Jonah and The Whale Paper Plate Craft For Kids (Free Printable Template)

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Bringing a well-known biblical story to life becomes even more fun with a creative hands-on project like this Jonah and the Whale Paper Plate Craft.

This colorful activity combines storytelling, creativity, and a meaningful reminder about obedience, forgiveness, and trusting God’s plan.

Whether you’re planning a Sunday school project, adding to your homeschooling curriculum, or preparing bible crafts for an elementary classroom, this easy craft is simple to make and engaging for kids.

Jonah and The Whale Paper Plate Craft

The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the most recognizable stories from the Old Testament.

In this Bible story, God asks Jonah to deliver a message, but instead of listening right away, he tries to run away. After a storm at sea, a big fish comes along to swallow Jonah, giving him time to reflect, pray, and change direction.

This interactive craft gives children a playful way to explore Jonah’s incredible journey while encouraging conversations about redemption, trust, and the power of forgiveness.

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Supplies Needed to Make This Jonah Craft:

Before you begin, gather the supplies needed for this project.

• Paper plate
• Blue and white acrylic paint
• Construction papers
• Glue
• Scissor
• Marker
• Googly eye
• Printable template
• Paintbrush

This simple supply list uses easy-to-find items, making it a great craft for kids at home, church groups, or learning centers.

How To Make This Jonah and The Whale Paper Plate Craft

This craft comes together in a few simple steps.

Step 1: Prepare the Whale Body

Start by tracing the whale template onto your paper plate. Carefully cut the shape out.

Use blue paint to paint the top section of the whale. For the whale’s belly, mix a lighter shade for the bottom section. Once dry, use a marker to draw curved diagonal lines across the lighter section to create texture.

Allow everything to dry before gluing the two sections together.

You’ll already start to see your cheerful plate whale taking shape.

Step 2: Cut Out the Extra Whale Details

Next, cut and trace the remaining template piece shapes onto their matching construction paper colors.

Prepare the tail, fin shapes, water spout, blush circle, and other whale details.

This step is great for practicing fine motor skills because children get to trace, handle a pair of scissors, and work with smaller shapes.

Step 3: Assemble the Whale

Now attach the extra whale parts onto the body using glue.

Add the tail to the back, attach the fins, secure the water spout on top, and place the blush detail near the whale’s mouth.

Finish by attaching a large googly eye to bring the whale to life.

This adorable whale craft has lots of personality and plenty of room for extra color choices if kids want to customize their design.

Step 4: Make Jonah

Using the template, assemble Jonah with colored construction paper.

Layer the clothing, beard, and head covering pieces together. Use a marker to add facial details and expressions.

Once assembled, place it inside the whale opening so it looks like he’s peeking out from inside the fish.

This makes the project more interactive and adds a playful storytelling element kids usually love.

Step 5: Finish and Display

After attaching Jonah, your project is complete.

You now have a bright, smiling Jonah and the Big Fish scene ready for display, storytelling time, or a themed lesson.

What Kids Can Learn From This Bible Craft

Projects like this go beyond cutting and gluing shapes together.

This activity opens the door to meaningful discussions about listening, making mistakes, second chances, and learning to follow directions even when something feels difficult.

The bible account of Jonah teaches important ideas about:

• Obedience
• Prayer
• Trust
• Forgiveness
• Courage
• Responsibility

Because this is a hands-on project, children often connect more deeply with the message than they would through a simple reading or worksheet alone.

Why This Craft Works So Well For Learning

One reason families, teachers, and ministry leaders enjoy projects like this is that they combine creativity with practical learning.

This craft helps children practice:

• Cutting and tracing skill
• Following instruction
• Shape recognition
• Color matching
• Creative thinking
• Fine motor development

It also gives kids a chance to slow down and engage with a familiar story in a new way.

For educators building a Christian curriculum or parents looking for screen-free projects, this can be a helpful resource to keep on hand.

Creative Ways To Use This Craft

Looking for extra ideas? Here are a few creative ways to extend this Jonah and the whale paper plate craft.

Storytelling Activity

Use the finished whale to retell the story of Jonah in sequence.

Kids can move Jonah in and out of the whale while explaining what happened throughout the story.

Sunday School Display

This project fits nicely into Sunday school bulletin boards, classroom walls, or take-home folders.

It also works well alongside other themed bible crafts.

Homeschool Lesson Extension

Families doing homeschooling can pair the project with scripture reading, vocabulary practice, or a simple journal prompt about making good choices.

Printable Craft Pack

If you plan to create a matching digital file later, you could offer a companion template download or activity set as an optional purchase to make prep easier.

Why Kids Enjoy This Fun and Simple Craft

Children tend to love projects that combine storytelling with bright visuals and simple assembly.

The large whale shape, oversized eye, cheerful blue body, and movable Jonah detail make this project feel playful without becoming complicated.

Because the steps are straightforward and the craft uses familiar materials, it works well for younger makers while remaining engaging for older kids.

It’s also a nice reminder that learning activities do not need complicated supplies to be memorable.

Sometimes a little paper, a dab of glue, and a colorful whale are all you need to create something meaningful.

More Christian Crafts to Enjoy

If you enjoyed making the Jonah and the Whale Paper Plate Craft, here are a few more faith-based activities that help children explore Bible stories through creativity and hands-on fun.

• Palm Sunday Donkey Craft – A fun craft that helps kids learn about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
• He Is Risen Easter Paper Craft – A meaningful Easter activity that celebrates the resurrection with a creative paper project.
• Cross Suncatcher Craft – Create a colorful cross decoration that serves as a beautiful reminder of faith.
• Free Easter Tomb SVGs – A collection of Easter-themed SVG designs that are perfect for crafting, decorating, and creative projects.
• Bible Printables for Kids

If you’re looking for a fun and simple scripture-themed project, this Jonah and the Whale Paper Plate Craft is a wonderful option.

From tracing and cutting shapes to assembling Jonah inside the smiling whale, this project turns a beloved bible account into a memorable, hands-on experience.

Jonah and The Whale Paper Plate Craft

Yield: 1 Craft

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $3,00

This Jonah and The Whale Paper Plate Craft is a fun way for children to explore a well-known Bible story through a hands-on activity. Using a paper plate and colorful craft supplies, kids can create a cheerful whale and a small Jonah character. The project encourages creativity while helping develop cutting, painting, and gluing skills. It works well for church lessons, homeschool activities, or classroom crafts. The finished craft can be used for storytelling, displays, or Bible-themed learning activities.

Print

Materials

• Paper plate
• Blue acrylic paint
• White acrylic paint
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Marker
• Googly eye
• Printable template
• Paintbrush

Tools

Instructions

1. Prepare the Whale Body

Trace the whale template onto a paper plate and carefully cut out the shape. Paint the top section blue and the lower belly area a lighter shade. Once the paint has dried, use a marker to draw curved lines across the belly for added texture.

2. Cut Out the Whale Details

Trace and cut out the remaining template pieces from construction paper. Prepare the tail, fins, water spout, blush circle, and any other decorative whale pieces needed for assembly.

3. Assemble the Whale

Glue the tail, fins, and water spout onto the whale body. Attach the blush circle near the mouth and finish by gluing on the googly eye. Allow the pieces to set so the whale is secure and ready for the next step.

4. Create Jonah

Use the template pieces to assemble Jonah from construction paper. Glue the clothing, beard, and head covering together, then use a marker to add facial details and expressions.

5. Add Jonah to the Whale

Place Jonah inside the whale opening and secure him with glue if desired. Position him so it looks like he is peeking out from inside the whale.

6. Let It Dry and Display

Allow all pieces to dry completely before handling the craft. Once finished, display it on a bulletin board, use it during storytelling time, or add it to a collection of Bible-themed crafts.

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