Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags

If you also have a Passover seder tradition of giving kids plague bags during that section of the seder, these Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags might be a fun activity to try this year! This year I’ve been actively trying to incorporate a deeper consideration of the plagues themselves and the depth of their resulting suffering in our 10 plagues activities. I want the kids to learn the names of the plagues and be able to recite them during that part of the seder, but I also want them to consider how deep the suffering of the Egyptians were because of these plagues. This year’s Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags aim to engage our kids’ minds with thinking about what the plagues actually did and the affect they had on the Egyptians, as well as provide fun crafts they can work on throughout the week of Passover.

What You’ll Need

Plague Bag Labels and Discussion Questions printable
10 ziploc bags (sandwich size should be fine)
larger bag to hold all the smaller bags (recycled paper grocery bag would totally work!)
band-aids
binder and plastic inserts or envelopes and metal ring (see blood plague below)
recycled toilet paper roll
string
black paper
white paper
green paper
stapler
green paint
sponge
paint (color of your choice!)
paper for sponge painting
scissors
popsicle stick
recycled lid/cap
balloon
rice
black sharpie
baking soda
red food coloring
vinegar
pipette or dropper
foil
white paint
clothespin
pipe cleaners
googly eyes
glue
blindfold or dark fabric
rock

Putting It Together

Print out the Plague Bag Labels and Discussion Questions printable. I printed ours onto the 8×11 label paper I have. You can just print onto regular paper, then cut out each plague.

2. Affix the label or tape each plague label to a ziploc bag. I used sandwich size and that was big enough.

3. Prepare your 10 plagues bags (see below).

4. Put the 10 plague bags in a larger bag.

5. Give the bag to your child during the 10 plagues section of the seder.

6. Ask your child to find the bag corresponding to the plague as they are called out in order.

7. Have your child read (or read to your child) the discussion question on the bag label. Discuss with your child.

8. During the week of Passover, bring out the bags and do each craft or activity at a convenient time. Review the discussion questions on the labels as the child does the craft.

How to Make Each Plague Bag

Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags blood plague

For the blood plague craft we are making a band-aid book: put band-aids in the bag. It would be best if you have fun ones your child will find engaging, but any would work! @weneedmoreglitter has a tutorial of the cutest band-aid book. I don’t have the binder and special plastic inserts she uses so I am going to use envelopes and put them on a metal ring. You can add these to your bag but I am just leaving them out and will grab them when the kids choose to do this activity sometime after the seder.

For the frog craft we are making toilet paper frogs that are catching a fly: put a recycled toilet paper roll, string, black circle, white wings, and green frog arms and legs. You can draw your own or print out the ones I quickly drew up here. To make the craft check out what @earthartcreative did. You will need to grab a stapler and green paint when ready to do the actual craft.

Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags lice plague

For the lice craft we are making back scratchers: put a popsicle stick and whatever recycled lid or cap you have in the bag. To make the back scratcher, simply glue the lid or cap to the top of the popsicle stick. The kids can paint the stick too if they want.

Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags wild beast plague

For the wild beast plague we are making wild beast paw prints: cut out a paw print from a sponge and add to the bag. You will need to grab paint when your kiddos are ready to do the craft. They can sponge paint the paw prints on whatever paper they want.

Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags cattle disease plague

For the cattle disease we are making stress balls: pour some rice into the bag then add a balloon and sharpie. To make the craft, your child can pour the rice into the balloon. It’s tricky to do! A funnel can help but this activity is a great exercise in patience. Once you have enough rice in the balloon, tie it off. Then the kids can add black shapes with the sharpie to make it look like cow spots.

Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags boil plague

For the boil plague we are doing a fun science experiment! Make your boils by mixing baking soda and a couple drops of red food coloring. Add just a little water to make a paste. Form into balls then freeze for a few hours. Place these balls into the ziploc bag. Put some vinegar in a small container, or grab when ready to do the activity. I have small pipettes that I added to the bag too but you could wait and grab a dropper when the kids are ready to do the activity. For the actual activity, drop some vinegar onto the red “boils” and watch them fizz. This is a great way to talk about how gross and painful boils are–they erupt and pus comes out. Yes, super nasty but the point of the deeper conversations about the plagues is to emphasize how truly awful they were.

Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags hail plague

For the hail plague we are making foil hail balls: add a piece of foil to the bag, so easy! When it’s time for the craft, ask your child to scrunch the foil into a ball. They can then paint the foil ball white to resemble hail. They can then paint with their hail ball by dipping it into paint and using it like a stamp (or however they want) on a piece of paper. When done, they can let the hail ball dry then play with it. We love hail throwing games!

For the locust craft we are making clothespin locusts: add a clothespin, two pipe cleaners, and two googly eyes to the bag. To make the locust, paint the clothespin and pipe cleaners green. When dry, glue on googly eyes. Then cut a little bit off one of the pipe cleaners to make two antenna and glue to the clothespin. Wrap then bend the shorter pipe cleaner around the top third of the clothespin to make the front legs. Wrap then bend the longer pipe cleaner around the bottom third to make the back legs.

Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags darkness plague

For the darkness plague we are playing follow the leader, blind folded. Put a blindfold or a dark length of fabric in the bag. When it’s time to do the activity, blindfold the child and ask them to play follow the leader. Have them walk around, try to pick up objects, and do other actions (safely!) while they can’t see.

Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags death of the firstborn

For our death of the firstborn plague we are decorating rocks: put a rock in the bag. Your child can decorate the rock with sharpies or paint. It’s Jewish tradition to leave a rock on a grave. You can talk to your child about this tradition as they decorate the rock.

Finished & Loving It!

I am looking forward to incorporating these Think & Craft 10 Plague Bags into our Passover seder this year. I think the discussion questions will prompt thoughtful consideration and discussion among all of us. And I really look forward to having all these crafts already prepped for easy activities during the week of Passover!