Gideon Bible Craft for Kids
This Gideon Bible craft for kids turns the story of one of the Bible’s most unlikely heroes into an adorable paper bag puppet — complete with Gideon’s torch, ram’s horn, yellow headband, and bold red belt.
The free printable template in this post includes every piece you need to trace and cut. All you need beyond the template is a standard paper lunch bag, construction paper in a few colors, googly eyes, glue, scissors, and a black marker. The whole craft takes about 30–45 minutes and works beautifully for Sunday school, VBS, homeschool Bible lessons, kids church, and faith-based family craft time.
The finished puppet becomes a natural storytelling prop; kids can retell the story of Gideon’s army, act out the moment when his 300 men blew their trumpets and broke their jars, and draw a connection between Gideon’s courage and the truth that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
Gideon Bible Craft for Kids (Free Template — Paper Bag Puppet)
The Story of Gideon — Judges 6–8
Before making the craft, here is a quick overview of the story from the book of Judges, perfect for sharing with children before they begin.
Gideon was a young man from the weakest clan in Manasseh, threshing wheat in a winepress—hiding from the Midianites who had oppressed Israel for seven years.
He was visited by an angel of the Lord, who greeted him as a “mighty warrior.” Gideon’s response was essentially “Who, me?” — he considered himself the least likely candidate for the task God had in mind.
But God had chosen Gideon specifically. After testing God’s call with a fleece of wool twice, Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 men to fight the Midianites. God said he had gathered more men than necessary. The army was gradually reduced to 10,000 and then to just 300 men. Each of them carried a trumpet, a torch inside a clay jar, and a sword.
Following the signal, the 300 men blew their trumpets, cracked open their jars to reveal the lights, and shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” The enemy army fell into panic and fled. Israel’s victory came through obedience and God’s mighty power, not human strength.
The two accessories this craft features, the torch and the shofar, help tell the story in a memorable way. They also remind children that God often works in unexpected ways and can accomplish amazing things through ordinary people.
Verses for This Lesson:
The Lord said to him, “Go with the strength you already have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am the One sending you.” (Judges 6:14)
When the 300 men sounded their trumpets, the Lord caused the enemy soldiers to turn against one another with their swords. (Judges 7:22)
What You Need for This Gideon Craft
Gather these supplies before you start:
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AJM Brown Paper Lunch Bags 40 Count
Crafty DAB GLUES DAB N STIC SchoolElmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks Washable 22 Grams 3 CountHuhuhero Kids Scissors, 5” Safety Toddler Scissor Blunt Tip with Cover, Small Craft Cutting Paper Scissors for Child Kid Age 4-7 8 9, Assorted Colors, 4 PackCrayola Construction Paper, 120 SheetsCrayola 587722 Non-Washable Markers, Broad Point, Classic Colors, 10/Set
- 1 standard lunch-size paper bag (brown kraft paper)
- Construction paper in these colors: cream or light yellow (for the robe), brown (for the hair, beard, and suede vest), yellow (for the headband and belt buckle), red (for the belt)
- Googly eyes (2 large)
- Glue
- Child-safe scissors
- Black marker
- Free printable Gideon template (download below)
Free Gideon Template — What’s Included
The free downloadable template PDF includes traceable outlines for every piece of the Gideon puppet:
Page 1, Body pieces
- Brown suede vest/torso
- Cream robe/tunic
Page 2, Accessory pieces
- Light handle base
- Three flame layers
- Curved instrument
- Two fist/hand pieces
Page 3, Face and hair pieces
- Hair and beard combined piece
- Yellow headband
How to Make the Gideon Bible Craft for Kids
Step 1: Download and print the template. Trace and cut all pieces.
Download the free template PDF below and print it on standard white paper. Trace each template piece onto the correct color of construction paper using a pencil, then cut along the traced lines.
Here’s what color goes with each piece:
- Robe/tunic: cream or light yellow construction paper
- Vest/torso: brown construction paper
- Hair, beard, and fist pieces: brown construction paper (same shade or slightly darker)
- Headband and belt buckle: yellow construction paper
- Belt: red construction paper, cut into a strip approximately half an inch wide
- Torch base and ram’s horn: brown construction paper or cut from kraft paper scraps
- Flames: red (largest), orange (medium), yellow (smallest)
Step 2: Assemble the body on the paper bag.
Take your paper lunch bag and lay it flat with the flap facing up. The flap at the top of the bag is where the face will sit.
Attach the cream robe piece to the front of the bag, positioning it so it covers most of the bag’s body section and the arms extend out to each side.
Attach the brown suede vest piece over the center of the robe so it sits across the front of the bag. This creates the layered outfit.
Attach the red belt strip horizontally across the waist area where the robe and vest meet. Center the small yellow square belt buckle on top of the belt and secure it in place.
Attach the two fist pieces at the ends of the robe’s arm extensions, one on each side, slightly angled outward so the character appears to be holding the accessories.
Step 3: Create the Hair and Beard
The hair piece is a wide U-shaped frame that slips over the back and sides of the bag’s flap, creating the appearance of hair flowing around the face. Fold the hairpiece slightly and attach it to the top and sides of the bag’s flap so it frames the face.
Attach the separate beard piece across the lower portion of the flap.
Attach the yellow headband strip in a curved arc across the top of the flap.
Step 4: Make the torch.
Take the triangular brown torch base piece. Stack the three flame pieces with red on the bottom, orange in the middle, and yellow on top, then attach them together into a layered flame. Position the finished flame at the top of the handle and secure it.
Use your black marker to draw a handle line if desired.
Take the curved instrument piece and use your black marker to draw curved horizontal lines across it to create its ribbed texture. Draw five or six evenly spaced curved lines from the wide end toward the tip.
Step 5: Place the accessories in the hands.
Attach the torch to the left fist piece so that Gideon holds it at an upward angle. Glue the shofar to the right fist piece, angled outward as if Gideon is raising it to blow.
Step 6: Add the googly eyes, eyebrows, and smile.
Press two large googly eyes onto the bag flap in the face area — above the beard and below the headband. Position them side by side with a small gap between them.
Using the black marker, draw two small curved eyebrow lines above the googly eyes. Draw a small, curved smile in the beard notch at the bottom of the face.
Step 7: Your Gideon puppet is complete.
Set the finished puppet on a table for display, attach it to a blue background for a full scene, or slip your hand into the paper bag and use it as a puppet for storytelling.
Using This Craft as a Teaching Tool
This paper bag puppet is more than a craft — it’s a storytelling prop that helps children actively engage with the story rather than passively hearing it.
Here are several ways to use the finished Gideon puppet in a lesson:
Puppet show retelling.
After completing the craft, have children use their Gideon puppets to retell the story to a partner, a parent, or the class. Requiring retelling in their own words is one of the most effective comprehension strategies available — and they’re doing it with a puppet, which means it feels like play.
Discussion starter.
Hold up the two items and ask: “Why do you think the soldiers used lights and trumpets rather than swords? What does that show us about God’s power?” This helps children understand that God often uses unexpected ways to bring about His plans.
Bible Verse Connection
Practice Judges 6:14 by having children repeat the verse while holding their completed puppet. The physical object helps anchor the memory.
Classroom display.
Completed puppets displayed together on a bulletin board make a striking visual for this lesson. Twenty or thirty lined up together create a memorable display.
Take-home reminder.
Children who take their puppet home have a physical reminder of the lesson. Parents can prompt a conversation — “Tell me about the man you made today” — and the puppet gives the child something concrete to reference as they explain.
Who Will Enjoy This Activity?
Ages 4–5 (preschool and pre-k): An adult pre-cuts all pieces. The child glues and assembles with guidance, adds the googly eyes, and draws the smile with help. Focus on naming the pieces — “This is the light. This is the curved instrument. What sound do you think it makes?
Ages 5–7 (kindergarten and first grade): Most children at this age can trace the templates and cut simple shapes with supervision. Putting it together is simple with a bit of guidance. This is the primary target age for this craft.
Ages 7–10 (second through fourth grade): Children at this age can complete the full craft independently, including tracing, cutting, and assembly. Add the shofar detail lines and the torch flame layering as extra challenges. Use the discussion prompts above with older children for a richer lesson.
Sunday school and VBS groups: Pre-cut the pieces before class to speed up the activity for large groups. Organize pieces by color in small trays or bags so each child has everything they need ready to assemble. This reduces the activity time from 45 minutes to 20–25 minutes for a class setting.
More Bible Crafts for Kids
This Gideon craft is part of our growing collection of Bible story crafts for kids. Each craft is designed to bring a specific Bible character or story to life through a hands-on activity that reinforces the lesson.
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The story of Gideon is one of the most encouraging in the entire Bible for children — and for adults — precisely because it begins with a man who didn’t think he was the right person for the job. This craft gives kids a physical connection to that story: a torch in one hand, a ram’s horn in the other, and the reminder that God delights in using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.
Download the free template below, gather your construction paper and glue, and let your little ones bring Gideon to life.
What Bible story is this craft about?
This craft is based on the story of Gideon from Judges 6–8. Gideon was an unlikely warrior chosen by God to defeat the Midianites with an army of just 300 men, each carrying a torch hidden in a clay jar and a ram’s horn trumpet. The craft features Gideon holding his iconic torch and horn.
What supplies do I need for this Gideon craft?
You need a standard paper lunch bag, construction paper in cream, brown, yellow, and red, googly eyes, white school glue, child-safe scissors, a black marker, and the free printable template.
How long does this craft take?
About 30–45 minutes for individual children working through all the steps. For a classroom or Sunday school setting where pieces are pre-cut, assembly takes about 20–25 minutes.
Is this craft appropriate for Sunday school or VBS?
Yes — this craft is specifically designed for Sunday school, VBS, homeschool Bible lessons, and kids church settings. The finished puppet works as a teaching prop, a storytelling tool, and a take-home reminder of the lesson.
What age is this craft for?
This craft works best for ages 5–10. Younger children (ages 4–5) can participate with adult help on the cutting steps. Older children (ages 7–10) can complete the full craft independently.
Is the template free?
Yes — the Gideon puppet template is free to download. Use the download link below to access the PDF with all template pages.
Can I use this craft in a classroom without purchasing a license?
Yes — this template is free for personal and classroom use including Sunday school, VBS, homeschool co-ops, and church programs. Please do not redistribute the template files for sale.
Gideon Bible Craft for Kids
This Gideon Bible Craft gives kids the chance to create a fun paper bag puppet inspired by Gideon. Children will assemble the puppet with a robe, vest, headband, and special accessories. It's a great activity for Sunday school, homeschool, or Bible study lessons. Kids can practice tracing, cutting, and gluing while making the puppet. Once finished, it's perfect for storytelling and imaginative play.
Materials
- 1 standard lunch-size brown paper bag: Choose a plain kraft paper lunch bag without handles. The folded bottom of the bag will become Gideon’s face and head, while the longer section forms his body.
- Cream or light-yellow construction paper: Used to create Gideon’s robe. Cardstock may also be used for a sturdier finished craft.
- Brown construction paper: Needed for Gideon’s hair, beard, and suede-style vest.
- Yellow construction paper: Used for the headband and belt buckle details.
- Red construction paper: Used to make the belt around Gideon’s robe.
- 2 large googly eyes: Larger eyes help Gideon’s face stand out and give the puppet a fun, child-friendly appearance.
Tools
Instructions
1. Trace and Cut the Pieces
Trace each template piece onto the matching colors of construction paper and carefully cut them out. Keep the robe, vest, hair, beard, headband, belt, hands, torch, flames, and horn together so they're easy to assemble.
2. Assemble the Body
Lay the paper bag flat with the flap facing upward. Glue the cream robe onto the front of the bag, then layer the brown vest over the center. Attach the red belt across the waist and glue the yellow buckle in the middle. Finish by attaching the hand pieces to the ends of the sleeves.
3. Add the Hair and Headband
Glue the brown hair around the top and sides of the paper bag flap to frame the face. Attach the beard below the face area, then glue the yellow headband across the top of the forehead.
4. Make the Torch and Horn
Layer the flame pieces with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on top, then glue them to the torch handle. Use the black marker to add simple detail lines to the torch and draw curved lines across the horn for texture.
5. Attach the Accessories
Glue the torch to one hand so it points slightly upward. Attach the horn to the other hand at a slight angle, making it look like Gideon is holding both items.
6. Finish the Face
Glue the googly eyes onto the face area between the headband and beard. Use the black marker to draw eyebrows and a small smile to complete the puppet.
7. Let It Dry and Display
Allow the glue to dry completely before handling the puppet. Once finished, it's ready for Bible lessons, storytelling, or classroom displays.
