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Widow's Offering Craft for Kids

An easy widow's offering craft for kids in three levels, a paper money purse with the two mites she gave (Mark 12:42). Free printable template and steps.

Preschool–Grade 5

Widow's Offering 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
Mark 12:41–44
Bible story
The Widow's Offering

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in brown and gray
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed giving coins page (page 3), one per child, plus crayons in any colors and a pencil (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the purse back and the purse front brown. Color the two mites gray.Color the purse back and the purse front brown. Color the two mites gray.
  2. Cut out the purse back, the purse front, the two mites and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  3. Make the purse: put glue only on the dotted line of the purse back. Press the purse front on top so the sides and bottoms line up. Leave the top open, so it makes a pocket.
  4. Turn the purse over and glue the verse strip on the back. Read it together.
  5. Put the two mites in the purse and fold the flap down on its line.
  6. Tell it: a poor widow "threw in two mites, which make a farthing" (Mark 12:42). Open the flap, take out both mites and lay them on the table. The purse is empty: she gave "all that she had, even all her living" (12:44).Tell it: a poor widow "threw in two mites, which make a farthing" (Mark 12:42). Open the flap, take out both mites and lay them on the table. The purse is empty: she gave "all that she had, even all her living" (12:44).

This widow's offering craft turns one printed page into a paper money purse that holds two little mites. Jesus watched the people give at the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much. Then a poor widow "threw in two mites, which make a farthing" (Mark 12:42). Jesus said she gave more than all of them, because she gave "all that she had, even all her living" (12:44). Kids take both mites out of the purse to show she gave everything. The memory verse, Mark 12:43, 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, two crayon colors, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids act out the story: they take both mites out and show the empty purse, because she gave "all that she had" (Mark 12:44).
  • It turns into giving: older kids make giving coins with a way to give God their best each day this week, loving God "with all thy heart" (12:30).
  • No people drawn, and never Jesus: the craft shows only a purse and coins.
  • It carries the verse home: Mark 12:43 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole set, is glued on the back of the purse.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue the purse pocket. Kids color, put the mites in and take them out. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, cut out the pieces, glue the purse pocket and tell the story with the two mites.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make four giving coins from page 3 and write on the back of each a way to give God their best.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask where Jesus sat (Mark 12:41), who cast in much (12:41), how many mites the widow threw in (12:42), whom Jesus called (12:43), what He said about her gift (12:43) and how much she gave (12:44). Then read Mark 12:43 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the purse pockets ahead of time, so all they do is color and tell the story. Keep the focus on the heart, not on money. Cardstock makes the purse last longest.

Teaching the story first? Use the free widow's offering lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple widow's offering craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's pieces ahead of time, glue the purse front on the purse back to make a pocket, and glue the verse strip on the back. Preschoolers color the purse brown and the two mites gray, put the mites in, and then take both out to show the widow gave all she had. About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this widow's offering 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?

Mark 12:43 (KJV), "And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:" 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 purse.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also make four giving coins from page 3, each with a picture of a way to give God their best: love, God's Word, sharing and praise. On the back of each one they write what they will give, keep the coins in the purse and do one each day.

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