The past couple of months have been unlike any other. We’re all sitting in a boat that’s ravaged by this crazy COVID-19 storm. As an adult it has been hard to fully grasp how uncertain, and unpredictable life during this pandemic has been. Imagine how much more this is magnified in the mind and heart of a child. But even during these times, there is hope. When I think of storms I’m always reminded of how Jesus calms the storms with just a few words- “Peace, be still!”
Bringing the story to life through an easy craft
You can find this story in Mark 4: 35-41, in the Bible.
As a Sunday School teacher, I try to find ways to make the life lesson from a Bible story take root in a child’s heart, either through song, or through a craft. While reading over this story again, I thought about the disciples and how terrified they would have been to be in a boat that seemed closed to being sunk by violent waves. It didn’t help that Jesus was asleep through it all. But as soon as Jesus awoke and commanded the wind and waves to be still, a calm fell over the sea. The winds ceased and right then, the disciples were reminded of who they were with.
As children of God, we’re reminded that our Heavenly Father “will never leave us nor forsake us.” (Hebrews 13:5, NKJV BIble) The Amplified Bible reads “I will never (under any circumstances ) desert you (nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree, leave you helpless), nor will I forsake or let you down, or relax my hold on you (assuredly not)! May we never forget this promise, this God Whisper, as we go through the storms in life.
Jesus Calms the Storm Craft for kids of all ages.
Younger kids may need a little assistance to make this but older kids can make this interactive craft independently.
Materials:
Black acrylic paint
(optional)
7 Q-tips
1 black Sharpie pen
(This is a great price for 12 Sharpies!)
1 yellow construction paper
{and another color or use the yellow to write the verse “Be Still and Know That I Am God.” (Psalm 46:10) or one of the verses above.)
A pair of scissors
Cellotape (optional)
How to make the Jesus calms the storm Craft
1. Start off by painting the white paper plates blue (or a blue-black shade by mixing both paint colors to give a stormy effect). Set the painted plates to the side and allow the paint to dry.
2. While the paint dries, take the Q-tips and draw smiley faces on one side of each Q-tip,
and sad faces on the opposite side.
(Note: you will be drawing faces on both sides of each Q-tip because you will create 2 disciples out of 1 Q-tip, by folding the same.)
Your 7th Q-tip will just have a smiley face. This will represent Jesus. You can write “Jesus” on the stem.
Set your Q-tips aside till we start assembling the craft.
3. Grab your yellow construction paper and make an origami boat.
Use glue dots to glue your boat to the face of one of your painted plates.
4. Take the second plate and a pair of scissors. Carefully cut out wave shapes, starting from halfway through the plate. (For younger children, you may draw an outline with a pencil.)
5. With the portion of the plate that has been cut off, draw and cut out a small wave. 
5. Attach a craft stick to the back of your smaller wave, using a few glue dots or cellotape.
6. Carefully place the Q-tips into the boat.
You may glue-dot your Jesus Q-tip to the boat as we won’t be turning the Q-tip around. The disciple Q-tips will be turned to show sad faces when the waves rise and happy faces when the waves recede.
7. Now line the ends of your larger wave plate (face side) with glue dots.
8. Allign the smaller wave with the craft stick attached) to the center of the plate with the boat on it.
And position the larger wave plate over the main plate and smaller wave. Test and see if the small wave moves.
9. You can add a verse of choice to the craft stick or the plate.
While sharing the story with the littles, don’t forget to make sure you turn the Q-tips around to show sad disciples when the storms rise. And after Jesus says, ” Peace, be still!”, the waves recede and you have happy disciples!
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