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Stephen Craft for Kids

An easy Stephen craft for kids in three levels: open two cloud doors for "I see the heavens opened" (Acts 7:56). Free printable template, supplies and steps.

Preschool–Grade 5

Stephen 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 6:8–15; Acts 7:54–60
Bible story
Stephen

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in light blue, yellow and green
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed ground card (page 3), one per child, plus crayons for drawing (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the card: the sky light blue, the light in the middle yellow and the hills green. Leave the two cloud doors white.Color the card: the sky light blue, the light in the middle yellow and the hills green. Leave the two cloud doors white.
  2. Cut out the card, the two cloud doors and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  3. Fold each cloud door on its fold line (dashes and dots), so the small tab bends back.
  4. Glue each tab on a dotted tab box at the side of the card, so the two clouds meet in the middle and cover the light.
  5. Glue the verse strip on the back of the card. Read it together.
  6. Open the cloud doors like Stephen saw: "Behold, I see the heavens opened" (Acts 7:56).Open the cloud doors like Stephen saw: "Behold, I see the heavens opened" (Acts 7:56).

This Stephen craft turns one printed page into a heaven card with two cloud doors that open. Stephen was "full of faith and power" (Acts 6:8). When the council was against him, he was "full of the Holy Ghost," looked up into heaven, and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened" (7:55–56). Kids color the sky and the light, glue on the cloud doors, and open them to show the light of heaven. It comes in three levels, with the template and teacher notes in one free PDF.

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 glue stick, crayons and scissors.
  • The clouds really open: kids open the two cloud doors for "I see the heavens opened" (Acts 7:56).
  • It teaches the main point: stand strong for Jesus. Stephen looked up to heaven when people were against him (7:55).
  • It stays gentle: it shows the moment Stephen looked up, not how he died.
  • It carries the verse home: Acts 6:8 (KJV) is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out and glue the pieces. Kids color and open the clouds. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, cut out, fold and glue the card themselves.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make a ground card from page 3 and draw Stephen in its oval window, because he "looked up stedfastly into heaven" (Acts 7:55).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask what Stephen was full of (Acts 6:8), what the council saw in his face (6:15), what Stephen saw when he looked up (7:55), what he said (7:56) and what he prayed for the men who hurt him (7:60). Then read Acts 6:8 together.

Tips for the classroom

Show kids how to fold the small tab back before they glue: only the tab gets glue, or the cloud doors won't open. For preschoolers, cut out and glue the cards ahead of time, so all they do is color and open the clouds. Cardstock keeps the card stiff.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Stephen craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, cloud doors and verse strip ahead of time, and glue the doors on. Preschoolers color the sky light blue, the light yellow and the hills green. Then they open the clouds while you say, Stephen looked up and saw the heavens opened (Acts 7:55–56). About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Stephen 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 6:8 (KJV), "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people." 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 color and cut out the ground card from page 3 and draw Stephen in its oval window, looking up, because he "looked up stedfastly into heaven" (Acts 7:55). The ground card is glued under the heaven card.

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