Resources for Kingdom Kids

Hello family,

Many have asked to learn where they might find free lessons, craft ideas and games. While many websites require membership or charge fees for this information, others are free. I’ve listed both the free and moderately-priced options, along with musical resources, and even Bible-based curricula. I hope this proves helpful to you. Please note that these sites are not all sponcered by our family of churches – just great places to go to get ideas.

Free:

Danielle’s Place: an excellent and free online resource for printable Bible craft activities and lessons. Take a look at their ideas for Bible lessons and get ideas for movie-making and recording voices should prove to be both informational and fun: http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/anytime.html#cassette
Ministry to Children is another option for informative articles, free lessons and crafts. Also, check out the instructional video for their ‘Creation’ mural project at http://ministry-to-children.com/creation-craft-ideas-group-marker-mural-project/
Truth for Kids is another resource for free children’s ministry devotionals, crafts and lessons. They have free craft dowloads as well as online devotionals.
Sunday School Kids offers several Old and New Testament crafts for kids and tweens. One fun, Old Testament craft (the plague of frogs) is their paper frog cutout (you can use heavy-grade, green construction paper or white construction paper and have the child pick the colors for themselves, as frogs come in greens, browns, blues and yellows: with older kids you can paste on beads or stickers for texture! http://www.sundayschoolkids.com/activities-ot/moses-frogs-plague-instructions.htm
For both free and/or inexpensive Bible-based crafts, take a look at: http://www.freekidscrafts.com/bible_crafts-t64.html. The site offers a new craft daily, and their ‘mostly free’ printables, crafts and projects can be made with supplies already found in your home.
Bible story coloring pages: http://www.momjunction.com/articles/bible-stories-colouring-pages_00119514/

With all free resources, please be sure to note any copyright requirements or restrictions.

Moderately-priced options:

Standard Publishing is a great resource for Bible crafts and activities. Here are two offerings:
- Judith Walsch’s, “Foam Craft Fun” (ISBN: 978-0-7847-2651-8), over 70 fun and educational foam craft projects–a Bible verse is included with each craft.
- The “Edible Object Talks That Teach About Jesus” (ISBN: 978-0-7847-1184-2) make use of everyday kitchen items in order to teach children important biblical principles.
Christianbook.com is another great resource for Bibles and devotionals. Check out this page for their top-rated, children’s crafts. Please note that this site provides materials from differing Christian denominations.) Additional christianbook.com offerings include:
- “Bible Fun! New Testament Activities for Kids” (Warner Press, ISBN-13: 9781593171476). Kids search through mazes, puzzles and secret codes while they learn about the Bible.
- Also from Warner Press is the educational “Coloring Activity Book – (6-10) What would you do if this happened to you?” (ISBN: 978-1-59317-447-7). This activity book helps bring the many Bible concepts such as honesty, forgiveness, and peer-pressure alive to children.
- The “Bible Trivia Board Game” (Poof-Slinky, ISBN: 2660800818), includes questions for both adults and children, providing fun for the entire family.
- You might also take a look at, “Look What You Can Make With Boxes” (ISBN-13: 9781563977046). This activity book gives creative, step-by-step instruction for making trains, animals and puppets. There’s also, “Look What You Can Make With Tubes” (ISBN-13: 9781563976773), and “Look What You Can Make With Paper Bags” (ISBN-13: 9781563977176).
Unity Resources Education and Equipment offers a wide-range of arts and craft supplies (along with their teaching aids and materials).

Music:

For great kids music that won’t drive parents “bonkers,” consider The Go Fish Guys, especially their 2013 Gotta Move curriculum, which was specifically crafted to teach children what it means to walk with God.
The Skit Guys are a great resource for engaging classroom activities. Their website offers videos for teaching, along with skits and plays that can be put on for church. Their skit addressing fear (“My Name is Fear”; see attached script) might be especially effective for addressing peer-pressure, etc. Another wonderful choice may be, “Have You Reached Your Verdict?” See these and other options at http://skitguys.com/scripts/item/my-name-is-fear and http://skitguys.com/scripts/item/have-you-reached-your-verdict
Christianbook.com also offers a variety of Christian music options for children, including Veggie Tales (and of course, The Go Fish Guys).
The Rainbow Resource is another Christian music source for kids.

Bible-based curriculum:

One Bible-based curriculum of note is Standard Publishing’s HeartShaper series. In fact, the Queens region of the NYC Church of Christ has initiated a pilot program utilizing the HeartShaper curriculum for our children’s ministry. Their program encompasses toddlers, pre-teens & teens (even campus and adult) needs. Lessons include resources for both teachers and students, and incorporate Bible teachings as well as ideas for discussions and activities. Review their lessons here. For details regarding the HeartShaper series (pre-school to pre-teen), please see: http://heartshaper.com/about/
David C. Cook publishes and distributes ministry resources worldwide, like the Picture Bible. See their devotional materials for children at http://www.davidccook.com/BooksKids/. Their offerings for teens are available at http://www.davidccook.com/BooksYouth/. David C. Cook publish spiritual songs through Kingsway, their music division. See more at: http://www.kingsway.co.uk/about-david-c-cook#sthash.6saAHIa6.dpuf
Group.com has a wealth of resources for churches with ministry volunteers. They have books, curriculum, magazines, websites, DVDs, CDs, kits, events, and online training. Browse group.com‘s ministry materials for children, youth and adults at: http://group.com/