Some of the sweetest moments in our home are the simple ones. A verse read at the kitchen table, little hands busy with something good.
This fruit of the Spirit tree craft is one of those simple things. It pairs a familiar Bible passage with a hands-on project, and it gives children something to hold while they learn about the good things God grows in us.
My own little ones are still small, so I put this together with the bigger kids in mind. Sunday school classes, homeschool mornings, and those family afternoons when you want something quiet and meaningful to do together. If that’s the season you’re in, sweet friend, I think you’ll love it.
a little about this craft
The whole craft is built around Galatians 5:22-23.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Children color a leafy tree, then fold a strip of paper into an accordion. Each panel holds one fruit of the Spirit, a matching piece of fruit, and a short verse. When it’s folded up, the strip tucks neatly behind the tree. When it opens, all nine fruits unfold one right after another.
It’s a small thing, but kids love the unfolding part. And it gives you a natural way to talk through each fruit one at a time, instead of all at once.
what you’ll need
There’s nothing fancy here, which is one of the reasons I like it. You probably have most of it already.
- The free printable (you’ll find it near the end of this post)
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Scissors
- A glue stick
- Cardstock or regular paper. Cardstock holds up better if little hands will be folding and unfolding it a lot.
how to make the fruit of the spirit tree
The steps are simple enough for a child to follow with a little help.
- Color the tree.
- Cut out the tree, then cut it in half. Cut out the full strip with the fruit and verses on it too.
- Fold the strip like an accordion, back and forth in a zig-zag. Each panel should show when you open it up.
- Glue the two tree halves to each end of the strip, right where it says “glue here.”
That’s it. When you’re done, the folded strip hides behind the tree, and the whole thing opens up to show every fruit. Folding the panels nice and crisp helps it close up tidy, so it’s easy to tuck into a Bible or a memory box afterward.
the nine fruits and their verses
Each panel pairs a fruit of the Spirit with a short verse. Here’s what’s on the strip:
- Love — John 3:16
- Joy — Psalm 32:11
- Peace — John 14:27
- Patience — Romans 12:12
- Kindness — Ephesians 4:32
- Goodness — Psalm 107:1
- Faithfulness — 2 Timothy 2:13
- Gentleness — Philippians 4:5
- Self-control — Proverbs 25:28
If you have a little more time, read each verse together as you unfold the panels. I’ve found that going slowly, one fruit at a time, helps the words actually sink in.
simple ways to use this craft
One of the nice things about this craft is how many places it fits.
- In Sunday school or children’s church, it’s an easy lesson that sends each child home with something to show their family.
- For VBS, it makes a good take-home craft for a week on the fruit of the Spirit.
- At home or in your homeschool, it slips right into a morning Bible time or a quiet afternoon.
- It’s a sweet one-on-one activity too. Sitting beside one child, talking through what kindness or patience looks like in real life, is its own kind of slow morning.
grab the FREE fruit of the sprit printable craft
The free printable is yours to download and print as many times as you need for your family, your classroom, or your co-op. Both the color and black-and-white versions are included, so you can pick whatever works for the children you’re with.
a gentle thought before you go
There’s something steadying about reminding our children, and ourselves, that these good things aren’t ours to manufacture. They grow in us as we walk with the Lord, the way fruit grows on a tree in its season.
A little paper craft won’t teach all of that on its own. But it opens the door to a good conversation, and sometimes that’s right where we need to start.
I hope it brings a gentle, happy hour to your home.
With love,
Betty
frequently asked questions
what age is this craft best for?
It works well for children around four and up who can manage scissors and folding with a little help. For younger ones, you can do the cutting yourself and let them color and glue. The color version is especially handy for toddlers, since there’s no coloring step to slow things down.
should I print it on cardstock or regular paper?
Either one works, friend. Regular printer paper is fine if you’re making a quick craft. Cardstock holds up better to all the folding and unfolding, so I’d reach for it if the children will be playing with their trees again and again.
what’s the difference between the two printable versions?
One version comes already colored, and the other is black and white for the children to color themselves. The colored one is great when you’re short on time or working with little ones. The black-and-white one gives older kids a chance to make it their own.
how long does it take to make?
Plan on about fifteen to twenty minutes if you’re coloring the tree first. With the color version it comes together faster, since you’re just cutting, folding, and gluing. It’s an easy one to finish in a single sitting.
can I use this for a Sunday school class or co-op group?
Yes, and it’s lovely for a group. The printable is yours to print as many times as you need for your class or co-op. It helps to cut out the strips ahead of time for the younger children so everyone can keep up.
how can we keep the finished craft?
Because it folds up small, it tucks right into a child’s Bible or a keepsake box. If you’d like it to last, you can laminate the pieces before assembling, though a plain paper one holds up just fine with gentle hands.
