Fully Rely on God (F.R.O.G.) is a term for a series of Christian child activities that are based on the image of a frog as a visual reminder to place full trust in God. The mnemonic is derived from the passage in Proverbs 3:5-6 that is the core of most F.R.O.G. curriculum – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” The fourteen crafts in this guide can be used in Sunday school classrooms, Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs, home devotionals, and Christian school art lessons and range in difficulty from toddler to upper elementary.
Key Takeaways
- F.R.O.G. is a Christian mnemonic, an acronym that is used in Sunday school, VBS, children’s ministry and home faith education to teach children to trust God.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 is the foundation scripture for F.R.O.G. crafts: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
- This guide contains 14 craft ideas, from easy toddler crafts such as googly-eye rock frogs to art projects that can be done as a series of crafts such as the FROG painting based on Jennifer Randazzo’s picture book.
- One of the most popular printable crafts for this theme is the F.R.O.G. flip card from SundaySchoolNetwork.com, which lets the kids color, cut and assemble a jumping frog that helps them remember the acronym.
- Bible2School’s FROG craft is a 5-page downloadable resource of instructions and guided conversation for the classroom.
- The crafts in this guide can be used in preschool through grade 6, and have difficulty ratings for each craft.
- All crafts relate to the Bible lesson on trust, and the frog is a memorable visual reminder of trusting in God.
What Is F.R.O.G.? The meaning of the acronym
F.R.O.G. is a Christian acronym which means Fully Rely On God. iTeachChurch says that each letter in F.R.O.G. represents the words Fully Rely On God, and when kids encounter new situations in their lives, they always have someone they can rely on – Jesus. Children are encouraged to trust God in their thoughts, words and actions and to know what it means to acknowledge Him in their ways through the curriculum.
The acronym has been around for many years, and is found in Vacation Bible School programs, Sunday school lesson series, home schooling programs, and Catholic children’s education. It is suitable for young children as frogs are visually appealing, easily recognised and can be made as crafts.
According to Bible2School, by teaching children to fully rely on God, they will have the strength and courage when facing life’s many challenges, knowing that He is always with them. The FROG craft is a visual reminder that goes home with the child to reinforce the message outside of the classroom session.
The Scripture Foundation
The main scripture that is used throughout F.R.O.G. crafts is:The main scripture for F.R.O.G. crafts is:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
These are some of the supporting scriptures that are often used with F.R.O.G. crafts:
- 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your cares upon Him; for He careth for you.
- Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
- John 16:33: “In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Matthew 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Create 1: FROG Flip Card (Printable)
This is a SundaySchoolNetwork.com resource for Ages 5-10 (kindergarten through Grade 4) and will take 20-30 minutes to complete.
Children colour, cut out and put together the F.R.O.G. flip card pattern, then flip it back and forth to get the frog jumping, SundaySchoolNetwork.com says. This craft can be downloaded and printed for use in one classroom or in the home.
Materials: Printed F.R.O.G. flip card template, scissors, crayons/markers, tape or glue.
Method: Print out the template and let children colour the frog green and other colours of their choice. Cut and fold the card according to the instructions to make it jump when turned over and over. The acronym F.R.O.G. is embedded in the card as a learning element.
Skill focus: Scissor control, following multi-step assembly instructions, reading the acronym.
Teaching moment: Talk with children about what each letter is as they are making the jumping frog. Have children share what they trust God with in their lives.
Create 2: Paint a FROG Rock
Activity Time: 30-45 minutes plus drying time. Ages: 4-12 (adaptable for all ages).
Have kids paint the whole rock using washable green paint, according to Danielle’s Place. Have some of the rocks painted ahead of time for the smaller ones or children that do not want to paint. Once the paint has dried have the children stick on giant wiggle eyes. Glue the eyes on so that they stick up above the top of the rock. Mouth with a small piece of red chenille stem. Take fun foam and cut out webbed feet, and write the memory verse on the bottom of the feet.
Materials: Round river rocks or smooth stones, washable green paint, large googly eyes, red chenille stem, green fun foam for feet, glue.
Method: Paint the rock green and allow to dry. Glue large googly eyes on top of the rock. Glue a small red chenille stem in the shape of a mouth. Cut out green foam frog feet and write memory verse (Proverbs 3:5-6) on the bottom. Attach the glue feet to the bottom of the rock.
Skill focus: Painting on a 3-D surface, assembling, fine motor gluing.
Teaching moment: Read Proverbs 3:5-6 as a group and discuss what it means to trust in God instead of just our own understanding, as we write the verse on the feet.
Craft 3: Bible2School FROG Craft (Free Download)
Level: Preschool to Grade 6 Time: 20-30 minutes
This is a very easy and fun craft that Bible2School says can be used as a visual reminder for kids to Fully Rely On God. This 5 page downloadable resource contains instructions and a guided conversation example and is one of the most teacher-ready of all the resources.
Materials: Frog template to print, scissors, crayons/ markers, glue.
How to access: Bible2school.com resource: Frog Craft (free download)
Skill focus: colouring within a set shape, cutting along the printed lines, following a guided conversation.
Teaching moment: A guided conversation example is provided in the resource, with questions for the teacher and parent to ask as children work, and to tie the physical craft to the spiritual lesson.
Craft 4: Paper Cup Frog
Source: DLTK Bible, Danielle’s Place, Pinterest Ages: 3 to 7 (preschool to Grade 2) Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Pinterest’s fully relying on God craft collection says that a paper cup frog requires a paper cup that is painted green, feet to glue to the bottom, 2 googly eyes and a red tongue cut from felt or paper.
Materials: Paper cup, green paint, green construction paper for feet, red felt/paper for tongue, googly eyes, glue.
Method: Painted paper cup.The Method: Paint the paper cup green and let it dry. Cut webbed feet out of green construction paper and attach to the bottom of the cup. Cut a long thin tongue from red paper or felt and glue inside the rim of the cup. Stick two googly eyes on the outside of the cup. Using a black marker, write F.R.O.G. on the side of the cup.
Areas of skill: Basic assembly, gluing onto a curved surface, letter recognition.
Why it is good for young children: The cup frog is easy to cut and assemble, and can be enjoyed by children as young as 3 with adult assistance. The final frog is 3-D and encourages imaginative play after the craft session.
Craft 5: FROG Art Project (Little Holy Hearts)
Source: Little Holy Hearts / littleholyhearts.com Ages: 4 to 8 (kindergarten to Grade 3) Time: Two 30-minute sessions or one 60-minute session
Little Holy Hearts says this project can be completed in two 30 minute sessions, the background being painted in the first session, dried and then the book read, the frog being added in the second session.
Materials:
- 12 x 18 inch white heavy-weight construction paper (for background)
- 12 x 18 inch green construction paper (heavy weight) (frog)
- Oil pastels of green, black and other colors
- Watercolor paints
- Two white circles cut out from white paper for eyes.
- Sparkly foam stickers to spell F-R-O-G
- Stickers with religious symbols or drawn symbols
Method:
Session 1: Fold the green paper in half hamburger style. Line up a frog template to the folded edge and trace. Fold and cut out to make a symmetrical frog. Outline the frog shape in black oil pastel to make the shape stand out. Using oil pastel, draw the belly, legs and the lines of the limbs. Use watercolor to paint sky blue background on white construction paper, adding white clouds.
Session 2: After the background is dry, glue the frog and cut-out eye circles on the painted background. Add sparkly foam stickers to spell FROG and add religious symbols.
Skill focus: Oil pastels, watercolors, and symmetrical cutting.Skill focus: Symmetrical cutting, oil pastel technique, watercolor background, and 2 session patience.
This craft is a companion to the picture book F.R.O.G. Fully Rely on God, by Jennifer Randazzo, illustrated by Jess Bircham, which shares the story of one girl named Rose who encounters a frog with a message of encouragement from God from Jeremiah 29:11.
Craft 6: Potato Stamp Frog
Source: Danielle’s Place Ages: 2 to 6 (toddler and preschool) Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Cut potatoes in half and dip in green paint (Danielle’s Place). Press them on a piece of paper to make the frog’s body. Paint on green legs. After the paint has dried, add on googly eyes.
Materials: Cut potato in half, green paint in a shallow dish, white paper, small paint brush for legs, googly eyes, glue.
Method: Demonstrate to them how to press the cut potato face into the green paint and firmly stamp it onto paper. Children repeat to make several frog bodies. Paint simple legs with simple paint when dry using a small brush. Attach googly eyes.
Focus on skill: Stamping motion; Understanding print as a process; Fine motor eye placement.
Why it’s effective for very young children: The potato stamp doesn’t need to be cut or put together by the child. The frog is a simple, round body shape with added eyes and can be created from the most basic physical actions making it suitable for children as young as 2 years.
Craft 7: Frog Pouch for Memory Verses
Source: DLTK Bible VBS guide Ages: 5 to 10 Time: 20 to 30 minutes
The DLTK Bible VBS guide for the F.R.O.G. theme states that a Frog Pouch is a great way to store memory verses or coloring pages, and is a functional craft that can be used for a specific, ongoing devotional purpose.
Materials: Green felt, fabric glue or needle and thread (adult assistance), googly eyes, green pipe cleaner for legs, scissors.
Method: Cut 2 identical frog shapes out of green felt. Stitch or stick three sides together, leaving the top open, to form a pouch. Glue on the googly eyes and pipe cleaner legs. The pouch can be used to store memory verses that are printed out for children, coloring pages that they have colored during the week, or small notes about what they are entrusting to God.
Skill focus: Following a shape template, understanding a functional purpose for the finished object.
Teaching moment: Have children write 1 thing they want to trust God with on a small piece of paper and put it in their pouch. Come back to the pouches at the end of the week/month and talk about how God was present in those situations.
Craft 8: F.R.O.G. Iron-On T-Shirt
Source: DLTK Bible VBS guide Ages: 5 and up Time: 30 to 45 minutes (adult iron assistance required)
The DLTK Bible VBS guide suggests that it is recommended to make F.R.O.G. iron-on t-shirts for the theme. This craft is suitable for use with adult supervision for the iron-on step, but will still make a keepsake that children will be able to wear after the VBS or Sunday school program is over.
Materials: plain white or light colored t-shirt, iron-on transfer paper, computer with printer, iron.
Method: Create and print a graphic of F.R.O.G. on iron-on transfer paper. The transfer is placed on the shirt and ironed onto the shirt with a clothes iron following the directions on the transfer paper. Using fabric markers, children can decorate around the transfer to draw frog drawings and put their own spin on the shirt.
The shirt is a talking point in itself, and it’s an opportunity to teach. Remind children when someone asks about their shirt, to explain what F.R.O.G. means.
Craft 9: Lily Pad Paper Plate Game and Craft
Source: Danielle’s Place Ages: 4 to 8 Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Danielle’s Place suggests creating paint lily pad plates using paper plates and gluing clear punch glasses onto the plates. Children make their bean bag frogs and play the game indoors.
Materials: Paper plates, green paint, small paper cups or clear plastic cups, glue gun (adult), bean bags or rolled socks, green paint, googly eyes.
Method:Green paint on paper plates to make “lily pads”. An adult glues a small cup in the middle when it is dry. Children then create their own simple frog bean bag and throw it to make it land in the lily pad cups. The competitive aspect enhances the lesson and the craft aspect leads to a game that can be used again.
Teaching moment: As each successful toss occurs, one word of the acronym can be said as a phrase: F, R, O, G, or Fully Rely On God as a phrase.
Craft 10: Fully Rely on God Bookmark
Source: Christian Preschool Printables, Pinterest Ages: 5 to 10 Time: 15 to 20 minutes
The most useful and popular F.R.O.G. craft formats include bookmarks featuring the F.R.O.G. acronym and a frog drawing. Fully rely on God bookmarks are featured on Pinterest’s F.R.O.G. craft collection, and other items related to the theme of relying on God are displayed as well, such as inspirational gifts and Bible study resources, which are used in children’s programs and as keepsakes for adults.
Materials: Cardstock, crayons/markers, scissors, optional laminator for durability.
Method: Cardstock, frog picture (printed or drawn), acronym, and Proverbs 3:5-6. Use a cutting tool to cut the bookmarks to the correct size, about 2 x 7 inches. Color and decorate. Laminate, if necessary.
Focus on skills: Coloring in a delineated area, cutting a straight line, fine motor lettering.
Use outside of the classroom: Bookmarks can be carried around in Bibles, school books and bags, providing the F.R.O.G. reminder constant visibility in the child’s daily environment.
Craft 11: FROG Coloring Pages
Source: DLTK Bible, Christian Preschool Printables Ages: 2 to 8 (all young children) Time: 10 to 20 minutes
The DLTK Bible VBS guide states that frog coloring pages will be available to children coming to the VBS early in the morning each day of the program, as a transitional activity as they join the group. The coloring pages include frog pictures and the acronym and scripture printed next to it.
Materials: FROG printable coloring pages, crayons or washable markers.
Method: Print pages from DLTK Bible (dltk-bible.com/animals/frog.htm) or Christian Preschool Printables. Give children freedom to colour in the introduction of the lesson or when other children are coming in.
Why it’s important for youngest children: Coloring pages are the easiest way for toddlers and early preschoolers (ages 2-4) to work on crafts that require multiple steps. They offer engaging interaction with the visual symbol as the lesson is introduced via story and song.
Create 12: Frog Beanbag Toss Game
Source: Danielle’s Place Ages: 4 to 10 Time: 20 to 30 minutes to build, then ongoing play
Draw frogs of different sizes on a piece of plywood or other board, according to Danielle’s Place. Cut holes in the frog’s mouths. Place points on the children’s beanbags when they throw them through the holes. The largest holes should be the least amount of points, the smallest the greatest amount of points. Give prizes accordingly.
Materials: Plywood or thick foam board, jigsaw/craft knife (adult use only), green paint, bean bags.
Method: An adult traces frog images of varying size on board and makes a cut in the mouth region. The children colour in the frogs green. The finished board is a game that is used over the VBS week or Sunday school unit.
Teaching moment: Talk about levels of trust: small steps of faith and large steps of faith, all from the same God. Proverbs 3:5 says to trust “with all your heart,” and this fits in nicely with the concept of shooting for the smallest and toughest target.
Craft 13: FROG Suncatcher
Source: Adapted from general Christian craft practice Ages: 5 to 9 Time: 30 minutes plus drying time
Materials: White coffee filter, green and yellow washable markers, spray bottle of water, black marker for face and F.R.O.G. letters, tape, string.
Method: Use green and yellow markers to color the coffee filter in frog-patches. Lightly spray with water and let colors bleed. Allow to dry completely. When dry, add the simple eyes, mouth and letters F.R.O.G. with a black marker and tape to a window or hang with string.
Skill focus: Textured surface, colored pencils, and patience.Skill focus: Color blending observation, fine motor lettering on a textured surface, patience through a two-stage process.
Teaching moment: When the light shines through the suncatcher, talk about God’s light shining through us when we trust in Him and connect the visual with the spiritual.
Craft 14: FROG Certificate of Completion
Source: DLTK Bible VBS guide Ages: All Time: 5 minutes (adult-prepared, child-received)
At the end of a F.R.O.G. program week, give each child a certificate of completion of VBS and F.R.O.G. according to DLTK Bible VBS guide. This craft is an adult preparation but is a valuable part of the ceremony at the end of a multi-day program.
Materials: Certificate template (designed with frog illustration, F.R.O.G. acronym, and child’s name), printer, cardstock.
Method: You need to design or download a certificate template.You must create or obtain a certificate template. Print on cardstock, add each child’s name and give them at the end of the program. Children can write their own name to show their commitment to the message of the lesson.
Teaching moment: The presentation moment is when we ask children to commit to one thing that they will trust God with over the next few weeks, thus helping to tie the programme to daily practice.
Connecting F.R.O.G. Crafts to a Full Program
The activities above can be spread over a multi-day VBS program or over multiple Sunday school sessions, with activities spread throughout the program to keep things fresh.
The DLTK Bible VBS guide says it’s designed for children from preschool through Grade 3, and that it’s based on five daily sessions that cover the creation story, the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the story of Daniel and the Lions’ Den, the story of David and Goliath, and the final lesson, which summarizes the whole week. There is a different craft for each session, as well as songs, games, and reading of the Bible story.
One anchor craft can be used in conjunction with the scripture reading and discussion in a single session Sunday school class, and more time-consuming crafts such as the iron-on t-shirt or the full FROG art project can be used during VBS or multi-week classes.
The effective seasonal preschool programming rule of matching the complexity of the craft to the length of the session and child’s age applies here, as well. The method is explored in the seasonal craft guides on this site, such as the easy fall crafts for preschoolers, which are dependent on developmental readiness and length of session time for the best results.
Materials Checklist for F.R.O.G. Crafts
| Material | Used In |
| Round rocks | Rock frog craft |
| Green paint | Rock, paper cup, potato stamp, lily pad |
| Large googly eyes | Rock, paper cup, potato stamp |
| Red chenille stem | Rock frog mouth |
| Green fun foam | Rock frog feet |
| Paper cups | Paper cup frog |
| Coffee filters | Suncatcher |
| Washable markers | Suncatcher, flip card, coloring pages |
| Spray bottle | Suncatcher |
| Heavy green construction paper | FROG art project |
| White construction paper | FROG art project background |
| Oil pastels | FROG art project |
| Watercolor paint | FROG art project |
| Foam stickers | FROG art project |
| Cardstock | Bookmark, certificate, flip card |
| Green felt | Frog pouch |
| Plain white t-shirt | Iron-on shirt |
| Iron-on transfer paper | Iron-on shirt |
| Potato | Potato stamp |
| F.R.O.G. printable templates | Flip card, Bible2School craft, coloring pages |
Conclusion
Fully Rely on God crafts help children to have a tangible, memorable object that is linked to the most important lesson in Christian faith: to trust God with their whole heart as Proverbs 3:5-6 says. The visual simplicity, the watery connotations, the jumping and the rebirth, combined with the satisfaction of the acronym makes the frog a craft theme that can be used in a variety of ways and settings, from a five minute activity for arriving toddlers, to a full session for elementary children.
From the easy-to-print Coloring Page to the multi-session FROG art project, the fourteen crafts in this guide provide teachers, parents and ministry leaders with a complete toolbox for using the theme at any level of program depth. In all instances the intent of the craft is the same: to present something to the children that they can hold in their hands, take home and bear witness to during the week that God is still with them, and that their trust is stronger than their understanding.
If you are interested in learning more about children’s craft projects, seasonal creative ideas, and more, check out the rest of the content on Shani Levni.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Christian crafts, what does F.R.O.G. stand for?
F.R.O.G. is an acronym for Fully Rely On God. It is a Christian mnemonic that is used in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, children’s ministry and home faith education to help children remember the call to trust God from Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
What scripture do you use for F.R.O.G. crafts?
Proverbs 3:5-6 is the main scripture for F.R.O.G. crafts. Scriptures used with the crafts are 1 Peter 5:7 (trust in God), Jeremiah 29:11 (trust in God), John 16:33 (trust in God) and Matthew 11:28 (cast cares on God).
What is the easiest Fully Rely on God craft for very young children?
The coloring pages (ages 2-4), potato stamp frog (ages 2-6), and paper cup frog (ages 3-7) are the easiest F.R.O.G. crafts for toddlers and young preschoolers. These activities involve only simple cutting and assembly and result in the creation of recognisable frog shapes by pressing, stamping and gluing.
Where can I get free F.R.O.G. craft templates?
Free F.R.O.G. craft resources are available from Bible2School (bible2school.com), DLTK Bible (dltk-bible.com/animals/frog.htm), the DLTK Bible VBS guide (dltk-bible.com/vbs/frog-index.htm), Christian Preschool Printables (christianpreschoolprintables.com), and Little Holy Hearts (littleholyhearts.com). The SundaySchoolNetwork.com flip card is a low cost download for $3.99.
How to use F.R.O.G. crafts in a VBS program?
The DLTK Bible VBS guide indicates that this program is designed to be delivered during five sessions, which are divided into preschool and Grades 1-3. Each session will feature a Bible story, songs, games, and craft. Rock painting, flip card, coloring pages, frog pouch, iron-on shirts, and a certificate of completion are all possibilities of crafts. Give one big craft each session and use simple coloring pages as arrival activities.
What kind of book would complement the Fully Rely on God crafts?
F.R.O.G. Fully Rely on God by Jennifer Randazzo, illustrated by Jess Bircham is paired with FROG art project from Little Holy Hearts. The book is about a little girl named Rose who encounters a frog who has a message from God that is based on Jeremiah 29:11. It can be used for children aged 4-8 years.