David & Goliath Preschool Craft Ideas

Whether you're preparing for a preschool Sunday School lesson or designing a homeschool lesson on "V for Victory," the story of David and Goliath is a well-loved account of small and right defeating big and mean. The story lends itself to many different craft ideas, as well.

Strong Shields

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Provide the children with a shield-shaped template and let them trace it onto poster board before cutting it out. For the littlest preschoolers, you may want to trace and cut the shapes before you're ready to craft with them. Provide crayons, markers, fabric scraps, glitter and other embellishments for the kids to use to decorate their shields. When everything has dried, attach two strips of poster board or fabric, 1 inch wide, to the back to hold the shield on the maker's arm.

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Five Smooth Stones

David faced Goliath with a slingshot and five smooth stones, according to the Bible's account of the battle. Let your preschoolers decorate rocks to remind them of this part of the story, or help them play a game with their artwork.

Things You'll Need

Smooth stones -- 5 or 6 for each child
Paint smocks or adult T-shirts
Acrylic paint
Paint brushes
Acrylic sealer
Permanent marker (optional)
Felt (optional)
Permanent craft adhesive or low-temp hot-glue gun and glue sticks (optional)

Tip

Most craft stores have bags of smooth river rock for purchase. You can usually find them in the floral department.

Step 1

Help children don smocks or large tees to protect their clothing. Acrylic paint will usually wash out of most fabric, but it's best to avoid the problem.

Step 2

Allow children to paint their five rocks with any design they choose. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly between coats and before painting them with acrylic sealer. If you are making the game, give each child a sixth rock - preferably one that is much larger than the others.

Step 3

To make the game, write a letter from David's name on each of the smaller rocks and a "G" for Goliath on the larger one.

Step 4

Glue felt circles on the bottom side of the rocks.

Step 5

To play the game, place the "Goliath" rock inside a marked-off square or circle on the floor. Slide the felted side of the "David" rocks to try to hit the bigger stone and knock it out of the playing field.

Precious Stones Pouch

Cut a large circle of felt for each child and then punch holes around the circle, spaced evenly around the circumference about 1/2 inch from the edge. After children decorate the pouches with markers or paint, let them thread a shoelace through the holes before pulling the ends to gather the bag. Pop the five smooth stones inside and tie the lace in a bow. If you'd rather use yarn than shoelaces, wrap a piece of tape around the ends to make threading the holes easier.

Simple Slingshot

Your preschoolers can act out David's defeat of the giant with their own slingshots and giant-sized marshmallows. You can go for authentic by making the slings from leather, but fabric works fine. In fact, this project is a great way to recycle worn-out denim jeans.

Things You'll Need

Fabric or leather
Scissors
Hole-punch
Shoelaces or cording -- 2 pieces for each sling

Step 1

Cut a 2 1/2- by 5-inch rectangle from the fabric. With older preschoolers, provide a template cut from an old cereal box or the lid of a plastic container and let them trace and cut the shape for themselves.

Step 2

Cut off the corners to create an elongated hexagon. Punch a hole in each short side.

Step 3

Let children thread a shoelace or cord through each hole and tie the ends in double knots. If you want, you can add a drop of permanent craft adhesive or clear nail polish to hold the knots more securely. If you are using cord, each child will need two 8 to 10-inch pieces.

Step 4

Play the game by putting large marshmallows in the fabric pouch, swinging the sling over your head, and letting go of one of the strings. For little hands, tying a loop in one of the strings that will fit over a finger will help keep the entire sling from flying through the air.

Warning

Marshmallows can be a choking hazard, so monitor the children carefully. Giant marshmallows are less likely to cause choking; regular or mini marshmallows won’t fly out of the sling as well, either.