VBS HQ
Menu
Craft

Jonah and the Whale Craft for Kids

An easy paper plate Jonah and the big fish craft for kids in three levels, preschool to 5th grade, with a free printable template, supply list and steps.

Preschool–Grade 5

Jonah and the Whale Craft for Kids
📌 Save to Pinterest

Download

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
Jonah 1–2
Bible story
Jonah and the Big Fish

What you need

  • 1 paper plate per child
  • The printed fish template, one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • Optional: 1 craft stick and a piece of tape per child, to make a puppet
  • The printed lift-the-flap page (belly flap and seaweed), one per child (harder level)

Steps

  1. On the bottom side of the paper plate, color the great fish any color you like. Draw a big mouth near one edge.
  2. Color the tail, the fins, the eye and the bubbles on the template. In the oval window, draw Jonah praying inside the fish.
  3. Cut out all the pieces and the memory verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
  4. Glue the straight end of the tail behind the plate, on the side away from the mouth. Glue the straight edge of the top fin behind the top of the plate.
  5. Glue the window in the middle of the fish, the side fin under it and the eye near the mouth. Glue the bubbles above the mouth.
  6. Glue the memory verse strip on the back and read it together. For a puppet, tape a craft stick to the bottom of the plate.

This Jonah and the big fish craft turns a paper plate into the great fish that swallowed Jonah. Kids color the fish, add a printed tail, fins and eye, and draw Jonah praying inside a little oval "belly window." 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. Add a craft stick to make a puppet.
  • It retells the story: the great fish, Jonah inside it and his prayer all end up on the plate.
  • It carries the verse home: the template includes Jonah 2:9 (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 plate fish, draw Jonah in the window and glue the pieces on. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the photo. Kids color the fish, color and cut out the pieces, draw Jonah praying in the window and glue the verse strip on the back.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): kids make the medium fish, then add a lift-up belly flap over the window and three paper seaweed strands around it (Jonah 2:5). Lift the flap and Jonah is praying inside the fish. They say the verse from memory.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask where God told Jonah to go and where he ran instead (Jonah 1:2–3). The LORD prepared a great fish, and Jonah was inside it three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17). Jonah prayed, God heard him, and Jonah got a second chance to obey (Jonah 2:1–2; 3:1–3).

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces before class so all they do is color and glue. For the harder level, print the lift-the-flap page too. Older kids can write something they thank God for on the back and learn the whole memory verse.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Jonah and the big fish Sunday school lesson and the Jonah word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Jonah and the big fish craft for preschoolers?

Cut out the template pieces ahead of time. Preschoolers color the paper plate fish, draw Jonah in the oval window and glue the tail, fins, eye and window on. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Jonah craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one paper plate, one printed page and crayons you already have, plus a craft stick if you make it a puppet. The template is free to print.

What Bible verse goes with a Jonah and the big fish craft?

Jonah 2:9 (KJV), "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." It is printed on the verse strip in the template.

How can older kids make this Jonah craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids make the paper plate fish, then add a lift-up belly flap over Jonah's window and three paper seaweed strands around it, because Jonah said "the weeds were wrapped about my head" (Jonah 2:5). They lift the flap to show Jonah praying inside the fish and say Jonah 2:9 from memory.

More for this Bible story