The children in our mixed-aged Bible class last Sunday created some awesome pictures using marbles and paints.  The lesson for the day was about when the Lord spoke to Moses from a Burning Bush 

We talked about how God was concerned about the suffering of his people and was giving Moses the important job of rescuing them.  After the lesson we gathered our supplies and made these lovely pictures.  Younger children needed more help and the older ones were able to do each step on their own.  Of course, the best part was being able to chat about the story as we worked on the craft!

Supplies

• A baking pan or shallow box with sides (one for each child or take turns)
• A large paper cut to the size of the bottom of the pan or box
• Crayons
• Paints in fire colours like red, yellow, orange, brown and black (tempera or acrylic works well)
• Marbles (heavy ones work better and we had 3 per child)
• Tape
• Damp paper towels or items of choice for clean-up

Method

1. Children draw a free-style bush on the paper using the crayons.  This is the best time to write names or titles on the drawings, too.
2. Place the paper in the tray and secure the edges with a few pieces of tape.
3. Sparingly dot the paper with various colours of paint (thick globs don’t work).
4. Place the marbles on the surface of the paper and move the trays around slowly in a rolling or gentle wave-like motion.  As the marbles roll around they will pick up paint and distribute it over the paper.
5. Remove the marbles and hang the pictures to dry.

Supplies

Draw a bush

Add dots of paint

Place marbles on paper and move tray around to roll marbles in paint.

Supplies

Draw a bush

Add dots of paint

Place marbles on paper and move tray around to roll marbles in paint.

Other Stories for this Craft

Use this same method and different colours of paint to create effects.  Generally, the student will draw the main picture and then use the paints to create the effect.  Alternatively, you could provide a printed colour sheet and then have the children create the paint effect over it.

• Fire using red, yellow, orange and a bit of brown, black and white.
  • The Lord Speaks from a Burning Bush
  • Nadab and Abihu
  • Elijah and the Contest at Mt. Carmel 
  • Elijah and the Whirlwind 
  • The Fiery Furnace 
• Storms, Water or Waves using blue, green, white and a little black as needed.
  • Crossing the Red Sea
  • Baptism of Jesus 
  • Jesus Calms the Storm 
  • Jesus Walks on Water
  • Paul’s Shipwreck
  • Day 2-God Created Sky & Water
  • Noah Builds an Ark & Loads Animals
  • The Flood and God’s Promise 

• Wind using white and a little black on gray paper.
  • Sermon at Pentecost  (Draw the people or steps of the colonnade and then create the wind with paint)
• Mood or Feeling using multi-colours on coloured or black paper.  This is more abstract but can be very effective.
  • Creation Story
  • Transfiguration 
• Plants using green and a few dots for flowers.
  • Day 3-God created land and plants (Experiment with green and then colours)
  • Birth of Moses (Draw the basket and then hide it with the green paint)
• Light using white or light yellow on black paper.  Fill the page with the colours of light.  Add some glow in the dark paint for fun.
  • Day 1-God Created Light
• Fire and Brimstone using red, yellow, orange or just use yellow and white with a little red to highlight the brimstone.  Draw the city first and then create fire and brimstone with paint.
  • Sodom and Gomorrah
• Hair using brown or black.  Draw Samson’s face first and then create the hair with paint.
  • Samson and Delilah

How to Use on Any Story

Create a frame around any verse or picture by taping a paper over the centre of the paper (where the words are written) and only leave a blank space around the edges of the paper exposed.  Once the painting is complete then remove the paper.