Sunday School Craft Activities and Create Ways to Teach on the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:1-3; 11-32. You Don’t Have to Eat with the Pigs…God Grants Grace! Craft Ideas for the Prodigal Son
The story of the prodigal son provides us with a comforting reminder that God loves us and forgives us, no matter what we do. Even when we make mistakes, He is faithful and loves us as His dear children. These crafts serve to recount and act out the story for children. A “pig in the mud” is a fun and creative illustration of the son’s hopeless despair and moment of return to his senses (plus, it’s just fun to craft pigs!). A double-sided puppet helps to tell the parable and engage with it, considering how the son was before and after leaving– and returning– home.
- Watch video demonstration of this children’s sermon lesson and related Bible craft activities
- See our resource page for teaching the Parable of the Prodigal Son for Kids
- Compare our prodigal son children’s sermon and another prodigal son children’s sermon
- Download our Prodigal Son lesson for kids and Preschool Bible lesson on this parable.
- Learn about the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in the Bible
- Download our free Prodigal son coloring pages
Bible Verses or Craft Captions to Consider… (Main Text: Luke 15:11-32)
- And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. -Luke 15:20
- For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. -Luke 15:24
- Don’t be a pig in the mud!
- Riches…to rags…to riches… the story of the Prodigal Son!
Craft Activity: “Prodigal Pig in the Mud”
You will need:
- Partial paper towel or toilet paper tube (optional)
- Glue or tape
- Scissors
- Construction paper, cardstock or cardboard
- Markers or decorating materials
- Stickers, glitter, jewels, or other decorations
Procedure:
- Decorate paper or cardstock with verses or captions. Consider using a brown “mud-colored” paper for the background.
- Cut shapes out of pink (or other “pig-colored”) paper to create a pig shape. Glue onto the background paper. Add ears, eyes, and tail.
- If desired, attach partial paper towel or toilet paper tube as “snout.”
- Add extra stickers, glitter, and decorations as desired. Display to recall the story and need to not “eat with the pigs”!
Craft Activity: “Prodigal Son Puppet”
You will need:
- Scissors
- Construction paper or cardstock
- Glue and/or tape
- Decorative materials (markers, crayons, stickers)
- Paper bag (or paper plate)
- Cloth or felt (optional)
Procedure:
1. Decorate the bag or plate to be a two-sided puppet. On one side, create an interpretation of the “extravagant” or rich son. Use felt or cloth for robes, gems for rings on fingers, and other items to represent the son in “privileged” state.
2. On the other side of the puppet, depict a sad and poverty-stricken son, with rags and mournful features. Perhaps even smear or draw some dirt on this side.
3. Add verses or captions as desired.
4. Use the puppet to tell the story. The “rich side” can show the son when first running away, as well as after returning home. The “poor side” can be used to exhibit the action in the middle of the story. If desired, make additional puppets to portray the father, brother, and pigs in the story!