There is a certain wide-eyed wonder little ones get when you tell them about Samson. A man so strong he could not be held by ropes, with all that strength tucked away in his hair. My own children ask for his story again and again, usually right when they should be settling down for a nap.
Crafts are one of the simplest ways I have found to help a story stay with them. Their little hands stay busy, and somehow the lesson sinks in deeper than it does when we only read the words.
If you teach Sunday school, or you are just looking for something to do at the kitchen table this week, here are ten simple Samson crafts to try!
the story of samson, simply told
Samson was set apart by God before he was even born. His strength was a gift, tied to a promise that his hair would never be cut. You can find his story in the book of Judges, chapters 13 through 16.
For little ones, the heart of it is simple. Samson’s strength came from God, not from himself. That is a gentle truth worth coming back to, and these crafts give you a natural way to talk about it.
The Lord is my strength and my shield. — Psalm 28:7
If you like pairing a craft with a verse, you might enjoy these Bible verse crafts too. They fit nicely alongside a Samson lesson.
10 best samson crafts for sunday school
Here are the ten crafts, from the very simplest to a few that older children can manage on their own. Pick whichever fits the little ones in front of you.
1. samson yarn hair
This one leans right into the best part of the story. Children glue lengths of brown or black yarn onto a simple paper face to give Samson his long, strong hair. It is a good way to talk about why his hair mattered. If you keep a basket of leftover yarn like I do, here are more yarn craft ideas to help you use it up.
2. samson pushing the pillars
Using two cardboard tubes or rolled paper as pillars, children make a little Samson figure with his arms stretched between them. It brings the final scene of his story to life and gives them something to act out.
3. Samson paper bag puppet
A plain paper lunch bag becomes Samson, with yarn hair and a simple drawn-on face. Little ones can make him talk and retell the story in their own words, which helps it stick.
4. samson and the lion paper plate craft
One paper plate folds into a lion’s face with a paper mane around it. This one covers the part of the story where Samson meets the lion, and children always love a craft with a roar.
5. samson story wheel
Two paper circles fastened in the center with a brad turn to reveal different scenes from Samson’s life. It is a nice quiet craft for older children who can follow the story in order. If your class enjoys this style, the Zacchaeus craft ideas use a similar hands-on approach.
6. samson’s growing hair cup
A paper cup, a little soil, and some grass seed make hair that truly grows over the week. It is a sweet way to remember Samson, and children love checking on it each day.
7. samson breaks the ropes craft
Children wrap yarn or paper strips loosely around a Samson figure, then break them to show his God-given strength. It is simple, and very satisfying for small hands.
8. samson and Delilah stick puppets
Two craft sticks become Samson and Delilah for retelling the story. This one opens the door to gently talking about choices and trust, in a way little ones can follow.
9. samson’s strength dumbbell craft
Two small paper or foam balls on either end of a cardboard tube make a little dumbbell. It is a playful way to talk about where real strength comes from.
10. toilet paper roll Samson
An empty toilet paper roll becomes a standing Samson figure with paper arms and yarn hair. It is about as low-cost as a craft can be, and it stands up on a shelf when it is done.
simple supplies to keep on hand
Most of these crafts use the same handful of things, so it is easy to keep a little basket ready. Yarn, paper plates, paper bags, cardboard tubes, glue, and crayons will cover nearly all of them. A few brads and craft sticks round it out.
I keep ours in a low cupboard the children can reach, which saves me from digging around mid-craft with a baby on my hip. If you teach a class, a shared supply box passed around the table works well too.
For more open-ended afternoons, this larger collection of Jesus crafts is full of ideas that use these same basics.
helping the lesson stick
You do not need to say much for these crafts to do their work. A simple sentence while they glue, something like Samson’s strength came from God, is often enough.
I like to read the story first, then bring out the craft, then read it once more while their hands are busy. Hearing it twice, with something to hold, helps it settle in. The same gentle rhythm works for other Bible stories, like these Cain and Abel crafts or these prodigal son crafts if you are building a season of lessons.
pick one craft and start this sunday
You do not have to do all ten. Choose the one that fits the children in front of you and the supplies already in your basket, and start there. The yarn hair craft is a gentle first one if you are not sure where to begin.
Whatever you choose, the goal is simple. A little time together, a good story, and a small reminder that our strength comes from God. If you are building out a whole season of lessons, these John the Baptist crafts make a nice companion set.
And if your little ones make something from this list, I would love to see it. You are always welcome to send in a picture or share your creation in the comments. I sometimes feature reader crafts here on the site, and there is something so encouraging about seeing what another family made at their own kitchen table. It reminds the rest of us that these simple, handmade moments are worth the time.
So glad you are here,
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 these samson crafts best for?
Most work well for ages three to ten with a little help. Younger children will need an adult for cutting and gluing, while older ones can handle the story wheel and stick puppets on their own.
how do i explain samson’s story to young children?
Keep it simple. Samson was very strong because God made him that way, and his story reminds us that our strength comes from God. You can save the harder parts for when they are older.
what supplies do i need for samson sunday school crafts?
Yarn, paper plates, paper bags, cardboard tubes, glue, and crayons cover almost all of them. A few brads and craft sticks are helpful for the story wheel and the puppets.
can i use these crafts at home and not just in sunday school?
Yes, these work just as well at the kitchen table as in a classroom. They are a gentle way to bring a Bible story into an ordinary afternoon at home.
which samson craft is easiest for a large class?
The paper bag puppet and the yarn hair craft are the simplest for a group. They use few supplies and need little setup, so they are easy to pass around a busy table. If you often work with a full room, these 12 disciples crafts are built for groups too.
