This post is for those who teach in Christian preschool programs…
This is a cross the children can make after you have read many stories to them about the life and resurrection of Jesus. Print the cross template onto cardstock to use as a pattern. Trace this cross pattern onto construction paper and cut it out (or have the children cut it out). Print the Life of Jesus Cards onto cardstock and cut out each piece (or have the children cut them out). The card that says “Life of Jesus” should go in the middle. The other cards surround it. Have children place their cards on the cross, then glue them. Ask children to retell the story of Jesus while pointing to each picture.
This set of Life of Jesus cards can also be used as sequencing cards.
Printables:
Cross Pattern Printable
Life of Jesus Cards
More Preschool Christian Easter Ideas
If you want to cut costs, you don’t have to use cardstock (that’s just my recommendation), and you can print in grayscale and make copies if you don’t want to use color ink. The grayscale pictures do look nice when you glue them to colorful construction paper.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
i love this printable! but i have a quick question, which may sound stupid: how do i turn it into grayscale? i don’t see an option to do that while it’s in PDF form and when i copy it over to word the picture is small. by the time i enlarge it, the pictures are blurry – so i think i’m missing something! thanks for any help you can offer!
Hi Becky, you don’t need to convert the PDF to any other form. If you’re using Windows, just click CTRL-P to print, then when your window comes up for printing, click “Preferences”. Then click the “Color” tab, then under “Color Options” check the box “Print in grayscale”. Different computers might be slightly different, but I think these instructions will work for most. For those who have a Mac, I’m sure a Google search will show some instructions for printing in grayscale.
thank you thank you thank you for this its awesome and very practical
This is fantastic! My team teacher and I have been searching for a preschool-friendly Lenten activity to do with our students for a year now. In the past, we have done variations of the Stations, but felt it was just way too much for them. This is the answer to our quest. Thank you so much! I love your website, and your activities have really enriched our curriculum this year. Great job!
Thanks so much, Casey & Christine!
We made the Life of Jesus Cross today. We found and reviewed the stories in our Children’s Bible. I printed the crosses on card stock, had the kids cut them out and paint them with watercolor paints, then after some time to dry, the kids cut out the pictures and glued them on. I then ran them through my home Scotch brand laminator (heavier quality laminating than our school’s machine). When I laminated them, I left about 1/2 inch of clear laminating at the top of the cross so I wouldn’t have to punch a hole in the actual cross. I cut out the laminating in the same shape as the cross, punched a hole in the top, and added a ribbon loop. I am hoping they will be hung up at home. They are each very unique since since some kids painted them in squares like mosaics, others painted hearts or flowers. Beautiful results! Thanks Karen.
Great idea, Eilis! (I have a Scotch laminator, too. Aren’t they great?!)