What Kids Will Do: Design serving trays as they
learn how Jesus showed his disciples how to serve others.
What Kids Will Need: aluminum biscuit pans, white
paint, paintbrush, tempera paint, paper plates, rubber craft
stamps, embroidery thread, craft glue, marker, snacks.
Preparation Place: A few days before this
activity, paint each aluminum pan white. On the day of the craft,
squeeze a little paint onto several paper plates, and place these
within children's reach.
Easy Steps
Serving Trays
- Give each child a white aluminum pan. Write each child's name
on the bottom of his or her pan.
- Guide children in lightly dipping rubber stamps in paint and
then pressing the stamp once or twice on a paper plate to remove
excess paint.
- Let children stamp designs on the white pans.
- To trim pan edges, children may glue embroidery thread around
the perimeter. As children work, let them brainstorm ideas for
using their trays.
Preschool Connection
- While trays dry, ask children to assist you in cleaning up and
putting away craft supplies. Open your Bible to John 13:1-17, and
tell the story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet. Then ask:
- What does it mean to serve someone?
- Why do you think Jesus washed the disciples' feet?
- What do you think Jesus hoped the disciples would learn about
serving?
Say: Jesus washed the disciples' feet to show
them how much he loved them. He wanted his disciples to learn to
serve and love others too. Jesus wants us to serve and love people,
just like his disciples did. We can show love by serving and
helping others.
Let the children serve each other snacks, using the trays they
just made.
Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
John 13:1-17
What Kids Will Do: Make aprons to remind them to
serve others.
What Kids Will Need: 9x12-inch pieces of white
felt, hole punch, yarn, tempera paints, paper plates, sponge
shapes, scissors
Preparation Place: Pour a thin layer of paint
onto several paper plates. Use the hole punch to make holes (about
2 inches apart) across the longer side of each piece of felt. Set
out all other supplies where children can easily reach them.
Easy Steps
Action Aprons
- Give each child a piece of white felt and a 4-foot length of
yarn.
- Direct children to lace yarn through the holes, creating apron
"strings."
- Allow children to dip the sponges in the paint and stamp
patterns on their aprons.
Permission to photocopy this box from The Encyclopedia of
Bible Crafts for Preschoolers granted for local church use.
Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO
89539.
Preschool Connection
When children have finished, ask them to help you collect the
craft supplies. Discuss the John 13:1-17 account of Jesus washing
the disciples' feet. Ask:
- Can you name some things you can do to put this apron "into
action"?
- When you serve others, how do you think it makes them
feel?
- How does serving someone else make you feel?
Say: We can grow in love by serving others. Jesus was a servant;
he came to take away our sins and show us God's love. Jesus set an
example for us to follow. We can be like Jesus and serve others
with love.
WOWS That Work
Let children don their aprons and launch into cleaning their
meeting room. Toys should be put away, floor can be swept, and
furniture may be dusted. Small toy brooms actually do "work," and
socks worn over hands make fun dusters.
