Craft

Golden Rule Craft for Kids

An easy Golden Rule craft for kids in three levels, a paper gift box of bread and a fish for Matthew 7:7–12. Free printable template, supplies and steps.

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: Matthew 7:7–12
Bible story: The Golden Rule

What you need

The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
Crayons or markers in red, yellow, brown and orange
A glue stick and scissors
The printed gift tag page (page 3), one per child (harder level)
A piece of yellow yarn about 8 inches long, a hole punch and clear tape (harder level)

Steps

Color the box front red, with the ribbon and the bow yellow. Color the bread brown and the fish orange. Leave the box back white.
Cut out the five pieces on the dashed lines: the box front, the box back, the bread, the fish and the verse strip. Help younger children with the cutting.
Rub glue stick on the three dotted lines of the box back: the left side, the right side and the bottom. Do not put glue on the top.
Lay the box front on the box back, edges even, and press. Now the box is a pocket that is open at the top.
Slide the bread into the left side of the box and the fish into the right side, so they stick up out of the top.
Turn the box over. Glue the verse strip on the back and read it together.

This Golden Rule craft turns one printed page into a paper gift box with a loaf of bread and a fish inside. Jesus said no father gives his son a stone when he asks for bread, or a serpent when he asks for a fish, and "how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:9–11). "Therefore," Jesus said, "all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (7:12). Kids color the box, glue it into a pocket and fill it with good gifts. 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.
It shows Jesus' own picture: the bread and the fish come straight from Matthew 7:9–10.
It ties the two halves together: God gives good gifts (7:11), "Therefore" we do good to others (7:12).
It carries the verse home: Matthew 7:12 (KJV) is glued on the back of the box.

Three ways to make it

Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and put on the glue. Kids color, press the box together and slide in the bread and the fish. No scissors.
Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, cut out and glue the box themselves.
Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make a gift tag from page 3, draw someone they will do good for in its oval, and tie it on with yarn.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask where Jesus taught (Matthew 5:1–2), what three things He said to do (7:7), whether a father would give a stone for bread or a serpent for a fish (7:9–10), who gives even better gifts (7:11), and what the Golden Rule says (7:12). Then read Matthew 7:12 together.

Tips for the classroom

Glue only on the dotted lines so the box stays open at the top. For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and put on the glue ahead of time. Cardstock keeps the box stiff and the bread and fish standing up.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Golden Rule craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's five pieces ahead of time. Preschoolers color the box, the bread and the fish, then you rub the glue on the box back and they press the front on and slide in the bread and the fish. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Golden Rule 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 and a piece of yarn.

What Bible verse goes with this craft?

Matthew 7:12 (KJV), "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." People call it the Golden Rule. The whole verse is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back of the box.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also make a gift tag from page 3. In its oval they draw someone they will do something good for this week, then they tie the tag to the box with yarn, because God gives good things to us, so we do good to others (Matthew 7:11–12).