Purpose

To give children a physical representation of the boy’s tiny lunch, helping them visualize how Jesus can take something small and multiply it.

Setup

1. Cut the paper plates in half. Each child will need two halves to make a “basket.”
2. Pre-cut (or have the children cut) 5 small oval shapes out of brown paper (the loaves) and 2 small fish shapes out of silver or gray paper.

Instructions

1. The Basket: Give each child two paper plate halves. Have them place the plates together so the bumpy bottoms are facing outward, creating a “pocket” inside.
2. The teacher should staple the rounded edges of the plates together to seal the pocket, leaving the straight top edge open. Let the children color their basket!
3. The Lunch: Give each child their 5 brown loaves and 2 silver fish.
4. Have them write the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 on the loaves.
5. The Miracle: Have them place their small lunch inside the paper plate basket.

Discussion While Crafting

• “How many loaves of bread did the boy have? How many fish?”
• “Was it enough to feed 5,000 people?” (No way!).
• “Did the boy hide his lunch, or did he share it with Jesus?” (He shared it!).
• “When you take this basket home, use it to tell your family the story of how Jesus multiplied a tiny lunch to feed thousands of people!”