Instruct children to trace one hand onto white construction paper. This will be the branches of their bush. Color in branches with brown crayons. Give each child a handful of red, orange and yellow tissue paper cut into 1-inch squares. Use glue sticks to attach the flames to the bushes.
If you are lucky enough to be doing a burning bush lesson in the autumn, let nature provide materials for the craft. After telling children the story of Moses, ask them what they think the burning bush looked like. Encourage them to tell you the colors of fire. Take children outside to collect fallen leaves in reds, oranges and yellows. A greater variety of shapes and colors make more interesting creations. When each child has about five leaves, return to the classroom. Provide coloring sheets with a drawing of a bush for them to color, or have them draw their own using brown and green crayons. Glue on the colored leaves to represent the flames on their burning bushes.
Help students recreate one big burning bush. This takes some preparation before class, but is worth it as the craft can be used in class. Tape two large paper grocery bags together side by side to create your bush. It is best to use bags that have store names on only one side. Tape the inked sides together so you have a clear palette. Draw the trunk of a bush on the four sides. Precut teardrop shaped flames about five inches long from red, yellow and orange construction paper.
One by one, cover each child's hand with washable paint and place the hand on the bush to make a leaf. Write the child's name next to their leaf with marker. When every child has a leaf on the bush, it is time to set it on fire. Have the children come up one by one to glue on the precut teardrop flames.
Ask the children to take off their shoes and pretend they are Moses seeing the burning bush for the first time.
As an alternative, you can switch out regular paper for sandpaper to represent the desert. Prepare and cut out strips with Bible verses from Exodus 3 to add to their burning bush creations. When telling the story of Moses and the burning bush, set fire to a small stick over a large metal tray to show students how fire consumes wood, making it a miracle that the burning bush was not harmed by the fire.