Let's do some art! Why? Because God created beauty and creativity and it's a great way to get closer to Him. If you or your child feel like you are not artistically minded I encourage you to still enter into this activity with reckless abandon because you never know what good things you could get out of it. God sees the heart behind it and isn't an art critic.
This activity is loosely based on Jesus feeding the 5,000.
Things you'll need:
White paper or a print out of the PDF you can find below
Black marker
Something to color with (markers, crayons, colored pencils, paint, etc.)
Scissors
Tape (optional)
The set up:
Read or watch about Jesus feeding 5,000 people. Jesus did something amazing with fish! Ask your child to retell the story to their favorite stuffed animals.
Be inspired:
Surreal artists make art about their dreams and really strange things.
Below is an image of a sculpture by Keith Jellum of a fish "swimming" through a building. Those who saw Jesus feed 5,000 people from just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish must have thought it seemed like a dream!
What you'll do:
Do something amazing with fish so you can remember and appreciate how miraculous Jesus' loving action was!
Draw a fish without fins. If you want fins, put them near the front or the back of the fish so you won't cut them in half later.
Color your fish any way you want. I had to hold my tongue when M painted his only a tan color, and not even all of it, instead of lots of bright colors. It was his project, not mine.
Cut out your fish. M cut around the fish and I cut closer to the line when he asked me to help.
Cut your fish in half (through the belly of your fish, going up and down)
Go on an experimenting adventure and make your fish "swim" through objects by putting your fish on either side of any object (be aware that if the fish halves are too far apart from each other it will be hard to make it look like it's actually "swimming" through it). Take pictures of the "swimming" fish or tape the fish sides on for someone else to discover or draw what you see your fish "swimming" through. Repeat as many times as you want!
What's next?
Who can you tell about the amazing thing Jesus did with fish? Who can you tell about the amazing thing you did with your fish? Your family? Your friends? Your neighbors? Get them in on the fun too and tell them about this activity or make fish for them so they can do amazing things with fish and be reminded of what Jesus did.
Share this activity with others. Click the link below to access the printable steps.
More Fishy Options:
Make one fish out of playdough then make lots of little fish from that one fish
Watch this song and make your own puppet show
Make a clay fish instead of a drawing for this art project. Some kids are more 3D-oriented than 2D-oriented
Make salt dough fish ornaments as gifts and write "Matthew 14:13-21" on the back
Read The Rainbow Fish and discuss how to share well with others and how they can share something today
Manna:
Learn about the amazing miracles of Jesus
Worship Jesus through art
Lord,
May this project be treated like an act of worship towards You.
I pray that those who are reading this that are not believers can come to know You and Your Power and Majesty.
I pray that believers can trust more and more in the Power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
May we all show our kids, more and more, what it means to be like Jesus.
Amen.