Craft

Jacob's Ladder Craft for Kids

An easy Jacob's Ladder craft for kids in three levels. Build a real little ladder from two craft sticks and paper rungs that reaches to heaven. 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: Genesis 28:10–22
Bible story: Jacob's Ladder

What you need

The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
2 craft sticks per child (the regular 4.5-inch size)
Crayons or markers in dark blue, yellow, brown and gray, plus any colors for drawing Jacob
Scissors, a glue stick, and white school glue for the craft sticks
The printed pillar page (page 3), one per child (harder level)

Steps

Color the card: the sky dark blue, the stars yellow, the ground brown (the dotted box too) and the stones gray.
In the white oval, draw Jacob lying asleep with his head by the stones (Genesis 28:11).
Color the six ladder rungs brown and the light yellow.
Cut out the card, the six rungs, the light and the verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
Glue the two craft sticks with white glue on the two dotted strips of the card, so their bottom ends touch the ground line and the rest of each stick reaches up above the card.
Glue the six rungs across the two sticks with white glue, from just above the ground line to the top, evenly spaced, to make a ladder.
Glue the light behind the top ends of the two sticks, so it shines above the top of the ladder.
Glue the verse strip on the back of the card and read it together.
Tell it: the ladder was set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven (Genesis 28:12). Run your finger up and down the rungs for the angels of God ascending and descending, and say God's promise: "I am with thee" (28:15).

This Jacob's Ladder craft turns one printed page and two craft sticks into a real little ladder. Kids color a night card, draw Jacob asleep where he "took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows" (Genesis 28:11), and build "a ladder set up on the earth" whose top reaches up to a yellow light, because "the top of it reached to heaven" (28:12). God's promise, "I am with thee" (28:15), is 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, two craft sticks, glue and crayons.
Kids build the ladder themselves: six paper rungs across two sticks, set up on the earth and reaching up to heaven (Genesis 28:12).
It tells the story: the stones for his pillows (28:11), the ladder (28:12) and, at the harder level, the stone pillar with oil on its top (28:18).
It keeps to the Bible's words: Jacob is drawn by each child; the angels are not drawn, and the LORD is never pictured, only a light above the ladder.
It carries the verse home: Genesis 28:15 (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 sticks on. Kids color, draw Jacob and glue the rungs on with your help. No scissors.
Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut and build the ladder themselves.
Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also fold a stone pillar from page 3 that stands on the card with oil on its top: Jacob "set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it" (Genesis 28:18).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask what Jacob used for his pillows (Genesis 28:11), what he saw in his dream (28:12), who stood above the ladder (28:13), what God promised (28:15), what Jacob said when he woke (28:16) and what he called the place (28:19). Then read Genesis 28:15 together.

Tips for the classroom

Use white school glue for the craft sticks and rungs, and let the crafts dry flat for a few minutes. For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the sticks on before class, so all they do is color, draw and add the rungs.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Jacob's Ladder lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Jacob's Ladder craft for preschoolers?

Cut out the card, the rungs, the light and the verse strip ahead of time, and glue the craft sticks on the card yourself. Preschoolers color the pieces, draw Jacob asleep and glue the paper rungs across the sticks with your help. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Jacob's Ladder craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, two craft sticks, 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 a Jacob's Ladder craft?

Genesis 28:15 (KJV), "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." It is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back of the card.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also fold a stone pillar from page 3 that stands up on the card with oil on its top, because in the morning Jacob "set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it" (Genesis 28:18).