Crafts are a great way to teach children about stories from the Bible. One popular story is that of Jonah and the whale. Find a super cute Jonah and the whale craft in this post and more ideas!
The story of Jonah is found in the Old Testament and tells the tale of a prophet who was swallowed by a giant fish after disobeying God’s commands.
Crafts based on the story of Jonah and the whale can be a fun and interactive way to teach children about the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.
One popular craft involves creating a whale with printable love hearts to represent forgiveness. This craft targets fine motor skills and Jonah’s story in a fun way. They also make great lesson plans for Sunday school and SEL.
This craft can be used to help children visualize the story and understand the significance of Jonah’s experience.
Understanding the Story of Jonah and the Whale
The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. It is a story about obedience, repentance, and forgiveness.
Jonah was a prophet who was asked by God to go to Nineveh and preach to the people there. However, Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh and instead ran away from God.
This story is perfect for Sunday school, adding some bible crafts for helping kids understand bible lessons through fun crafts is a perfect way to get them involved in bible verses.
This super cute craft doubles as a name craft and who doesn’t love those?
This cool craft kit also focuses on bible stories and Jonah’s story is one kids will love.
Older kids will also love this craft! Adapt it by adding a writing section and attach it to the whale.
As Jonah was sailing away from God’s command, a great storm arose, and the sailors on the ship were afraid.
Jonah realized that the storm was his fault and told the sailors to throw him overboard. As soon as Jonah was thrown into the sea, a great fish swallowed him up.
Inside the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to God for forgiveness and promised to obey God’s command.
After three days, the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land, and he went to Nineveh to preach to the people there.
This can represent the love hearts in this craft to show forgiveness.
>>> Get the full template to make this Jonah and the Whale Craft right here <<<
The story of Jonah and the whale is often used to teach about the importance of obedience and repentance.
It shows that even when we run away from God, He is always willing to forgive us if we repent and turn back to Him.
Crafts that depict the story of Jonah and the whale are a popular way to teach children about this important lesson.
Some craft ideas include:
- Paper plate whale craft: Children can paint a paper plate blue and then cut out a whale shape from construction paper to glue onto the plate.
- Jonah in the fish craft: Children can draw Jonah on a piece of paper and then cut out a fish shape from construction paper to glue over Jonah.
- Jonah puppet craft: Children can make a Jonah puppet using a paper bag, construction paper, and markers.
- The craft in this post focuses on forgiveness.
Overall, the story of Jonah and the whale is a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience and forgiveness in our lives.
Crafting the Whale: A Step-by-Step Guide
Materials Needed
Before beginning the crafting process, make sure you have all the necessary materials.
Here’s a list of the things you’ll need:
- Blue and white paint
- The printable template in this post
- Paintbrushes (optional)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Black marker
- Googly eyes
- Construction paper (optional)
Creating the Whale
- Start by cutting the the shape of a whale on the template. You can use the template provided.
- Paint the whale blue and let it dry completely. Or you could use the colored version.
- Add white details to the whale, such as the belly and fins.
- Cut out the details to make the name letters on top of the whale.
- Glue the whale onto a cardboard.
- Be sure to write the letters of the name on the template circles provided. Then glue the name letters on top of the whale.
- Choose the hearts with the forgiveness statements you would like.
Adding Details
To add more details to your whale craft, try some of these ideas:
- Cut out and glue on a water spout made from construction paper or cotton balls.
- Use a white paint pen to add some texture to the whale’s body.
- Cut out and glue on some small fish or other sea creatures.
- Add some glitter to the whale’s body for a fun touch.
With these simple steps and materials, you can create a fun and easy whale craft that’s perfect for kids of all ages.
Whale craft ideas
Creating whale crafts can be a fun and educational activity for kids. Here are a few easy and enjoyable whale craft ideas without needing a template:
See more social emotional learning activities for kids here.
1. Paper Plate Whale:
Materials needed: Paper plate, blue and white construction paper, googly eyes, scissors, glue, and markers.
Instructions:
– Cut out a triangle shape from the paper plate to form the whale’s body.
– Use blue construction paper to cut out a tail and fins, then glue them onto the back of the paper plate.
– Cut out a white oval shape for the whale’s belly and glue it onto the front of the paper plate.
– Attach googly eyes or draw eyes with markers.
– Decorate the whale by drawing water spouts, waves, or any other designs.
– Your paper plate whale is ready!
2. Egg Carton Whale:
Materials needed: Egg carton, blue paint, paintbrush, googly eyes, scissors, glue, and markers.
Instructions:
– Cut out one section of the egg carton to use as the whale’s body.
– Paint the egg carton section with blue paint and let it dry.
– Glue googly eyes onto the top of the egg carton section.
– Use markers to draw a smile or any other facial features.
– Cut out a small triangle from the remaining egg carton and paint it blue.
– Attach the triangle piece to the top of the whale’s body as a dorsal fin.
– Your egg carton whale is complete!
3. Cupcake Liner Whale:
Materials needed: Blue cupcake liners, googly eyes, blue construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers.
Instructions:
– Flatten a cupcake liner and glue it onto a piece of blue construction paper.
– Attach googly eyes to the top of the cupcake liner.
– Use markers to draw a smile, water spouts, and other details on the cupcake liner.
– Cut out a tail and fins from the blue construction paper, then glue them onto the cupcake liner.
– Decorate the background with waves or bubbles using markers or additional construction paper cutouts.
– Your cupcake liner whale is all set!
Remember to encourage kids to be creative and add their own personal touches to these crafts. These activities not only provide a chance to make something fun but also offer an opportunity to learn about whales and their habitat.
If you’re looking for a preschool Bible curriculum for homeschool, this one is perfect! Add it to your lesson plans and ideas for preschool.
Jonah’s story for kids
Add this super fun hands-on way to deliver this message to kids by pairing this craft with Jonah’s story.
>>> Get this printable Jonah and the Whale craft on TPT right here.
Young children will love the story and the printable templates to make these easy craft ideas. You can add craft sticks to the back of the craft so that they could make puppets with these whales.
Whale template
Kids will have a lot of fun making these day crafts while learning all about Jonah and the whale.
Add this super cute printable craft to your SEL lessons, bible lessons, Sunday school lessons and more. This Jonah bible lesson is perfect for anytime of year.
Even adding it to a set of whale activities would be beneficial. Always use easy whale crafts with preschoolers and this craft is perfect, it can be adapted to any age group or level.
There are empty heart templates for you to add your own.
If you need a simple story to read to kids, here it is below. Otherwise you can use a list of some super popular kids books on Jonah and the Whale.
Jonah Bible Story
Here is how you can read this story to kids. Use the kid friendly story below to read it to them, or alternatively, you could use your own picture book to tell the story.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Jonah.
He was chosen by God to deliver an important message to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah didn’t want to do what God asked.
Instead, he decided to run away from his responsibilities and sailed off in a ship going in the opposite direction.
But God saw what Jonah was doing and sent a big storm to stop him. The storm was so powerful that everyone on the ship was scared for their lives. They realized that Jonah was the reason for the storm, so they threw him overboard to calm the sea.
As Jonah was sinking into the deep waters, something amazing happened. God sent a gigantic whale, also called a big fish, to swallow Jonah and keep him safe. Inside the belly of the whale, Jonah realized his mistake and prayed to God for forgiveness.
For three whole days and nights, Jonah stayed inside the belly of the whale. Then, God commanded the whale to spit Jonah out onto dry land. Jonah was so grateful to be alive, and he knew he had to listen to God’s instructions.
So Jonah went to Nineveh, the city he was supposed to go to from the beginning.
He told the people there about God’s message and how they needed to change their ways.
Surprisingly, the people of Nineveh listened to Jonah and turned away from their wrongdoings. They started to pray and ask God for forgiveness.
When God saw that the people of Nineveh had truly repented, He decided not to punish them.
Jonah learned an important lesson about God’s mercy and love for all people. Even though Jonah had been angry with the people of Nineveh, God showed him that everyone deserves a second chance.
The story of Jonah and the whale teaches us several valuable lessons.
It reminds us to listen to God’s instructions, to take responsibility for our actions, and to show forgiveness and love to others.
Just like Jonah, we should always remember that God’s love and mercy are always with us, no matter where we go or what we do.
Teaching children about the story of Jonah and the whale can be an exciting and meaningful experience. By incorporating engaging crafts like the ones mentioned above, we can bring this biblical tale to life and help children connect with its valuable lessons.
Craft activities such as the paper plate whale, egg carton whale, and cupcake liner whale provide hands-on opportunities for kids to explore their creativity while reinforcing the story’s key elements.
Through these crafts, children can visually represent Jonah’s journey, the big fish, and the message of forgiveness and obedience.
To make things even easier for you, we have prepared step-by-step directions and printable templates available in our store. These resources will guide you through each craft, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for both you and the children.
Remember, crafting is not only about creating beautiful pieces but also about fostering imagination, enhancing fine motor skills, and promoting learning.
As the children engage in these activities, take the opportunity to discuss the story of Jonah, its moral lessons, and the relevance of God’s love and forgiveness in our lives.
So, gather your art supplies, print out the templates, and get ready for an adventure of creativity and discovery. With these crafts, you can inspire young minds, create lasting memories, and encourage conversations about faith and compassion.
As always, thank you for joining me on this journey of teaching and inspiring young children. Together, we can make learning fun, meaningful, and engaging.
Happy crafting, and may your teaching endeavors be filled with joy and success!
