There are twelve names that come up again and again at our kitchen table, and learning them all can feel like a tall order for little ones. Peter, Andrew, James, John — and then the small faces start to blur. So I did what I always do when something good needs to settle into our home. I pulled out the craft basket.
The twelve disciples were ordinary men — fishermen, a tax collector, everyday folks — that Jesus called to walk close beside him.
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — Matthew 4:19 When little hands give each one a face and a name, those twelve stop being a list to memorize and start to feel like real people.
These crafts are simple, low-supply, and made for small hands. They’re lovely for Sunday school, a slow homeschool morning, or a quiet afternoon at home. If you like keeping a little rhythm of faith and creativity going, you might also love our quick Bible verse crafts for a peaceful creative time.
why crafting the twelve disciples helps it stick
Children remember with their hands. A name read off a page floats away by lunchtime, but a name attached to a little popsicle-stick friend they painted themselves — that one tends to stay.
Crafting the twelve also slows the story down. As your little ones build each disciple, there’s room to wonder out loud together: who left their fishing nets, who counted coins before Jesus called him, who walked beside him all the way to the end.
If you’re building a whole collection of Bible story crafts, these sit beautifully alongside our Joseph Bible crafts that teach big lessons.
8 creative 12 disciples crafts kids can make and remember
Pick whichever one fits your day and the supplies already in your drawer. Each one gives the twelve a face, a name, and a place in the story.
1. 12 disciples popsicle stick puppets
Give each disciple his own popsicle stick puppet with a drawn or printed face and a little scrap of fabric for a robe. Twelve puppets means twelve names — and a whole cast your little ones can use to retell the stories in their own words.
2. jesus and the 12 disciples paper plate craft
Glue Jesus in the center of a paper plate, then circle him with twelve small disciple faces around the rim, like a gathering. It’s a simple, visual way to show the twelve following close beside him.
3. last supper craft
Set a long paper table and seat Jesus and the twelve around it, with tiny pieces of bread and little cups. It’s a gentle, hands-on way to picture that last meal together. If you’re walking your children through Holy Week, it pairs sweetly with our Easter story tomb craft they build themselves.
4. “jesus calls the disciples” boat craft
Build a little boat and tuck in the first fishermen Jesus called away from their nets. It brings that “fishers of men” verse right to life. For another by-the-water story your littles can build, reach for our Jonah and the whale coloring and sequencing activity.
5. jesus’ 12 disciples toilet paper roll craft
Turn saved toilet paper rolls into twelve standing little disciples with paper robes and a bit of yarn for hair. They’re sturdy enough to line up on a windowsill and play with again and again.
6. 12 disciples in boat paper plate craft
Fold a paper plate in half to make a little boat, then fill it with the twelve out on the water together. A simple craft that captures all those days they spent crossing the sea beside Jesus.
7. “who are the disciples?” spin the wheel
Make a two-layer paper wheel with a little window cut in the top layer that reveals one disciple and his name at a time. Give it a turn and a new face appears — a playful way to practice all twelve names without it feeling like practice.
8. 12 disciples spinner
Fasten a paper arrow to the center of a circle with the twelve names or faces around the edge. Give it a flick, see who it lands on, and let your little one share one thing they remember about him. Simple, and surprisingly hard to put down.
a few simple supplies to keep on hand
You don’t need anything fancy for these, sweet friend. Most of them come together with whatever is already tucked in your craft drawer.
- Popsicle sticks and a handful of paper plates
- Saved toilet paper rolls
- Cardstock or plain paper, crayons, and markers
- Glue, scissors, and a paper fastener or two for the spinners
- Yarn scraps and small fabric bits for robes and hair
If your craft basket leans on pipe cleaners as hard as mine does, they make wonderful little arms and beards for these disciples. Our bright and playful pipe cleaner crafts are a fun way to keep small hands busy while you prep.
gentle ways to talk about the disciples while you craft
Let the conversation lead and the craft follow along. While little hands are gluing, you can wonder together about who Jesus called and why — that he didn’t choose the most important or the most polished, just ordinary people willing to follow.
It’s a tender thread that runs through so many of the stories we tell our children — the same one in our simple Good Samaritan crafts that teach kindness and in our Good Shepherd sheep craft. Following Jesus, loving your neighbor, being gently cared for. It all belongs together.
pick one craft and meet the twelve today
You don’t need all eight, sweet friend. Choose the one craft that makes you smile, gather your little ones close, and let those twelve names take on faces while small hands stay busy. “He called his disciples and chose twelve of them.” — Luke 6:13
Start with just one today — that’s all it takes to plant something good.
I’d love to hear which craft your family reaches for first. Scroll down and leave me a comment below — tell me which one you’re trying, or which disciple your little one decided was their favorite. There’s nothing I love more than swapping stories across the kitchen table with you.
With love,
Betty
Get the FREE Printable Jonah and the Whale Printable Crafts
Don’t let your kids just hear Jonah’s story—help them step into it.
With these 2 free Jonah activities, children can explore the story in a fun, memorable, hands-on way. They’ll make an interactive pull-tab whale slider craft that reveals five scenes from Jonah’s journey, and follow along with an 8-page coloring storybook that shares the complete story—including God’s important lesson about mercy and compassion that’s so often missed.
frequently asked questions
what age are these 12 disciples crafts best for?
Most work beautifully for ages two through ten with a little adjusting. The paper plate and toilet paper roll crafts are gentle enough for the very littlest, while the spin-the-wheel and spinner give older children a fun way to learn all twelve names.
what’s the easiest disciples craft to start with?
The popsicle stick puppets are about as simple as it gets — a face, a scrap of fabric, and a stick. They come together quickly and still give your little ones a whole cast to play and retell the stories with.
how do i help my child remember all twelve disciples’ names?
Pairing a name with a face and a little action helps it stay. The spinner and spin-the-wheel crafts turn the names into a game, and saying them out loud together a few times a week — at breakfast, in the car, before bed — does more than any one sitting ever could.
can i use these for a sunday school class or co-op?
Yes, and they shine in a group. The popsicle stick puppets and paper plate crafts are especially good for a roomful of little ones, since every child ends up with something to hold, act out, and take home. Just prep your supplies ahead of time.
who were the twelve disciples?
The twelve Jesus chose were Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. You’ll find them listed in Matthew 10:2-4 — it’s worth opening your Bible and reading the names aloud together before you craft.
