The story of Ruth and Naomi is one of the gentlest in all of scripture. Two women who had lost so much, choosing to stay together and trust God to provide. It is a tender story of loyalty and kindness, and it gives little ones a lot to hold onto.
Crafts are a simple way to help that story settle in. While little hands stay busy with glue and paper, the words have room to sink in. Whether you are a Sunday school teacher with a roomful of children, a homeschool mama, or a grandparent with the little ones over for the afternoon, these ten ideas are easy to set up and easy to clean up.
“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” — Ruth 1:16
10 easy Ruth and Naomi crafts for Sunday school
Here are ten simple crafts to walk children through the story, from Ruth’s promise to stay, to gleaning in the fields, to the kindness that held the two women together. Pick one or work through several over a few weeks.
1. “Where you go I will go” verse craft
Children write or trace Ruth’s words from Ruth 1:16 onto a strip of paper or a small banner, then decorate it with colored pencils. It is a gentle way to help them hold onto the verse where Ruth promises to stay with Naomi. If you like building a craft around a single verse, our quick Bible verse crafts have more ideas to lean on.
2. Paper plate gleaning wheat basket
Cut a paper plate into a basket shape and let the little ones fill it with strips of yellow paper or a few real wheat stalks. It ties right into the part of the story where Ruth gathers grain in Boaz’s field to provide for herself and Naomi.
3. Heart wheat craft
Children glue wheat shapes or thin strips of yellow paper inside the outline of a heart. It makes a simple picture of how kindness and loyalty grew between Ruth and Naomi, and it looks sweet taped to a window.
4. Ruth and Naomi toilet paper roll puppets
Turn two empty toilet paper rolls into Ruth and Naomi with scraps of fabric, yarn, and paper faces. Once they are made, the children can act out the story and tell it back to you in their own words.
5. Popsicle stick wheat basket
Glue popsicle sticks into a small basket shape and tuck paper wheat inside. This one suits older children who like building something sturdy with their hands. If your group enjoys that kind of project, these simple sewing projects for kids give them more to make.
6. Story sequencing craft
Give children a few simple pictures from the story and let them put them in order, from leaving Moab to gleaning in the field to the kindness of Boaz. Lining the pictures up helps the story settle in their minds, one step at a time.
7. Friendship bracelet
Ruth and Naomi’s bond is a lovely picture of loyal friendship, and a simple beaded or knotted bracelet helps little ones remember it. Have them make one to keep and one to give away to a friend.
8. Handprint wheat
Press a painted hand onto paper, then add a few lines for the stalk to turn it into a piece of wheat. Little hands love this one, and it makes a keepsake worth hanging on the wall at home.
9. Story flip book
Fold a few pages together and let children draw one part of the story on each page. Flipping through it later gives them a simple way to retell what they learned, at church or at the kitchen table.
10. Paper plate embrace
Cut and fold a paper plate so two paper figures of Ruth and Naomi can hug. It is a tender picture of the moment Ruth chose to stay, and it gives children something to point to when they retell that part.
the story behind these crafts
It helps to tell the story plainly before the crafts come out. Naomi had lost her husband and both of her sons, and she decided to return home to Bethlehem. She told her daughters-in-law to go back to their own families, but Ruth would not leave her.
Ruth went with Naomi and gathered leftover grain in the fields to feed them both. A kind man named Boaz noticed her and looked after her, and in time Ruth and Boaz married. God provided for these two faithful women in a quiet, steady way, and their story became part of the line that led to Jesus.
If your little ones enjoy stories like this one, you might also like our Prodigal Son craft ideas for another tender picture of love and coming home. For more from the Old Testament, the Samson crafts for Sunday school and these Cain and Abel crafts are simple to set up too.
simple supplies to keep on hand
You do not need much for these. Most of it is probably already in your craft drawer.
- Paper plates
- Popsicle sticks
- Glue and child-safe scissors
- Yellow and brown paper, or a few real wheat stalks
- Washable paint and markers
- Fabric scraps and a bit of yarn
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Beads and string for the bracelet
tips for crafting with a roomful of little ones
A little prep ahead of time goes a long way. Cut out the trickier shapes before class so the children can get right to the gluing and coloring. It keeps the wiggly ones from waiting too long.
Keep the craft simple and let the conversation do the real work. The point is not a perfect basket. It is the chance to talk about staying faithful and being kind while their hands are busy. Things will get a little messy, and that is alright.
If you teach often and need a few more ideas in your back pocket, these John the Baptist crafts are another easy one to keep on hand for the weeks ahead.
pick one craft and try it this week
Pick the one that fits your supplies and the ages around your table, set it out, and let the little ones make something while you tell them about Ruth and Naomi. That bit of truth tends to stay with them longer than the craft itself.
When you are ready for more, our easy Jesus crafts and these 12 disciples crafts are simple next steps for your Sunday school table. I would love to hear which one you tried, so leave a comment down below and tell me how it went.
And one more thing before you go. If you make any of these crafts with your little ones, I would love to see them. Send in your pictures or share them in the comments, and your craft may be featured here on the website to encourage and inspire other families making things at their own kitchen tables. So glad you are here.
Warmly,
Betty
FREE Fruit of the Spirit Playdough Tree and Card
If your kids learn best by doing, you’re going to love this simple activity. It turns the Fruit of the Spirit into something they can touch and create.
This free Fruit of the Spirit Playdough Tree and Card gives you two activities in one—a playdough mat (laminate once, use forever) plus 9 individual fruit cards.
Both feature all nine fruits from Galatians 5:22-23, helping kids learn about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control through hands-on fun.
frequently asked questions
what age are Ruth and Naomi crafts best for?
Most of these work well for toddlers through early elementary. The handprint wheat and paper plate crafts suit the littlest ones, while the popsicle stick basket and friendship bracelet are a better fit for older children.
what is the main lesson of the story of Ruth and Naomi?
The story shows loyal love and kindness, and how God provides for those who trust him. Ruth stayed with Naomi when she could have left, and God cared for them both in a quiet, faithful way.
which Bible verse goes well with these crafts?
Ruth 1:16 is the natural one, where Ruth tells Naomi she will go wherever she goes. It is short enough for little ones to learn and pairs nicely with the verse craft.
do I need real wheat for the wheat crafts?
Not at all. Real wheat stalks are a nice touch if you have them, but strips of yellow paper work just as well and are easier to keep on hand.
how long do these crafts take?
Most take about fifteen to twenty minutes once your supplies are out. If you prep the cutting ahead of time, the children can finish even quicker and have more time to talk through the story.
