The (invisible) Innkeeper

This invisible innkeeper lesson is all about understanding the context of Jesus’s birth and this craft really helps us see how the houses would have looked. This is a versatile craft that could be used for lots of lessons.

For reference : Generally there are three main designs. The bigger houses had rooms surrounding an open courtyard but the more common home was either like I’ve featured or the same design with the ‘guest room’ on ground level behind the main room.

Print out one page per child onto thin card, or back onto cereal box card. You will also need scissors, paper glue and 6 craft sticks (lolly sticks) per house. Please note, there are no instructions on the pdf. You may find it easier to remove the small shapes with a craft knife.

For printing in Colour PDF – 1 page
For printing with NO Colour PDF – 1 page

Cut out every shape, ending up with 7 pieces. To make this craft a lot faster remove the small windows and support holes in advance.

The slits that join the building are much wider than needed, if working on unbacked printer card just make a single cut down the middle of the rectangle shape.

This is how the front and back wall should look once you have finished cutting them.

This is how the two sides should look once all extra bits have been removed.

The walls slide together, it’s easier if you attach the back to the sides first making sure the support holes are nearest the back.

Stand up the three sides of your house. If you wish you can add the final wall now but I’ve left mine off so you can more easily see what I’m doing.

Take 3 craft sticks and push through the support holes to make a platform.

Find your ladder and platform piece. Fold the tabs as shown.

Adding a small amount of glue onto the tabs, attach the ladder and stick the platform / guestroom in place.

If you’ve not done so already add the front wall and then the 3 remaining craft sticks for the roof. the roof piece lays on top of this.

Your craft is complete. This animated image gives you a brief look around. You may want to use some liquid glue to attach the roof and glue onto a base alternatively the finished piece is easily deconstructed for reassembly later.

The finished house would have been about 7 and a half meters or 24 foot wide. Talk to the kids about why the house may have been limited to this width, and what it may have been like to live inside.