Teach kids that God looks at the heart—not the outward appearance. Try out this elementary Bible game and craft based on 1 Samuel 16:7.

You’ll Need:

• Bible (check out this kid-friendly version!)
• paper plates (1 per child)
• markers, crayons, or pens
• craft sticks (1 per person)
• masking tape
• craft supplies such as feathers, yarn, glitter glue, or scrap fabric (optional)

Introduce the Bible Topic

Say: When a prophet named Samuel was looking for someone to be king of Israel, he saw some people who looked really strong and impressive. Samuel thought that the strong and impressive-looking people would make great kings, but God had this to say:

Read aloud 1 Samuel 16:7.

Ask: What do you think it means that God looks at the heart?

Say: The man God ended up choosing to be king was named David. He didn’t look strong and impressive like the other people, but God saw that his heart loved the Lord. Let’s do an activity to explore more about how what’s inside of us might be different than what’s on the outside. 

Make Masks

Give each child a paper plate. Set out markers, crayons, and pens for kids to share. You can also supply craft items such as yarn, glitter glue, and fabric scraps for kids to use, if you wish. Have kids each draw a face on his or her paper plate.

On the other side of the plate, have kids each write three things that they love. Finally, have kids each tape a craft stick handle to the back of the plate.

Play a Game with Masks

Gather the masks, and scramble them in the center of the room. Have kids form a circle around the plates.

Let kids each choose a mask, making sure it’s not their own. Go around the circle and have each child read what’s written on the back of the mask. Let the rest of the class guess who the mask really belongs to.

Talk About It

After playing the game, ask your students to sit down in groups of three. Station a teen or adult leader near each group, and have them ask:

• How was trying to guess which mask matched which person like Samuel trying to figure out who should be king?
• How is our outward appearance like a mask of who we really are?
• Do you think God cares how we look? Why or why not?
• How should we try to look at each other?

Encourage kids to take their masks home to remind them that God looks at the heart, not at our outward appearance.

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For more crafts, check out Makerific WOWS!: 54 Surprising Bible Crafts (ages 3-7) and (ages 8-12). You can find even more ideas here.