Noah's Ark Crafts and Activities for Kids

How to Make Games and Activities Relating to Noah's Ark

Games and Activities for Noah's Ark Theme

 

Identify Animals

Tear out animal pictures from nature magazines, hold them up and see how many the children can identify.

 

Play Noah’s Ark Match Game

How to play:

1. Have each of your children draw two pictures of the same animal to make two matching cards. Or you can use the animal cards available on the Resource Room and have your children color them.

2. You can make a Noah’s Ark envelope (A pattern for the ark envelope is available on The Resource Room) for each child to store their cards in. Draw a picture of an ark, make copies onto card stock, and cut them out. Place another piece of card stock behind your ark pattern so that you have a matching ark shape for each ark you cut out. Tape the ark pattern and the ark shape together around the sides and bottom. Leave the top open to make an envelope.

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Listen to Animal Sounds

Play an animal sounds identification game. Bring in a tape of animal sounds, see how many the children can identify. You can finds CD’s of sound effects at the library.

 

Make Animals with Play Dough

Bring in a toy ark and have the children make play dough animals to go into the ark.

 

Play "Find the Matching Animal" Game

Before class print pictures of animals, two cards for each animal, onto cards stock. In class give each child an animal picture. Tell them not to let anyone else know what their animal is. Make sure that each child has an animal that will match another childs animal. On the word "go" the children should act out or make the animal sound on their card and try to find the other child in the room that is acting out the same animal that they are. When they find their partner, they should both sit down together until everyone has found their partner. (Patterns available to members on The Resource Room.)

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Play Noah's Ark Toss Game

This is a Harvest Festival type game. Children throw Beanie baby animals into the ark through the windows. Go to the Outreach Ideas Pages for directions.

 

 

 

 

Play "Pin the Animal in the Ark"

Jane Greenup sent me this idea. " At our last church homecoming I decided to entertain the children while the grownups visited since young folks usually get very bored at these gatherings. Instead of "pin the tail on the donkey", I had them play "put the animals in the ark". I made a very large Ark out of poster board. Get as creative with the ark as you want. For animals, I used pictures from a coloring book. Instead of using pins, I put double-sided tape on the backs of the pictures. The children would pick out their favorite animal, I would blindfold them, turn them around, and let them try to stick the animal on the ark. The grownups had as much fun watching the game as the children did playing it. This could also be a good Bible School activity for children by letting them color the pictures and cut them out themselves. With double-sided tape, any age group can play. Thanks for the idea Jane.

 

Make an Ark Out of Toobeez

Noah’s Ark Match Up Game

In Genesis 7:2 God told Noah to bring into the Ark two of every kind of animal and seven pairs of each kind of animal that he had chosen for eating and sacrifice, and seven pairs of every kind of bird. Can you match up the name of the male or female animal on the left to the one on the right? Click here to print out the complete worksheet.

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Rainbow Cups

You will need six small boxes of Jell-O in the following colors: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. plastic clear cups and water. Start preparing this six days prior to serving. On the sixth day prepare the purple Jell-O. Pour a small amount into each cup. Refrigerate overnight to set. On the fifth day prepare the blue Jell-O and pour a small amount over the purple Jell-O in each cup. Refrigerate overnight. Continue each day as above using green for the fourth day, yellow for third day, orange for second day, and red for the last day. When the gelatin has set - it is time to serve your rainbows! Garnish with whip topping and rainbow sprinkles.

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Oah's Nark and the Other End of the Rainbow

A hilarious retelling of the story of Noah's Ark, a retelling with a twist.) Andy Lambert's innovative and side-splitting children's book will have the whole family laughing and learning. Illustrated by John Isley, this one of kind approach will have kids glued to this beautiful Bible story like they are hearing it for the first time. Children love it, laugh at it and in the end hear the incredible and life-changing Biblical truth. Check it out at www.creativebiblestories.com.

 

 

Songs and Poems About Noah

 

The Animals Go Marching
(Sung to “The Ants go Marching”)

You will need: Pictures of animals, glue or tape, craft sticks

What to do: Have the children color and help them cut out animal pictures. Or, have pictures pre-cut and ready to glue or tape onto craft sticks. Then sing the song, having the children act it out using their animals. You can also have a large ark picture with slots a bit longer than the craft stick so that each child can place their animal in the ark after their verse is sung.

The --- go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The -- go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The -- go marching two by two,
The little one stops to tie his shoe
And they all go marching down, to the ark,
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Sent by Mary Lewis, North Dakota

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Noah Sailed
(Sung to: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)

C
Noah sailed the ark,
C
Out into the storm.
C
Rain was falling all around,
            G                               C
But they were safe and warm!
© Mary Flynn

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Did Noah Have a Boa?

Did Noah have a boa
When his ark sailed out to sea?
Did he have a cute piranha?
And a hive of bumblebees?

And did Noah have a rhino?
A shark and an alligator?
Or did Noah leave those ones behind
And say, "I'll see you later"?

When God told Noah what to do
Build an ark, get the creatures aboard,
He didn't tell Noah to pick only good ones
And leave all the others ashore.

You see, God told Noah to gather His creatures ~
All the animals, big and small.
And bring them onto the ark two by two,
And take care of them, one and all!
© Mary Flynn

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If you like these songs, consider purchasing "Praise 4 God ~ Just 4 Kids©"a collection of more than 75 simple songs and poems of praise.

 

Crafts for Noah's Ark Theme

 

Make an Ark with Windows and Doors that Open and Close

This craft is available to members only on The Resource Room.

 

 

 

 

 

Feed the Animals

Have the children break up pieces of bread and stuff them in a pine cone. Add a string to hang it up. Explain to the children that they can help feed the animals like Noah did on the Ark. Talk about what types of food Noah would have had to bring onto the ark in order to feed all the animals.

 

Paint Animal Plaster of Paris Casts with Water Colors

You can find animal molds in the cake decorating section of craft stores, or animal sand molds at toy stores. Make the plaster casts according to the directions. Insert a partly unfolded paper clip into the wet plaster so the mold can be hung up when it is finished. Make sure the sharp ends of paper clips are covered by the plaster and can’t be pulled out. You can make these for less than 30 cents each if they are small.

 

Make an Ark Out of Paper Plates

This craft is available on The Resource Room.

 

 

 

 

Make a Rainbow Pattern Book for the Children to Read.

See the directions on the Paper Crafts Page.

 

 

 

Make a Wave Bottle

Remove the label from a clean clear 16 oz. plastic soda bottle. Fill the bottle 2/3 full of water. Add food coloring until the water is the color you desire. Add enough oil (mineral oil works best) until the bottle is nearly full, but not quite. Put a few drops of super glue (or use hot melt glue) in the lid and screw on the lid. You can also use 1/2 cup to 1 cup of light corn syrup. To make the bottle more interesting, you can add small toys, glitter, confetti, and other baubles and trinkets to the water before you add the oil. Have your children swirl and shake the bottle and watch its movement.

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Make a Rainbow Picture

Print out the pattern (Large file or small file) and make copies. Have your children color or paint the picture and then glue cotton balls on the clouds. Write a Bible verse or saying at the bottom.

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Make a Sticker Picture of Noah and the Ark

What you will need: Noah and the NOAHS ARK STICKERS or Design Your Own Noah's Ark Sticker Scene (1 dz) from Amazon.com, construction paper, and glue. This set includes Daniel in the Lion's Den and Jonah and the Whale.

How to make:

1. Before class rip a piece of green construction paper in half to make the earth. Rip mountain shapes from purple paper. Glue the mountain shapes and grass shapes to a blue sheet of paper. If you have older children, you can let them create their own background.

2. In class have your children stick the stickers on the background sheet any way they would like. Write the Bible verse on the bottom of the picture.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

 

Realistic Noah's Ark Books and Kits

 

You can buy a scale cardboard model of the ark at http://web.me.com/maryann.lucero/Mini_Arks/miniarks.html for about $10.00 including postage. You can also print out a very small-scaled model on this web site. This model shows a cut away that will give your children an idea of what the ark looked like inside and the size of the animals compared to the ark.

A complete kit is available from Fidelity Bible Kits that is great to use with large groups of children. It includes: a six foot model of the ark, 42 scale animals, educational ideas, a Bible lesson, an amazing fact booklet, and more.

 

Noah's Ark Crafts on Other Pages

Noah's Ark Craft on Bible Kids Fun Zone Web Site

Bible Kids Fun Zone has lots of great crafts for preschool children!

 

Bulletin Board Ideas for Noah's Ark Theme

 

“Our Class Will Walk With God Like Noah Did” Bulletin Board Display

This idea comes from Mel Grant of El Cajon, California.

What you will need: Light blue butcher paper for the background paper, dark blue butcher paper for footprints, and words, black marker, rainbow boarder, and pictures of Noah, the Ark, and some animals.

How to make:
1. Staple the light blue paper to the bulletin board.
2. As the children enter the room trace their foot prints onto the dark blue butcher paper using a marker. Don’t forget to include your foot prints and your helpers.  Write the child’s name on the top part of the foot print.
3. Cut the foot prints out and write under the child’s name “ will walk with God” and the date using a black marker.
4. Cut letters to spell out “Our Class will Walk with God like Noah Did” from the remaining dark blue butcher paper.
5. Add the pictures of Noah, the Ark, and some animals.
6. Staple a rainbow boarder around the edge.

Mel added that when she took the display down she laminated each foot print and gave them to the children as keepsakes. She lamented a few blank ones for the children who didn’t make it on the day the display was made. Thanks, Mel, for sharing your idea with us.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

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Noah Bible Lessons on The Resource Room

 

Noah Obeys God Bible Lesson

In this lesson children learn that God loved Noah very much. He was a good man and did everything God told him to do, exactly like he told him. God can help us be like Noah. (This lesson is available to members only on The Resource Room.)

Crafts:

1. Make a Popsicle Stick Ark. (Available to members only. Click on the title of the lessons above.)

2. Work on a "Noah Obeys God" Activity Sheet - Children color the picture and then glue craft sticks on to the bottom of the picture that have the words from the Bible verse written on them. (Available to members only. Click on the title of the lessons above.)

Activities:

1. Listening Activity - (Appropriate for any age) Bring in some building blocks and other toys that relate to the story, and maybe some play hammers, saws, etc. Before class write up some simple directions of things you would like the children to do with the blocks and toys. Write each set of directions on a separate sheet of paper. For example, you might say, "Place a green block on top of a square red block and then hammer on the red block five times." Make up a bunch of different directions, so that you have one set for each child. Make them match your children's abilities. Place all the directions in a bag or tool belt.

Before you start this activity remind your children that God told Noah that he wanted him to build an ark so that he could save his family and the animals. God told Noah exactly how he wanted him to make the boat. Noah listened carefully so he would remember everything God told him to do. It was going to be a big project, but Noah was a good man and he obeyed God. He didn't whine and complain. He got out his tools and got right to work.

Tell your children that they are going to pretend that God is giving them some instructions like he gave Noah. They should listen carefully as you read the directions and then do exactly what it says. Let each child take a turn. When all the children have had a turn ask them if it was easy or hard to listen and do what they were told. Ask them if they listen to their parents and teachers and do exactly what they are told to do.

If you mom asks you to clean up your room, do you do it? Do you do it well? Or do you just throw everything in the closet so she can't see all the junk. Do you whine and complain and say, "I don't know what to do, or I didn't make the mess."?

When you mom asks you to put your toys away, do you do it? Or do you start playing with something else instead? Do you think God had to ask Noah twice to build the ark? Do you think Noah started building the ark and got bored and decided that maybe he could finish it later?

We should use Noah as our example. God was very please with Noah because he did what was right.

2. Building the Ark Bible Story Review Game - (Older children)

Preparation: You will need a plastic toy hammer or (fun foam hammer), golf tees, and a 5" block of Styrofoam. Place one golf tee in the Styrofoam for each team.

If you don't want to buy these things you can use the nail patterns (Large file or small file), (Available to members only) and cut brown construction paper into wood plank shapes, and a toy hammer.

Divide your children up into teams. Take turns asking the team members questions from the story. When a team member answers a question correctly he gets to use a hammer to pound once on his teams golf tee (nail). The team that hammers the "nail" in first wins. If you are using the nail patterns just move the nail down behind the construction paper wood planks a notch each time a child answers a question correctly. Give a toy hammer to the child who will be answering the question. When he is done, he will hand it to the next child who will attempt to answer a question.

If you don't want to use the nail pictures or the golf tees, you can use the popsicle stick picture in the opening activity. Each time a child answers a question correctly; he glues a stick to the picture. The team that completes the picture first wins. If you don't have a lot of time, you can glue the jumbo and regular-sized sticks on before you start the activity. Or you can use just one picture and the team that glues on the last stick wins.

3. Building the Ark Bible Story Review Game - (Younger Children) Ask questions from the story, when a child answers a questions correctly; he gets to hammer one nail into the Styrofoam.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

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God Keeps Noah Safe Bible Lesson

God remembered Noah and the animals and kept them safe in the ark. God remembers us and will bless us. (This lesson is available to members only on The Resource Room)

Crafts:

1. Make a Concentration Game - Before class cut on the card patterns (Available to members only) onto card stock and cut them apart. In class give each child four cards and ask him or her to draw two sets of matching animals (male and female), one animal on each of the four cards. Tell them not to color or write on the front of the card. Make sure none of the children draw the same animals. If you have five or less children have them draw two sets of cards. If you have a large group of children divide them up into groups of four or five children. Have the children bring their own cards to their own group.

2. Work on a Bulletin Board Display - Staple a large picture of an ark on your bulletin board and have your children draw sets of animals to staple to the display. Write the Bible verse at the top of the board.

Activities

1. Play "What Animals Did Noah See?" - Cut on pictures of animals from nature magazines and glue them to construction paper. Have one child at a time come up to the front of the room. Give him a picture and let him describe the animal to the class. After each description given the class should try to guess what animal is being described. Give every child a chance to describe an animal if they want to. Make sure you pick animals that the children know. After each animals has been guessed correctly ask you children, "Do you think this animal was on the ark? You can also include dinosaurs. Explain to the children that the dinosaurs that were on the ark were most likely young animals, not adult size. (See Answers in Genesis Web Site)

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

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Songs

Where Are the Animals?
Sing to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?"

Where are the animals?
Where are the animals? (Each child hides two animals behind his or her
back.)

Here they are (Bring out one animal.)
Here they are (Bring out the other animal.)

God called the animals
God called the animals

To get on board the ark (Take one of the animals and put it in the ark. You can use a toy ark, one made from cardboard, or just a plain old box.
To get on board the ark (Put the other one on the ark.)

I also use tongue depressors and attach colored pictures of the animals to one end. These can be used with both songs as well. Sent in by Lara

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Mr. Noah Built an Ark
(Sing to the tune of Old MacDonald)

Mr. Noah built an ark, e-i-e-i-o
And on his ark he had two cows
e-i-e-i-o.

Before you start this song give each child a stuffed animal. When you get to the part in the song where you say an animals name, touch a child on the head and have him raise his animal up high and name it if he can and then have the whole class sing the name of the animal and make it's sound. Sent in by Lara

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The Animals Go in the Ark
Sing to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"
Written by Carolyn Warvel

The animals go in the ark
The animals go in the ark
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The animals go in the ark

The bears go in the ark
The bears go in the ark
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The bears go in the ark.

Before you start this song ask your children to pick animals. They will pretend to be the animals they pick. Designate an area in your room to be the ark. As you sing the song and name each animal, have the child that is that animal go into the "ark" acting like that animal. For example, if a child picks a duck, when you sing, "The ducks go in the ark." that child can waddle and quack as he goes into the ark.

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God Keeps His Promises Bible Lesson

(This lesson is available to members of The Resource Room)

Crafts:

1. Color "God Keeps His Promises" Rainbow Picture - Before class print out the color sheet and make copies (Available to members only). In class have your children color the picture and then glue cotton balls on the clouds. (Note: If you are going to play the Bible story review game below, use a different opening activity.)

2. Paint Pictures of Rainbows - Give each child a large piece of white paper and have them paint rainbows using dotters. http://www.dotart.com/ (You should be able to find these or a similar product at Wal-Mart or other craft store.) They are great to use because there is not clean up after the children are finished. You just replace the caps.

3. Make a Dove Holding an Olive Leaf

What you will need: White construction paper, Scotch tape, wooden craft sticks, and string.

How to make:

1. Print out the dove pattern (Available to members only) and use it to cut dove shapes from white construction paper. Cut two for each child.

2. Glue the dove together except for the beaks.

3. Place a piece of Scotch tape over the circles in the middle of the dove. Use a hole punch to punch holes through the tape and the circles. Thread string through the holes. Tie the string at the end and then tie the other end to a craft stick. Cut leaf shapes to fit in the dove's mouth.

You can also make this pattern using black construction paper to make the raven that Noah sent out first from the ark.

Activities:

1. Play a Rainbow Review Game - Print out pictures of rainbows (Available to members only) and give one to each child. Color each side of a dice one of the colors found in the rainbow. Have your children take turns answering questions and then throwing the die. If a child answers the question correctly, he gets to throw the die. He can then color one arch of his rainbow the color on the die. If he has already used that color on his rainbow, he doesn't get to color on that turn. The child who colors in all the arches first wins. (Note: I let all of our children throw the die whether or not they know the answer. If one a child doesn't know the answer, I ask another child to help him.)

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Noah's Ark Books

 

There are a lot of books out there about Noah's Ark. One book I like to use with our 3 year old children is the Picture Word Bible Stories book by Mary E. Erickson It has pictures in place of some of the words. The children love to read along with us.

Two by Two: The Story of Noah's Faith (Me Too Books) by Marilyn Lashbrook is another book (ages 2 - 5) children like a lot. It has beautiful pictures. The children participate in the story by answering questions about what each animal would say.