Memory verse crafts: Oak tree theme

Several important events in the Bible involve oak trees. Oaks are first mentioned in Genesis 12. On Abraham's journey, he passes through Sh'khem to the oak of Moreh, where Adonai promises him that he will be given the land. After that, a search will turn up well over thirty references to oaks in scripture.  Autumn is the perfect time to include the study of oak trees in your Bible lessons. Use the following ideas to help you. Be sure to take a look at the pictures in the photo album for examples.

• First, do a search of oak references in scripture and decide on your focus. The oak theme fits quite nicely with Vayera, but Isaiah 61:3 and Psalm 29:9 are also beautiful memory verses for children.
• Use an O is for Oak coloring page to give little hands something to do while you talk about about your memory verse.
• Half the fun of studying oak trees during Autumn is collecting acorns. Go out with a bag or bucket and see how many you can find. Talk about how a huge oak tree comes from a tiny acorn. You might also consider planting an acorn to see if you can grow an oak tree. Don't forget to also collect some oak tree leaves.
• Try making a leaf rubbing and then write your memory verse over the rubbing in marker.
• Cut some oak leaves from construction paper and tape them to a cardboard tube to make a tree. Write your memory verse on the trunk. You can use a free, printable oak leaf template or draw your own. If you use the template, be sure to adjust the size to make the leaf smaller.
• Make a decorative oak tree craft by filling a jar with acorns and leaves. cover the lid of the jar in construction paper and write your memory verse on top. See the photo album for an example.
• An oak tree glitter jar is an interesting craft. Decorate the outside of a jar with construction paper oak leaves and cover the lid with acorns (a glue gun works best). Write your memory verse on the leaves. Fill the jar with water and then mix in one drop of blue food coloring to make it look like a clear Autumn sky. Next, put glitter in the water and shake. Optionally, adorn the jar with ribbon or pipe cleaners. See the photo album for examples.
• Make an oak tree study file. Do some texture rubbings directly on a file folder. On the inside of your folder, include oak tree items like a laminated oak leaf, pictures of your family collecting acorns, construction paper leaf cutouts with Bible verses that have to do with oak trees and coloring sheets.
• Use floral foam to create an oak tree wreath with leaves and acorns. Write your memory verse on a ribbon to decorate the wreath.

See the photo album and be sure to subscribe to these articles for more Bible activities.

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