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Paul and Barnabas Craft for Kids

An easy Paul and Barnabas craft for kids in three levels, a stand-up scene where the man at Lystra stands upright (Acts 14:10). Free printable template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Paul and Barnabas 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
Acts 13:1–5; Acts 14:8–20
Bible story
Paul and Barnabas

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in light blue and tan, plus any colors for the drawings
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed heaven, earth and sea page (page 3), one per child, plus crayons in yellow, green, brown, blue and orange and a pencil (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color around both ovals light blue, for the sky. Color the ground tan.Color around both ovals light blue, for the sky. Color the ground tan.
  2. In the first oval, draw Paul and Barnabas, two men in long robes. In the second oval, draw the man from Lystra standing up on his feet.
  3. Cut out the two panels, the ground and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  4. Fold the tab at the bottom of each panel back on the dotted line. Glue each tab on one of the dotted boxes on the ground, so the panels stand up side by side.
  5. Glue the verse strip on the back of the Paul and Barnabas panel. Read it together.
  6. Tell it: lay the man's panel down flat, because he sat and "never had walked" (Acts 14:8). Say Paul's words, "Stand upright on thy feet," and stand the panel up: "he leaped and walked" (14:10).Tell it: lay the man's panel down flat, because he sat and "never had walked" (Acts 14:8). Say Paul's words, "Stand upright on thy feet," and stand the panel up: "he leaped and walked" (14:10).

This Paul and Barnabas craft turns one printed page into a stand-up scene from Lystra. The Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them" (Acts 13:2), and the church sent them out to preach. At Lystra sat a man who "never had walked" (14:8). Paul said, "Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked" (14:10). Kids lay the man's panel down and stand it up as they say Paul's words. The memory verse, Acts 13:2, is glued on the back. It costs under 50 cents a child.

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, a few crayons, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids act out the story: the man's panel lies down, then stands up when kids say, "Stand upright on thy feet" (Acts 14:10).
  • It gives God the glory: older kids add a backdrop of heaven, earth and the sea, because Paul and Barnabas pointed the people to "the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea" (14:15).
  • People only in kids' drawings: the template draws no people. Kids draw Paul, Barnabas and the man in the ovals.
  • It carries the verse home: Acts 13:2 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole set, is glued on the back.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue the panels on the ground. Kids color, draw and stand the man up. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut, fold and glue the stand-up scene and tell the story.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make a zigzag backdrop of heaven, earth and the sea from page 3 and write "Give God the glory!" on the back.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 13:2), what the church did before sending them (13:3), what Paul said to the man at Lystra (14:10), what the man did (14:10) and what Paul and Barnabas told the people (14:15). Then read Acts 13:2 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the panels on the ground ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and tell the story. Cardstock stands up best. Crease the folds firmly so the panels stand straight.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Paul and Barnabas craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's pieces ahead of time and glue the two panels on the ground so they stand. Preschoolers color the sky and the ground, draw Paul and Barnabas and the man in the ovals, and then lay the man's panel down and stand it up when you say, "Stand upright on thy feet." About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Paul and Barnabas 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?

Acts 13:2 (KJV), "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." It is the memory verse for the whole set, and it is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back of the Paul and Barnabas panel.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also make a zigzag backdrop from page 3 with heaven, earth and the sea, because Paul and Barnabas told the people to turn "unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea" (Acts 14:15). On the back they write "Give God the glory!"

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