This Sunday school craft can be used in any Sunday school lessons about [tag]trusting God, but before the craft time, you can read to students the parable of “The House on the Rock” from Matthew 7: 24-27:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
– Large clean stones, one for each child
– Bucket of white, homemade play dough (see recipe below)
– Marker pens
– Glue sticks
o Make play dough using this recipe (may have to double depending on class size):
o 2 cups flour
o 2 cups warm water
o 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
o 2 teaspoons oil
o 1/2 cup salt
o Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Will last for a long time.
o Keep play dough in a giant craft bucket to stay moist until it’s time to use it.
Make an example of a house on the rock as per below.
Instructions: Have each student
1. Take a small handful of play dough and flatten until it is about half an inch thick and three or four inches across. It should be weird shaped along the edges. This will be the “yard” or “base” for the house.
2. Glue the base to the top of the rock by applying glue liberally to the top of the rock. Note: you may need to do this part for them at home with a hot glue gun, depending on the size and texture of your play dough.
3. “dot” the base with green or blue, to made grass and a little pond.
4. Create a square house, maybe one inch by one inch out of play dough. They can color it in any color they want using markets and can make small windows using markers.
5. Create a triangle shaped roof, and use colored markers to color it (doesn’t necessarily have to be brown or black)
6. Glue the house to the rock, then the roof to the house
7. Spear house and roof with a toothpick so that it looks like a chimney (for stability)
8. Add greenery around the house by using toothpicks cut in half for flower stems and funny shaped play dough pieces for flowers.
9. Marker on the rock a saying of their choice, something like “Build your house on the Lord,” or “The house on the rock stood firm.”