Bring the story of Jesus calming the storm to life with a simple hands-on Bible storytelling activity.
In this Build a Bible Story video, we create the scene together while telling the story of Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. Once the story is finished, the children take over the play and begin exploring and retelling parts of the story themselves.
Watch: Jesus Calms the Storm
Jesus Calms the Storm is found in Mark 4:35–41.
Build the Story With Us
You don’t need an elaborate setup to recreate this activity.
For our story scene we used simple play materials to represent the sea, boats, land and characters.
You could use:
- Storytelling Peg People for Jesus and the disciples
- A toy boat, or make out out of cardboard or egg cartons
- Blue sensory rice for the Sea of Galilee
- Stones or pebbles
- Trees, greenery or other small-world props
- A shallow tray or sensory table
As you build the scene, tell the Bible story at the same time. Then move the characters and boat as the story unfolds.Children can help add pieces, move the characters and create the storm.
Let the Children Retell the Story
One of the simplest ways to extend the activity is to leave the scene set up after you finish telling the story.
Once the story is finished, let the children play. They may naturally begin repeating parts of the story, moving the characters through the scene and recreating what happened.
Try asking:
- What happened when Jesus and the disciples were in the boat?
- Why were the disciples afraid?
- What did Jesus do?
- What happened to the storm?
- Can you show me the story?
There is no need to turn this into another formal lesson. Give children time to explore the story through their own play.
Make Your Own Bible Story Scene
Want to create a similar setup?
Our other resources can help:
How to Dye Rice for Sensory Play
Learn how to make coloured rice that can be stored and reused for Bible story scenes.
How to Create a Bible Sensory Bin: 10 Easy Bible Story Ideas
Find more simple Bible stories that work well for hands-on sensory play.
How to Use Storytelling Peg People to Bring Bible Stories to Life
Discover more ways to use Storytelling Peg People for storytelling, retelling and independent play.
Read It. Build It. Play It.
Bible storytelling doesn’t need to be complicated.
Read or tell the story, build a simple scene together, and then give children the opportunity to explore it for themselves.
Sometimes the best part happens after the storytelling is finished, when children begin making the story their own through play.
