Creating Bible Buildings

Creating Bible Buildings

Below are a number of ideas for creating Biblical buildings and structures for story-telling, craft time or for use in a sand table.

Cities, Towns, Temples and Walls

There are three sites that have castle crafts that can be easily adapted for Bible stories.

DLTK's Castle Craft - includes printable template
Enchanted Learning's Cardboard Box Castle - uses a box
Kids Domain Castle - includes printable template

Any of these are suitable. Some ideas for adapting them -

The city of Jericho for the Fall of Jericho. Attach a red ribbon over the wall if including the story of Rahab.
The city of Jerusalem which Nehemiah rebuilds.
Make a temple for King Solomon, King Josiah, the Boy Jesus Visits the Temple, Jesus Cleanses the Temple or any other story about Going to Church or the Sabbath. See Bible Craft Idea using the fantasy castle (on the DLTK-Kids Discussion Board) for more details.
A prison for Peter or Paul and Silas. Alternatively this could also be used for the house where the believers were praying for his escape.
Make the New Jerusalem for stories about Heaven. Use gold card or paint. Decorate with sequins and beads to symbolise the stones used in the foundation walls - see Revelation 21:15-22.

Alternatively, adapt either of the above template crafts to made a two dimensional wall or building. Boffo Building Blocks from Group Publishing may also be used as an activity for creating walls. Lego or Duplo blocks are also great as an activity (or for creating props) for any of the above stories.

Churches

Ben & Jerry's New England Village has a Paper Church Craft.
"God's house"

Houses and Small Buildings

MSSS Crafts Colouring Page - Bible House or this one - House in Bible Times - use this simply for colouring in or add pictures of Bible characters to complete picture.
Group Publishing Boffo Building Blocks - use this idea to create houses.
Milk Cartons and small boxes are great house building materials. Paint glue over carton (upside down and with the top cut off) or box and sprinkle sand (very liberally) over the top. When dry, paint over this with white, yellow or cream paint for a sandstone look. Cut out doors and windows. Look at MSSS Bibletimes House for templates for this craft.
To make a jail for the story of Peter or Paul and Silas, paint a large milk carton grey and cut out a door and a window (don't forget to create bars in the windows!).

Tents

Covenant People Resource Cards (no longer available - but idea left here to help out!)
- paper bag tent
MSSS Crafts Colouring Page - Tent - use this simply for colouring in or add pictures of Bible characters to complete picture.

Please note: all outside links open in a new window.