Teaching Bible lessons in your homeschool is the most important part of every day. There is literally no subject more important. Their eternity depends on it. You can give them a solid foundation in Jesus, or let the world brainwash them in comprises and evil that abounds. There’s no in between.

Bible lessons do not have to be boring and drab! If you are excited about God’s Word, it will rub off on them. Make your Bible study the most exciting and creative experience of the day. You can incorporate engaging lessons with hands-on activities that make Scripture come alive. Crafting, building, and engaging in interactive projects help children not only understand the stories but also retain what they learn.

Consider using these ideas with your Bible lessons. They are very flexible and easy to adapt to any Bible lesson. Let’s dive in!

For Younger Kids:

1. Build a Scene with LEGO or Blocks

Who doesn’t love playing with LEGOs? Whether it’s Noah’s Ark, the parting of the Red Sea, or the walls of Jericho, encourage your kids to recreate a scene from the story using their favorite building blocks. This is a great way to get their creativity flowing while they retell the story in their own words as they build.

2. Character Puppets for Story Retelling

Grab some paper bags, popsicle sticks, or even old socks, and help your kids make puppets of key characters from the story. Once they’re finished, let them act out the story with their homemade puppets. It’s a great way to reinforce the lesson—and gives them a creative outlet to express what they’ve learned.

3. Create a Bible Story Diorama

If your kids love arts and crafts, a diorama can be an awesome way to visualize the setting of a Bible story. Grab a shoebox, some construction paper, markers, and maybe a few small toys, and help them build the scene. You can turn any Bible story into a fun, mini 3D world!

4. Make Story Stones

Story stones are a simple and versatile tool for teaching Bible stories. Grab some smooth stones from your backyard or craft store and paint symbols, scenes, or characters from the Bible story on each one. Once your stones are ready, kids can use them to retell the story in their own words, or you can even mix them up and let them put the story in the correct order.

5. Bible Story Charades

Turn your favorite Bible stories into a family-friendly game of charades! Write down scenes or characters from the lesson and take turns acting them out while everyone else guesses. This is an excellent way to make Bible study fun and active while still reinforcing what they’ve learned.

6. Create Scripture Memory Art

Sometimes it’s not just the story but the lesson or scripture verse that you want to focus on. Have your kids pick a key verse from the Bible story and turn it into a work of art! Whether they use paints, markers, or colored pencils, let them get creative in making a poster or card with the verse to hang in your home.

7. DIY Bible Storyboard

Give your child a large piece of paper or poster board and let them draw a sequence of events from the Bible story. They can break the story down into three or four main parts and illustrate them like a comic strip. This helps them practice summarizing while adding a creative flair to their learning.

8. Make Salt Dough Bible Figures

Have you ever made salt dough? It’s super easy! Mix flour, salt, and water, and you’ve got a moldable dough. Use it to create figures, animals, or symbols from the Bible story. After baking the figures, your child can paint them to make a long-lasting keepsake of the lesson.

9. Bible Story Bingo

Create a bingo card filled with words or images related to the Bible story you’re studying. As you read or retell the story, have your child place a marker on the corresponding picture or word. It’s a fun game that keeps their attention and reinforces important details.

10. Act It Out with Costumes

This is a classic activity but always a hit. Gather some old sheets, towels, or whatever you have lying around, and help your kids dress up as characters from the story. Let them act out the narrative as you read it aloud or as they retell it themselves. Kids love dressing up, and it gives them a memorable way to engage with the material.

For Older Kids

1. Bible Story Stop-Motion Videos

If your kids are into tech (which most of them are at this age), creating stop-motion videos can be a fantastic way to retell a Bible story. Whether using LEGO figures, action figures, or clay, they can animate scenes from the Bible on their tablet or phone. This project not only helps them connect with the material but also gives them a creative outlet they’ll love.

2. Journal Reflections with Art

Encourage your older kids to keep a Bible study journal where they can reflect on the story in their own words. To make it more hands-on, have them add sketches, doodles, or even collages to their entries. You can ask them to focus on a key lesson or character and illustrate how that connects with their own life. This helps deepen their understanding and makes the lessons more personal.

3. Bible Mapmaking

Many Bible stories have powerful geographic elements—think of Paul’s missionary journeys or the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. Have your kids create their own maps based on the locations in the story. They can use an atlas or the maps in the back of their Bible for reference, then make their own version with paper or digital tools like Google Maps. It’s a great way to make biblical geography relevant and visual.

4. Script Writing & Skits

Older kids still love acting, but they also enjoy creating! Have your kids write out a script for a Bible story, either in modern language or with a twist—maybe setting it in the present day. Once they’ve written it, get the whole family involved in acting it out. This activity encourages them to think critically about dialogue, motivations, and character interactions while having a ton of fun.

5. Character Study Posters

Have your kids create character study posters that break down everything they’ve learned about a particular Bible character. They can include sections for key moments in the character’s life, personality traits, and lessons we can learn from their example. This can be done on a large poster board or digitally using programs like Canva or Google Slides. It’s a great way to visually organize their thoughts while digging deeper into the narrative.

6. DIY Infographics

Older kids are all about visuals! Have them create an infographic summarizing the key points of the Bible story. They can focus on the timeline, important figures, or the story’s message and how it applies today. Encourage them to include visuals like icons, charts, and even photos. They can use tools like Canva, Piktochart, or even good ol’ markers and poster paper.

7. Bible Verse Art

While younger kids might do simple crafts, older kids can take Bible verse art to a whole new level. Encourage them to pick a verse from the story and create a piece of artwork around it—whether that’s hand-lettering it, creating a digital graphic, or using watercolors. This helps them meditate on the verse and understand its significance while tapping into their creative side.

8. Debate or Discussion Panel

Challenge your kids to host a debate or discussion based on a controversial or thought-provoking aspect of the Bible story. For example, in the story of Jonah, was Jonah justified in running from God? Or, after studying David and Goliath, ask them to argue whether David’s faith or his preparation (like using the slingshot) was more important. These debates encourage critical thinking and help them engage with the story on a deeper level.

9. Create a Bible Timeline

Older kids can really appreciate seeing how the stories fit together in the big picture. Have them create a Bible timeline that includes key events from Genesis through Revelation (or just focus on one period). They can make it on paper, a chalkboard wall, or digitally. As you study each new story, they can add it to the timeline. This is a great visual for understanding how God’s plan unfolds throughout history.

10. Research and Present

Turn your homeschooler into a mini Bible scholar! Have them research the historical or cultural context of the story and present their findings to the family. They can research topics like ancient customs, geography, or how a particular event in the Bible aligns with historical events. They can present their findings as a PowerPoint presentation, written report, or even a short video.

What about you? Do you have any go-to hands-on activities for Bible lessons? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!