preschoolers?

Before class, cut out each child's card, wall, shadow and verse strip, and glue the wall on the card for them. Preschoolers color the sky, sun, ground and steps, then slide the gray shadow down and back up the ten steps as you tell the story. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Hezekiah 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?

2 Kings 20:5 (KJV): "Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD." 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 make a stone wall flap from page 3 and glue it in the dotted box on the card, because Hezekiah "turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD" (2 Kings 20:2). Under the flap they draw Hezekiah praying, beside God's answer from 2 Kings 20:5.