Inside God’s wonderfully designed tabernacle, God also designed the ark of the covenant for the Most Holy Place, and special furniture for the Holy Place and for the outer courtyard.
Each piece of tabernacle furniture taught the Israelites how to worship God and also pointed forward to the coming of Jesus.
As our children learn the significance of each piece of tabernacle furniture, they will grow in understanding of who God is, why we need a Savior, God’s plan for salvation, and how we are to worship our great God.
The Ark of the Covenant with Tabernacle Furniture
The story of the tabernacle is found in Exodus chapters 25-40, the book of Leviticus, Hebrews 8-10, and parts of the Gospel of John. That can be a lot of Scripture for your kids to read and synthesize, so I’ve created a resource to help.
Your kids can read all about the story of the construction of the tabernacle, and learn about the biblical feasts, in my narrative nonfiction from Christian Focus Publications, What Was the Tabernacle?. The book is a fun way for your kids to learn about each aspect of the tabernacle and about what God’s Word has to say about how the tabernacle relates to salvation and how we worship the Lord.
And, as your kids read about God’s tabernacle, this fun craft will allow your kids to make the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle furniture. Hands-on learning is a great way for children to remember what they’ve learned.
What Was the Tabernacle?
God gave the Israelites the tabernacle as a place to worship him, but also as a wonderful picture that points to Jesus.
Although God had rescued his people out of slavery in Egypt, they rebelled against him and worshiped other gods. So God gave Moses rules to teach his people how to love God and each other. He also gave him instructions for how to build a moveable temple for the Lord. This tent provided a way for the Israelites to serve and worship God his way, in reverence and awe. But the tabernacle was also full of symbols that pointed to Jesus – when God became a man and lived amongst his people.
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God often gives us word pictures and stories to help us better understand heavenly truths. The tabernacle is a type, also called a figure or shadow, of heavenly truths. It points to Jesus and to God’s plan for salvation. Hebrews 10:1 tells us the law is just a shadow of reality.
What Was the Tabernacle?, Danika Cooley (Christian Focus Publications, 2021), page 21
Tabernacle Model for Kids
You can help your kids commemorate what they’re learning about biblical history in a hands-on way! Check out this fun video of the ark of the covenant craft!
Ark of the Covenant Model Supplies
You’ll need a few supplies to make your tabernacle model:
- Cardstock (colored and white)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- Printable Templates with Instructions
- Don’t forget this fun book that will teach your kids about God’s Tabernacle: What Was the Tabernacle?
Old Testament Tabernacle Model | Instructions
Your child’s representation of the tabernacle is a great way to help them consider what they learn as they read What Was the Tabernacle? from the Who What Why series!
1) Print your templates.
Print the template page from the step-by-step instructions on cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Trace the templates onto bronze cardstock for the outer courtyard altar and basin. Use yellow and gold for the High Place and Most High Place furniture.
2) Assemble Your Outer Courtyard Altar and Basin.
Use a bronze, burgandy, or dark brown pieces to decorate the altar and basin pieces, as shown. Fold the altar along the lines on the template.
For the altar, roll the small 1/4 circles into cones and glue them. Then, cut two long strips of paper. Roll them at an angle, gluing the edges as you roll, to create two long poles. Glue the thin edge to the inside of the adjoining side. Continue until all four sides are glued together into a box.
Cut slits into each horn, and glue a horn over each corner of the altar. Glue one pole to either side of the altar.
For the basin, roll the small rectangular pieces into swirls. Then, glue the larger rectangle into a roll. Glue the base and basin into angled cylinders, as shown. 
Glue the smaller circular support to the top of the base (the smaller end of the circle). Then, glue the larger circular support to the bottom of the basin.
Glue the roll to the support on top of the base. Glue a swirled piece to each side of the basin.
Glue the bottom of the basin to the top of the support roll.
3) Assemble your Holy Place Lampstand, Table of the Bread of the Presence, and Altar of Incense.
Use an orange or dark yellow permanent marker to decorate the pieces of your lampstand.
Roll the long, thin strip and glue the end, then glue the circular support on top of the round base. Fold the bottom of the center of the lampstand, then glue it to the base. Glue all three semi-circles to the front of the center of the lampstand, in order from the largest semi-circle upward to the smallest semi-circle. Cut a small flame, and glue it behind each arm of the lampstand.
For the altar of incense, use permanent markers to decorate the altar sides, the top, and the horns, as shown. Fold the altar along the lines shown on the template.
Glue the thin edge to the inside of the adjoining side. Continue until all four sides are glued together into a box. Fold the top strip, along the lines shown on the template. Then, fold the horns in half. Roll the small strips into loops and glue the end.
Glue the top strip inside the altar.
Glue two loops on each side. Cut two long strips of paper. Roll them at an angle, gluing the edges as you roll, to create two long poles.
Slide one pole through the loops on each side.
For the table of the bread of the presence, use a permanent marker to decorate the sides of the table and table legs, as shown. Fold the table according to the lines on the template.
Cut two long strips of paper. Roll them at an angle, gluing the edges as you roll, to create two long poles. Fold the table legs in half. Glue the tabs to the inside of the adjoining side.
Glue a table leg inside each corner of the table.
Glue a pole to each long side of the table. Glue the bread to the top of the table.
4) Assemble your Ark of the Covenant.
Fold the bottom and top of the ark along the lines of the template, as shown.
Glue the wing on the outside of each cherubim.
Fold each side of the bottom of the ark up, and glue the tabs to the inside of the adjoining side. Repeat this with the lid of the ark.
Glue the decorative border and circle to the front side of the bottom of the ark.
Cut four equal length rectangles, just a bit longer than the height of the ark. Glue a rectangular support on the inside of each side of the bottom of the ark.
Cut two small rectangular strips and fold a small tab at the end of each one.
Glue the long side of each strip to a cherubim.
Glue a cherubim to either side of the top of the ark.
Glue the strip to create a golden jar. Then, glue green leaves behind Aaron’s staff.
Use permanent markers to decorate the outside of the ark, and the stone tablets of the law.
Display your craft as you read What Was the Tabernacle? as a reminder that God taught us how to worship him, and that he had a plan for salvation that pointed to Jesus from the very beginning!
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Exodus Lapbooks here.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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