7 Sweet and Simple Fishers of Men Crafts for Sunday School

Most little ones already know the feeling of wanting to help with whatever the grown-ups are doing. They want to carry the bucket, hold the hose, be handed a real job of their own. That eager little “let me do it too” is a sweet thing to lean on when you sit down to teach them how Jesus called his very first friends to follow him.

His invitation to them was short and warm, just a few words spoken by the water that ended up changing their whole lives.

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — Matthew 4:19

The story of the fishers of men is a gentle one to share, and it makes for some of the easiest crafts you can set out on a table. Most of these use things you probably already have, like a paper plate, a paper roll, a bit of yarn, or just a child’s own hand.

Whether you’re a Sunday school teacher planning a lesson, a parent at the kitchen table, a grandparent with the little ones over, or a homeschool mama working through the Gospels, these seven ideas are simple to set up and simple to clean up.

7 sweet and simple fishers of men crafts for kids

Here are seven fishers of men crafts to make together, sorted loosely from the easiest little-hand projects to the ones older children will enjoy. So pick one for a quiet afternoon, or work through a few as you tell the story across a couple of lessons.

1. Handprint fish

This first one is about as simple as a craft gets, using nothing but a child’s own hand for the body of the fish.

1. Start with one of the little one’s hands and paint the palm and fingers a bright, happy color.
2. Then press the hand down sideways onto a sheet of paper, so those spread fingers become the fish’s fanned-out tail.
3. Once it dries, round out the body and add a little eye with a marker.
4. Next, draw on a few scales, and maybe a bubble or two drifting up.
5. Finally, write a short line underneath, something like “Jesus made me a fisher of men.”

A handprint fish is perfect for the littlest hands in the room, and it makes a keepsake worth holding onto. For more ways to turn a small hand into art, our handprint crafts for kids has plenty to reach for.

2. Footprint “follow me” craft

This one trades little hands for little feet, turning a footprint into a trail of steps that follow after Jesus.

1. Start by painting the bottom of a child’s foot and pressing it onto paper to make one little footprint.
2. Then make a second footprint just ahead of the first, so it looks like a step being taken.
3. From there, add a few more paper footprints walking their way across the page.
4. Next, write “I will follow you” along the little trail.
5. Keep a damp towel close by the whole time for quick, clean feet.

It’s a sweet way to show what following Jesus actually looks like, one small step after another. A bit of mess is part of it, and that’s alright.

3. Paper plate fishing boat

A folded paper plate makes a sturdy little fishing boat, just right for acting the story out once the gluing is done.

1. Start with a paper plate folded in half for the boat, and color it brown like a little wooden hull.
2. Then cut a triangle sail from paper and tape it to a craft stick or a straw for the mast.
3. Next, stand the mast up inside the fold of the plate so it holds steady.
4. Set a couple of paper disciples down inside the boat to sail along.
5. Finally, glue a few small paper fish around the bottom, like the catch coming in over the side.

A paper plate boat comes together fast and gives the children something to play with afterward. If your craft drawer runs on paper plates the way mine does, our easy paper plate crafts for kids has more to try.

4. Fishing pole craft

This craft is all about making the pole itself, a simple fishing rod with one little fish on the line.

1. Start by giving each child a wooden dowel, a sturdy stick, or a tightly rolled paper tube for the pole.
2. Then tie a length of string or yarn to one end.
3. Next, cut out a single paper fish and write a word on it, like a name or “come, follow me.”
4. Tie or tape that fish to the very end of the line.
5. Finally, hold the pole up high and let them practice casting.

One pole with one little fish is enough to make the point, and it keeps even the wiggliest ones busy. It makes a lovely quiet-time craft too, since there’s no rush to it and not much to spill.

5. Fishing rod and fish game

Here the pole idea becomes a game the whole group can play, catching a whole school of paper fish.

1. Start by making a rod with a dowel, a string, and a small magnet tied to the end.
2. Then cut out a whole school of paper fish and slide a metal paperclip onto each one.
3. Next, scatter the fish across a blue sheet or an old towel for the “water.”
4. Let the children take turns lowering the magnet to catch a fish.
5. Finally, count up how many each one brings in.

This is the one older kids will ask to play again and again, and it works for a big Sunday school class just as well as it does for two children at home. Writing a different name on each fish turns the catch into a gentle reminder that Jesus sends us out to care about people.

6. Yarn fishing net

A few lengths of yarn make a simple fishing net, with little paper fish caught in the strands.

1. Start by cutting several lengths of yarn or string.
2. Then lay them across a sheet of paper in a crisscross pattern, like netting.
3. Next, dab a little glue where the strands cross so the net holds together.
4. Tuck a few small paper fish behind the strands, so they look caught.
5. Finally, add a little boat or a short verse along the bottom.

Weaving and gluing the net is good, patient work for slightly bigger hands, and it’s forgiving if the lines land a little crooked. For more simple ways to craft with string and wool, take a look at our cozy yarn craft ideas.

7. Toilet paper roll fisherman

An empty paper roll stands up into a little fisherman the children can keep on the shelf.

1. Start with an empty toilet paper roll, and wrap it in paper or color it for the fisherman’s robe.
2. Then cut a small circle for the head and draw on a friendly face.
3. Next, glue the head to the top of the tube and add a little paper hat.
4. Add a thin strip of paper on each side for his arms.
5. Finally, give him a tiny fishing pole made from a toothpick and thread, with a small paper fish on the line.

A paper roll fisherman stands up on his own, which the little ones love, and he’s a keeper once the lesson is done. If you save your tubes the way I do, our fun toilet paper roll crafts for kids will give those empties plenty to do.

the story behind these crafts

One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee when he saw two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, casting a net into the water. They were fishermen, and it was the only trade they knew. He looked at them and said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Right then, they left their nets and went with him.

A little farther along he called two more brothers, James and John, and they followed too. These plain, hardworking men became some of his closest friends. It’s a story about Jesus choosing the ordinary and giving them something new to do, and it sits beside the rest of the Gospels, like our other jesus crafts and a set of 12 disciples crafts for the lessons that come next.

simple supplies to keep on hand

Most of these crafts lean on the same short list, so you won’t need much. Construction paper and cardstock do the heavy lifting, along with crayons or markers, safety scissors, and a good glue stick. A bit of washable paint takes care of the handprint fish and the footprints.

From there, it’s little extras you likely already have. A ball of yarn or string for the net, a couple of craft sticks or dowels for the poles, an empty paper roll for the fisherman, and one small magnet for the fishing game. A box of paper clips turns any paper fish into something the magnet can catch.

Most of it is probably already sitting in your craft drawer, and anything missing is easy to swap for something similar. The story matters far more than getting the supply list exactly right.

tips for crafting with little ones

Do a bit of prep before you gather the children. Cut the fish shapes ahead of time for the youngest hands, and pour the paint into shallow dishes so little fingers can reach it without a spill.

Then let the story lead. Tell it slowly as their hands work. The point isn’t a perfect fish or a tidy net. It’s the time together and the truth settling in while they craft, and a crooked handprint is part of the charm.

As you work, say the verse out loud and let them repeat it back to you. Pairing a craft with a short, memorable line is one of the best ways to help it stick, which is why our simple bible verse crafts are such a help on a busy Sunday.

let the story settle in as they craft

So pick the one that fits your supplies and the ages around your table. You don’t need to do all seven. Just one good idea and a little paint is plenty for the truth to find its way in.

Let the little ones make something with their hands while you tell them how Jesus called ordinary fishermen to follow him. That bit of truth tends to stay with them far longer than the craft itself. They may not remember every step, but they’ll remember that Jesus wanted them.

And one more thing before you go. If you and your little ones make any of these, I’d love to see how they turned out. Leave a photo in the comments when you get a chance, or send one our way, and yours might be featured right here on the site to encourage other families teaching this story at home. There’s no pressure at all. Just a friendly little invitation to share if you’d like.

So glad you’re here.

Warmly,
Betty

frequently asked questions

what age are fishers of men crafts best for?

Most of these work well from about age two up through early elementary. The handprint fish and the footprint craft are lovely for toddlers, while the fishing game and the yarn net are a better fit for older children who can manage the smaller pieces.

what is the main lesson of the fishers of men story?

That Jesus calls ordinary people to follow him and to share his love with others. The disciples were simple fishermen, and he gave them a new kind of fishing, bringing people to God.

which bible verse goes with these crafts?

Matthew 4:19, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” It’s short and easy for little ones to memorize while they craft.

what can I use instead of a magnet for the fishing game?

If you don’t have a magnet, tie a loop of pipe cleaner or a little bent paper hook to the string, and add a matching paper loop to each fish. It catches just as well and keeps the game going.

how long do these crafts take?

Most take about fifteen to twenty minutes. The handprint and footprint crafts are quick, while the fishing pole, the net, and the paper roll fisherman take a little longer once you add the details.