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Tabernacle Craft for Kids

An easy Tabernacle craft for kids in three levels, a stand-up paper court and tent with a cotton-ball cloud for Exodus 40:34. Free printable template and steps.

Preschool–Grade 5

Tabernacle 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
Exodus 25:1–9; 40:33–38
Bible story
The Tabernacle

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in blue, purple, red and brown
  • 3 cotton balls per child for the cloud
  • A glue stick and scissors
  • The printed cloud and fire page (page 3), one per child (harder level)
  • Crayons in orange and yellow and 1 craft stick per child (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the gate on fence 1 in three stripes: blue on top, purple in the middle, red on the bottom. Leave the rest of both fences white, like linen. Color the tent brown.Color the gate on fence 1 in three stripes: blue on top, purple in the middle, red on the bottom. Leave the rest of both fences white, like linen. Color the tent brown.
  2. Cut out the four pieces on the dashed lines: fence 1, fence 2, the tent and the verse strip. Help younger children with the cutting.
  3. Fold both fences on their dotted lines, so each fence has a long side, a short side and a small tab.
  4. Make the court: glue the tab of fence 1 behind the plain end of fence 2, and the tab of fence 2 behind the plain end of fence 1. Now the fence stands up as a long rectangle with the gate in the middle of the front.
  5. Glue the verse strip on the outside of the long side of fence 2, at the back of the court. Read it together.
  6. Fold the tent on its dotted line and stand it inside the court, toward the back, like a tent.
  7. Glue 3 cotton balls in a row along the top of the tent: the cloud covered the tent (Exodus 40:34).Glue 3 cotton balls in a row along the top of the tent: the cloud covered the tent (Exodus 40:34).

This Tabernacle craft turns one printed page and three cotton balls into a stand-up model of the tabernacle court. God said, "let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8). When it was finished, Moses set up the court around the tabernacle and hung the court gate, and "a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (40:33–34). Kids color the gate and the tent, fold and glue the linen fence, stand the tent inside and put the cloud on top. 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, three cotton balls, a glue stick, crayons and scissors.
  • It stands up: kids build the court around the tent, like Moses did (Exodus 40:33).
  • It shows God's presence the Bible's way: only as the cloud over the tent (40:34), and the fire by night at the harder level (40:38).
  • It carries the verse home: Exodus 25:8 (KJV) is glued on the back fence.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut, fold and glue the court. Kids color, stand the tent inside and press on the cotton-ball cloud. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, cut, fold and glue it themselves.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make a cloud-and-fire stick from page 3 and use it to show how the cloud led Israel (40:36–38).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask how God wanted the people to give (Exodus 25:2), why He wanted a sanctuary (25:8), how much the people brought (36:5–7), what Moses set up around the tabernacle (40:33), what covered the tent (40:34), and what Israel did when the cloud was taken up (40:36). Then read Exodus 25:8 together.

Tips for the classroom

Cardstock stands up best. Let the fence tabs dry for a minute before standing the court up. For preschoolers, cut, fold and glue the court ahead of time.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Tabernacle craft for preschoolers?

Cut out and fold each child's pieces ahead of time. Preschoolers color the gate and the tent, then you glue the fence into a rectangle, they stand the tent inside and press three cotton balls on top for the cloud. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Tabernacle craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, three cotton balls, a little glue, and crayons you already have. The template is free to print. The harder level adds a second page and a craft stick.

What Bible verse goes with this craft?

Exodus 25:8 (KJV), "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." It is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the outside of the back fence.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also make a cloud-and-fire stick from page 3: a white cloud on one side and fire on the other, because the cloud was on the tabernacle by day and fire by night (Exodus 40:38). They lift it up to show when Israel moved on (40:36).

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