The story of Jacob and Esau is one of the earliest stories of brothers in the Bible, and it holds so many lessons little ones can begin to understand. A trade made too quickly, a choice that didn’t go the way anyone hoped, and a God who kept His promises through all of it.
Crafts have a gentle way of helping a story like this settle in. Small hands stay busy while the words sink down deep.
So I gathered ten simple Jacob and Esau crafts here, the kind you can make with what’s already in your craft basket. Most use paper, glue, and a few odds and ends. None of them need to be perfect.
a little about the story of jacob and esau
Isaac and Rebekah had twin boys. Esau came first, red and covered in hair, and he grew up to love the outdoors as a hunter. Jacob was born holding his brother’s heel, and he was the quieter one, staying close to home among the tents.
One day Esau came in from the field so hungry that he traded his birthright, his place as the firstborn, to Jacob for a bowl of red stew. Later, when their father Isaac was old and could no longer see, Jacob covered his arms with goatskins to feel hairy like Esau and received the blessing meant for his brother.
Esau was hurt and angry, and Jacob had to leave home for many years. But the story doesn’t end there. In time, God brought the brothers back together, and Esau forgave Jacob. It’s a tender picture of God’s plan holding steady, even through our mistakes.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
simple supplies you’ll want on hand
Here’s what comes in handy:
- Paper plates
- Construction paper or cardstock
- Toilet paper and paper towel rolls
- Craft sticks
- Cotton balls and yarn
- Brown paper bags
- Glue, scissors, and crayons or markers
- A few odds and ends like pom-poms, buttons, and googly eyes
Half the fun is using what you already have. And if you’d rather start with something ready to go, there are a few free printables and crafts you can download and print.
10 jacob and esau crafts to teach important bible lessons
1. bowl of stew craft
A paper plate becomes a warm bowl of Esau’s red stew. Children fill it with torn red and orange paper, or a swirl of paint, for the meal that started it all. It’s a simple way to open up the moment Esau traded away something precious.
2. jacob and esau toilet paper roll puppets
Two cardboard tubes turn into the twin brothers, one with plenty of yarn or felt for Esau’s hair and one left smooth for Jacob. Little ones love standing them up to act out the story in their own words.
3. isaac’s tent craft
Folded construction paper makes the tent where Jacob stayed close to home. Children can lift the flap to peek inside, a nice way to picture the quiet, tucked-in life Jacob knew. If your little ones like working with cloth, a scrap of fabric makes a sweet tent door, much like these simple sewing projects for kids.
4. paper bag puppets
A pair of brown paper bags become Jacob and Esau, ready for a kitchen-table retelling. Add yarn hair, drawn faces, and little paper robes, then let the children give the brothers their voices.
5. hairy esau craft
This one is all about Esau’s most memorable feature. Children glue yarn, brown felt, or even cotton onto a paper Esau to make him good and hairy. It ties right into the moment Jacob wore goatskins to feel like his brother.
6. paper plate soup craft
Another take on that famous bowl of stew, this time with pom-poms, dried beans, or torn paper stirred into a paper plate pot. It’s a hands-on way to talk about how Esau gave up so much for one quick meal.
7. story wheel
A spinning paper wheel walks children through the story one scene at a time, from the bowl of stew to the blessing to the brothers making peace. Turning the wheel gives them a way to retell it again and again.
8. birthright for stew craft
This craft lays the trade out side by side, a rolled paper birthright scroll on one side and a bowl of stew on the other. Seeing the two together opens a gentle talk about choosing what really lasts.
9. popsicle stick jacob’s ladder
Craft sticks stack into the ladder from Jacob’s dream, the one that reached all the way to heaven. It’s a lovely reminder of God’s promise to stay with Jacob wherever he went.
10. “god has a plan for me” craft
A simple banner or card with the words “God has a plan for me” brings the whole story home. Children decorate it as a keepsake and a reminder that God was working through every part of Jacob’s life, and works through ours too.
talking about the heart of the story with little ones
You don’t need a perfect lesson plan, friend. A few simple words go a long way.
With the littlest ones, I keep it to the heart of it. God had a good plan for Jacob, even when things got tangled. With older children, we talk a little more about the trade and the trick, and about honesty, forgiveness, and how God can bring good even out of our mistakes.
If you’d like to keep the story going, the tale of the prodigal son is another story of brothers and a father’s love that pairs beautifully, and these creative prodigal son crafts fit right alongside. These easy Cain and Abel crafts, the Bible’s very first story of brothers, make a natural next lesson too.
more bible crafts your little ones will love
If this story leaves your children asking for more, there’s no shortage of them. A big collection of easy Jesus crafts keeps little hands busy through many Sundays.
For more Old Testament favorites, your family might love these Samson crafts for Sunday school, the gentle Ruth and Naomi crafts, or a set of John the Baptist crafts to carry the stories right into the New Testament.
pick one craft and start with a simple story time
Pick the one that catches your eye, read the story from Genesis together first, and let the craft follow. Even one quiet afternoon with paper and glue can plant a truth that stays with your children for years.
Which of these will you try first? I’d love to hear. Leave a comment below and let me know which craft your family is starting with.
sew and tell
If you make one of these crafts with your little ones, I’d love to see it. You’re always welcome to share a photo in the comments, or send yours in to me. I may feature it here on the site to encourage other families who are teaching these same stories at home. There’s something sweet about seeing what your hands have made together.
With love,
Betty
Get the FREE Noah’s Ark Craft
Don’t let your kids just hear about Noah—help them build the promise.
With this free Noah’s Ark craft, kids color the ark, the animals, and the sky, then spin the wheel to turn the stormy sky into a rainbow and pull the animals through the ark two by two. Genesis 9:13 is printed right on the ark.
frequently asked questions
what age are these Jacob and Esau crafts best for?
Most of these work well for toddlers through early elementary, somewhere around ages two to eight. Younger children may need a hand with cutting and gluing, while older ones can take the lead and add their own details.
how do I explain Jacob and Esau to young children?
Keep it simple and gentle. You can tell them that Esau traded something precious for a quick meal, and that God still had a good plan for the family. From there, you can talk about honesty, forgiveness, and trusting God.
what supplies do I need for these crafts?
Mostly things you likely already have: paper plates, construction paper, glue, scissors, crayons, cotton balls, yarn, and a few cardboard tubes or craft sticks. Nothing fancy is needed.
where can I find the story of Jacob and Esau in the Bible?
You’ll find it in Genesis, starting around chapter 25 and continuing through chapter 27, with Jacob’s dream of the ladder in chapter 28. The passages are short and lovely to read aloud before or after crafting.
are these crafts good for Sunday school or homeschool?
Yes, they work beautifully for both. They’re simple enough for a group setting and gentle enough for a quiet morning at home, and they pair naturally with reading the story straight from Genesis.
