Craft

Rich Young Ruler Craft for Kids

A free rich young ruler craft for kids in three levels. Try to get a paper camel through the eye of a needle, then flip it to read Mark 10:27. 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: Mark 10:17–27
Bible story: The Rich Young Ruler

What you need

The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
Crayons or markers in light blue, gray and brown
Scissors and a glue stick
One craft stick for each child
A craft knife or a sharp pencil for the teacher, to start the hole in the eye of the needle
The printed thread page (page 3), one per child, and a red crayon or marker (harder level)

Steps

Color the card light blue and the needle gray. Leave the eye of the needle and the dotted spot white.
Color the camel brown.
Cut out the card, the camel and the verse strip on the dashed lines. The teacher cuts out the eye of the needle (the dashed oval), so it is a real hole.
Glue the craft stick on the back of the camel, so the stick sticks out below its feet.
Glue the verse strip on the back of the card. Read it together.
Tell it: hold up the card and try to push the camel through the eye of the needle. It can't fit! Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:25). The disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" (10:26). Turn the card over and read Jesus' answer: "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (10:27).

This rich young ruler craft turns one printed page into Jesus' picture of a camel and the eye of a needle. A man ran to Jesus and asked how to inherit eternal life, but he "went away grieved: for he had great possessions" (Mark 10:22). Then Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (10:25). Kids try to push their paper camel through a real hole in the eye of a paper needle. It can't fit! Then they turn the card over to read Jesus' answer, the memory verse: "with God all things are possible" (10:27).

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 craft stick, a glue stick and crayons.
Kids feel the point with their hands: the camel really can't go through the eye of the needle (Mark 10:25).
It ends with good news: turn the card over and read Jesus' answer, "with God all things are possible" (10:27).
It stays true to the Bible: the camel and needle are Jesus' own picture, kept the way He said it, and Jesus is not drawn.
It carries the verse home: Mark 10:27 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole set, is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and the eye of the needle and glue on the craft sticks. Kids color and try to push the camel through. No scissors.
Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. You cut out the eyes ahead of time; kids color, cut out the pieces and glue.
Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids cut out the eye themselves and pull a red paper thread from page 3 through it. The thread fits; the camel can't.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask how the man came to Jesus (Mark 10:17), what he asked (10:17), what Jesus felt when He looked at him (10:21), what Jesus told him to do (10:21), why he went away grieved (10:22) and what Jesus said about the camel and the needle (10:25). Then read Mark 10:27 together.

Tips for the classroom

Cut out the eye of each needle before class with a craft knife or a sharp pencil; cardstock keeps the card and the camel sturdy. For preschoolers, cut out everything and glue on the craft sticks ahead of time, so all they do is color and play. Keep the point clear: the camel can't get through, nobody can save himself, but with God all things are possible.

Teaching the story first? Use the free rich young ruler lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple rich young ruler craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, camel and verse strip ahead of time, cut out the eye of the needle, and glue the craft stick on each camel. Preschoolers color the card and the camel, then try to push the camel through the eye of the needle. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this rich young ruler craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, a craft stick, a glue stick 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?

Mark 10:27 (KJV), "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." It is the memory verse for the whole rich young ruler set, and 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 cut out the eye of the needle themselves and thread a red paper thread from page 3 through it. The thread slips right through the eye, but the camel can't, the way Jesus said (Mark 10:25).