The Passover Seder revolves around the Exodus from Egypt. Upon leaving Egypt, the Jews faced the Red Sea. G‑d performed a miracle and Moses split the sea, allowing the Jews to walk through on dry land.

We searched high and low for a great project to depict Moses at the sea, but we came up emptyhanded. So we crafted one ourselves!


Teachers and parents will enjoy this new craft that helps children visualize the well-known story and allows them to play along. This diorama is simple to make, and your children can continue to recount the miraculous event long after the week of Passover has passed.

You will need:

  • 1 Sturdy shoebox
  • Blue paint and brush
  • Mod-Podge and a sponge brush
  • Light blue, light brown, and green tissue paper
  • Sand
  • Small plastic shot glasses
  • Character printouts and markers (or plain paper, and draw the characters yourself)
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Twine or ribbon
  • Tag
  • Zip-top bag

Step 1:

Select a sturdy shoebox. Ours is light blue. Cut along the corner edges as shown. Paint the 2 longer sides dark blue.


Step 2:

Cut strips of light blue tissue paper into waves by cutting rounds into the top. Apply Mod-Podge over the painted area and place tissue paper across both sides. Apply a generous coating of Mod-Podge to seal the tissue paper.


Step 3:

Cut off the short edges of the shoebox. Generously coat the middle section with Mod-Podge and place brown tissue paper down the center. Trim any excess so it fits the center of the box. Apply another coat of Mod-Podge and pour sand onto the tissue paper. Shake off excess.


Step 4:

Cut out green tissue paper for seaweed, and affix to the sides of the box using Mod-Podge under and on top of the paper. Print out and color some fish pictures and add to sides. Color Moses and tape onto a shot glass.


Step 5:

Print and color more people and affix to shot glasses with tape. You can make as many as you want! Your kids can play with the figurines and have them cross the Red Sea over and over again.


Step 6:

Wrap the box with twine. A zip-top bag holds all the figurines.