Arts and craft lessons and ideas for teaching Genesis 1, the 7 Days of Creation in Sunday School

Our members have been posting arts and craft activities and lessons for teaching the Creation Story for many years! We invite you to glean what you need, and share what you can.

Don't forget to check out our Creation Art, Drama, Cooking/Food, Software, Music, and Puppet ideas! And see our Writing Team's detailed and extra creative Creation Story lesson set.

Related link: Adam and Eve lessons and ideas (Genesis 2)

The set includes a lesson plan with a painting-art activity that uses a wax-resist method and style of painting made famous by landscape artist Ted Harrison.

To begin, here's a collection of ideas our members have posted over the years

Make Clay Creations of the Verses, Days, and Words from Genesis 1
--a scripture reading activity for the Story of Creation

Our small class used modeling clay (the kind that dries) for this scripture reading activity and got some really creative responses. If you have a larger group or younger group, use Play Doh. See the tips below for suggestions.

The teacher or students read aloud each day of Creation, then each student takes two or three minutes to mold their clay to represent that day. Then they display and explain it to others before the next "day" is read. Their clay creations form a 7-day sculpture.

We also had several suggestions for representing the repeating phrase "and God saw that it was good" (exclamation points were popular but see "tip" below). They made these quickly to punctuate the end of each day after they had made their other model representing what was in the day.

While modeling, we talked about why God made those things, and how we should (or they already do) take care of them, respect, enjoy, be thankful, etc. Before moving on to the next day, we went around the table to see and hear what each student had created for that day. This is a good opportunity to ask that student a question and interject additional teaching comments.

Tip: PLAY-DOH is a good clay to use, especially for younger children.

Tip: For each student's single "It was good" sculpture, that they will create and move to display after each day's sculpture, use "modeling clay that dries" so that the kids can take that part "it was good" sculpture lesson home with them. I suggest they first create a representation of the earth and add "it was good" to the earth. Wrap the finished clay sculpture in a piece of cardboard so that it doesn't crack while transporting.

Create/Paint with the Words of Creation, Make "Word Clouds"

God's spoken Word is a creative word. Through his word, God calls into being and calls all of Creation "good."

Create a collage or "cloud" of words from the scripture that artfully arranges the key words of Creation in a collage or "cloud" of words. The words themselves can be illustrated using colorful markers. The shape of the cloud can also represent an idea, such as writing all the keywords in the shape of the word "Love" or "God" or "GOOD."

Some suggested keywords:

• In the beginning
• Let there be light
• And God saw that it was good
• Heavens, earth, waters, fruit, animals, etc.

Let the kids decide which words are "key" and tell you why when they display/illustrate them.

Pictured here is an "advanced" Creation word cloud as one example of what you could do.

TIP: Give students the scripture passage on a piece of paper so they can circle keywords as they read/hear them, then re-draw/paint their keywords to make their own "Creation Word Cloud."  Think about how they can be displayed in such as way so as to let God's light illuminate them. (such hanging their "cloud" on a window or painting it on a transparency to look like stained glass).

There are MANY "word cloud" generators online as well. Check out www.wordart.com

Note: There's a similar "keywords of Creation" activity in the free Awesome Bible Stories software in which the kids select words from Genesis 1 for the onscreen character to say out loud to make their own "Creation Power Poem."

Creation "Let There Be Light" DeCoupage Art Project

Option 1:
Purchase round plastic fishbowls (about $6 each from Amazon). Have students brush "MOD PODGE" decoupage glue on a portion of the outside of the bowl, then tear pieces of colored tissue paper and make a collage of the moment where God speaks "light" into Creation. Keep in mind that "light" is not only a metaphor for God's creative power, but for God's wisdom and presence and hope.

Tip: First assemble the torn tissue pieces into a picture in front of you before gluing the bowl, then brush glue onto outside of the bowl and applied the tissue to recreate the picture on the bowl. When done, give the bowl one final brush of decoupage to seal it.

The smaller the bowl, the less complicated you will want to make your design.

Option 2:
Use this same decoupage technique on a sheet of transparent plastic to create a "stained glass" that can be hung (purchase a suction cup hanger).

Option 3:
Instead of using decoupage, WRITE your scripture keyword or message onto a plain piece of artists paper using a wax crayon, then BLOW TEMPERA PAINT THROUGH A STRAW onto your page to depict that moment of creation where the creative "wind" of God began moving over the deep. Any paint that touches the crayon won't stick and can be wiped off. Make letters thick and wide so that they stand out.

Creation Aquarium Diorama

Google images for "Paper plate aquarium craft" and you will see many different versions of this simple but fun project.   Unlike many similar projects on the web, we are suggesting that you make BOTH SIDES of the "plate sandwich" transparent to let God's light illuminate creation.

The basic how-to:
Two 'Chinette" plates sandwiched together with their bottoms cut out and replaced with a sheet of clear plastic (such as transparency sheet) create a "creation aquarium" of things God created --which appear to float when you lay on your back and hold it to the light. Use quick setting contact glue to adhere the plastic sheets to the plates, then the plates to each other.

Write a key phrase/verse on the plastic. Cut the "floating" items out of colored plastic sheets (outlines of what God created/animals/people). Some of the items can be glued to the clear plastic so they won't move (such as your verse word), but it's also kinda neat to have something they can shake which makes the objects inside the aquarium change.  You could have one for each day of creation, with verses written on the plate.  The key theological point in the design happens when you lay on your back and hold the creation to the light --and the light illuminated what's in the "aquarium." Posted by Luanne and Neil.

Idea adapted from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/dioram

"Plasticine" Modeling Clay Art in CD-Jewel Case

"Plasticine" is a type of modeling clay that doesn't dry out. (It's the kind they use in "claymation" too.)  Student create a scene from Creation that shows the joy and purpose of God, then close the case for easy transport and showing.

The March 2005 issue of Canadian Living Magazine (still available) describes the project. You can also do an internet search of "Plasticine Art in CD Case" to find many more examples.

You need:
• Clear plastic CD case
• Modelling clay in various colours
• .40 m narrow ribbon, cord, yarn or raffia, for hanging loop
• Tools, such as a fork, pencil, screwdriver, toothpick, textured stamp or piece of plastic (optional), for making grooves, dots and other impressions on the clay
• Child-safe scissors

Note: Clear CD cases can be found in member homes or inexpensively purchased online, be sure they are the older thicker style, not the slimline ones. One of the great advantages of the artwork being on the INSIDE is that they are easily transported with the cover closed!

The CD case is opened and laid flat, you work your picture in the back of the case where you lay the CD. You string a coloured ribbon through the two holes you will see in the top side of the case for hanging.

Start with your background using three colours to divide your area into 3 sections, earth (underground), land, and sky. Then layer items on top of your background to create your scene. As they added a flower (you see the roots in the earth, a worm popping out of the earth and a chick looking at the worm. A rainbow and a cloud in the sky finished it. Use forks, toothpicks, etc. to make different textures in your Plasticine.

Encourage the kids not to simply make a "pretty picture" with their clay, but to capture the joy and purpose of God's creative power in Genesis 1.

For example, how God provides light to every living thing. To turn the clay into a metaphor, have them place the sign of the cross within the light so that it shines on the darkness.

TIP:  Add a little bit of mineral oil (baby oi) or vaseline to the clay to make it more pliable or more like "fingerpaint."

All ages will enjoy doing this as shown by an older and a younger student's masterpieces at our church shown below.

Barbara Reid makes Plasticine pictures for her books. She makes the pictures inside the bottom of pizza boxes. To see some a sample of her work check out her book "Two by Two" (Noah's Ark) http://www.scholastic.ca/titles/gifts/#sample. Member Luanne Payne posted August 18, 2005

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