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Noah's Ark Craft for Kids

An easy paper plate Noah's Ark craft for kids in three levels, preschool to 5th grade, with a free printable ark template, supply list and steps.

Preschool–Grade 5

Noah's Ark 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
Genesis 6–9
Bible story
Noah's Ark

What you need

  • 1 paper plate per child, cut in half (one half per child)
  • The printed ark template, one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in rainbow colors
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • 4 cotton balls per child for clouds
  • The printed rainbow arcs page, one per child (harder level)
  • Colored paper in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple (harder level), or crayons in those colors to color the printed arcs

Steps

  1. Give each child half a paper plate. On the bottom side, color six rainbow stripes that follow the curve, from the outside in: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.
  2. Color the ark on the template. In the two windows, draw animals peeking out, two of each kind.
  3. Cut out the ark and the memory verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
  4. Glue the ark along the straight edge of the plate so the rainbow arches over it.
  5. Glue two cotton balls at each end of the rainbow for clouds.
  6. Glue the memory verse strip on the back and read it together.

This Noah's Ark craft turns half a paper plate into a rainbow arching over Noah's ark. Kids color the rainbow, draw the animals two by two in the ark's windows and glue on cotton-ball clouds. It costs under 50 cents a child, takes about 20 minutes and comes with a free printable ark 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, cotton balls and crayons.
  • It retells the story: the ark, the animals in pairs and the rainbow promise all end up on the plate.
  • It carries the verse home: the template includes Genesis 9:13 (KJV) on a strip to glue on the back.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the ark ahead of time. Kids color the rainbow on the plate with crayons, color the ark and glue on the cotton balls. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the photo. Kids color the rainbow, color and cut out the ark, add cotton-ball clouds and glue the verse strip on the back.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): instead of coloring the rainbow, kids cut six paper rainbow arcs from the printed arcs page and glue them on the half plate from the outside in (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple). Then they color and cut out the ark, glue on cotton-ball clouds and say the verse from memory.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask what Noah did when God told him to build the ark (Genesis 6:22), which animals they drew, and what the rainbow means. God set His bow in the cloud as a sign of His promise, and God always keeps His promises.

Tips for the classroom

Cut the plates in half before class. For preschoolers, cut out the arks too, so all they do is color and glue. For the harder level, print the rainbow arcs page too, and use colored paper if you have it.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Noah's Ark Sunday school lesson and the Noah's Ark word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Noah's Ark craft for preschoolers?

Cut the ark out ahead of time and let preschoolers color the rainbow and the ark, then glue it to half a paper plate with cotton-ball clouds. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Noah's Ark craft cost?

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

What Bible verse goes with a Noah's Ark craft?

Genesis 9:13 (KJV), "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." It is printed on the verse strip in the template.

How can older kids make this Noah's Ark craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Instead of coloring the rainbow, kids cut out six rainbow arcs from the printed arcs page and glue them on the half plate from the outside in: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Then they add the ark and the cotton-ball clouds and say Genesis 9:13 from memory.

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