Jonah and the Whale Craft

This Jonah and the Whale craft takes another well-known Bible story and brings it to life for our kids. As they read about Jonah’s lesson in obedience, pre-k and elementary children can work on their fine motor and creativity skills! And the best part? This craft only requires several supplies that you likely have on hand already.

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Making a craft to go along with the story of Jonah and the whale is an excellent way to help kids visualize and make sense of it. After all, it can sound pretty surreal to a child that a man was swallowed whole by a whale and then spit back out!

Supplies Needed:

• 3 paper plates
• crayons
• scissors
• tape

This fun and simple craft can be added to a Bible curriculum or used as a stand alone activity. Either way, your young student will love making it with you!

How to Make a Jonah and the Whale Craft:

Draw big eyes on the back of one plate. Except for the eyes, color the back of two plates blue, and the front of those same plates red. Cut the third plate as shown to create the tail and fins. Color those blue. 

On the other half of the cut plate, draw, color, and cut out a small man. 

Tape the fins and tail to the bottom plate (the one without eyes) as shown. Lay the other plate on top and tape down everything from the fins and back. Leave the front open. (Now when you push the sides of the whale together, its mouth will open and you can place and remove Jonah from the whale’s stomach.)

Directions:

1. Draw big eyes on the back of one plate. 
2. Except for the eyes, color the back of two plates blue, and the front of those same plates red. 
3. Cut the third plate as shown to create the tail and fins. Color those blue. 
4. On the other half of the cut plate, draw, color, and cut out a small man. 
5. Tape the fins and tail to the bottom plate (the one without eyes) as shown. 
6. Lay the other plate on top and tape down everything from the fins and back. Leave the front open. (Now when you push the sides of the whale together, its mouth will open and you can place and remove Jonah from the whale’s stomach.)

Tips for Making a Jonah and the Whale Craft

• Use paper plates for the best results. Styrofoam will break more easily, and plastic won’t flex as well for opening the whale’s mouth! Paper will also be the easiest to draw on.
• We don’t suggest using markers for this craft, on the glossier side of the plate the color will rub off and make a mess.

More Awesome Crafts:

• David and Goliath Craft
• Under the Sea Craft
• Rainbow Cloud Craft

Did you make this Jonah and the Whale Craft? Share it on our Facebook page so we can see the beautiful job your kids or students did!