The Ark of the Covenant Craft Ideas
The Ark of the Covenant is an iconic symbol in both the Jewish and Christian religions. The Ark is the gilded box created to the specifications Moses brought from Mount Sinai. The Ark was built to hold the Ten Commandments, as well as other physical manifestations of the blessings and miracles of God. Making their own Ark helps children to understand God's blessings and how they can carry those blessings into a larger world.
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Making the Ark of the Covenant
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Children can make their own Ark of the Covenant with a shoe box. With a hole punch, make holes on both sides of both ends of the shoe box. Punch the holes about 1 inch below the top edge. Make sure that the holes are below the edge of the lid. Insert two dowels through the holes, so that each dowel goes all the way through the box and extends out the other side. Paint the shoe box and its lid gold, inside and out. Direct children to glue a gold bead to each corner of the bottom of the box for legs, and then to glue gold braid to the sides of the lid for decoration. Cut out two kneeling angels and have children glue them to the lid of the box. While the children are constructing their Arks, talk about how people who love God can be a living Ark and carry blessings to the world around us.
Making The Ten Commandments
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Roll fimo clay out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out two domed "tablets" for each child. Make sure that the tablets are small enough to fit into the shoe box ark of the covenant. While the clay is still pliable, press a fine tip ballpoint pen into it. Write one or two words that sum up each commandment. Work with the class to choose the most important words of each commandment together. When the Commandments are dry, place them in the Ark of the Covenant.
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Making the Pots of Manna
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Give each child a small circle of gold fimo clay for the bottom of the pot. Take more clay and have each child roll the clay to form a long, thin rope. Wind the rope around the edge of the circle, stacking each level on top of the other as the sides of the pot grow. Make sure that the pot will fit inside the shoe box. Ask children to pinch the sides together to form a solid pot. Cut another circle of clay to fit the top and allow each child's pot to dry. While the pots are drying, talk about how God blessed the Israelites in the desert with Manna from Heaven. When the pots are dry, fill them with mashed potato flakes to indicate Manna. Place the Manna pot into the Ark of the Covenant with the Commandments.
Making the Blooming Rod
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Before class, gather many small twigs, all small enough to fit into a shoe box Ark. Give each child a twig. Ask the children to glue silk flowers to one end of the twig. Explain to the children that God blesses his children with life. Place the blooming twig in the Ark with the Manna and Commandments.
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References
- Photo Credit drawing image by anna karwowska from Fotolia.com
