10 Easter Bible Crafts Preschool ideas are a wonderful way to bring the true meaning of Easter to life for your little ones. I honestly feel that simple, hands-on projects make the story of Jesus and His resurrection much easier for small children to understand and remember.
We are going to look at fun, faith-filled activities that are perfect for Sunday school or a quiet afternoon at home. Get your glue sticks ready, because we are about to celebrate that He is Risen! 🐣
1. Paper Plate Empty Tomb 🪨
I love this craft because it is interactive and really helps visualize the resurrection story. It gives kids a tangible way to “roll away the stone” and see that Jesus is not there, but is alive.
This project is super simple and uses materials you likely already have in your kitchen. It is a classic for a reason!
How to Make:
Cut a paper plate in half. Paint the bottom half gray or black to look like a cave and cut a small semi-circle out of the bottom center for the entrance. Cut a separate circle from cardstock to be the “stone.”
Attach the stone with a brass fastener (brad) so it can slide back and forth over the opening. You can write “He is Risen” on the inside of the plate or glue a picture of an angel there.
Style Guide:
- Paper Plate: Standard white, uncoated is best for painting.
- Paint: Washable gray, black, and brown tempera paint.
- Fastener: 1 Gold or silver brass brad.
2. Stained Glass Cross Suncatcher ☀️
There is something so magical about seeing the light shine through these crosses. It reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.
This craft is great for fine motor skills as the kids pick up the sticky tissue paper. Plus, it makes for beautiful window decor that you will want to keep up all spring.
How to Make:
Cut the center out of a piece of black construction paper in the shape of a cross, leaving a frame. Stick a piece of clear contact paper over the hole.
Let your preschooler stick colorful squares of tissue paper onto the sticky side of the contact paper until the cross is filled. Seal it with another piece of contact paper or just hang it as is!
Style Guide:
- Paper: Black construction paper (heavyweight).
- Fillers: Pastel tissue paper (pink, yellow, light blue, lavender) cut into 1-inch squares.
- Adhesive: Clear contact paper or sticky back plastic.
3. Palm Sunday Branch Waving 👋
We can’t talk about Easter without remembering Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This craft gets the kids moving and shouting “Hosanna!” just like the people did in the Bible.
It is a very quick project, which is perfect for short attention spans. You can use these for a little parade around the living room.
How to Make:
Trace your child’s hand multiple times on green construction paper (about 6-8 times). Cut out the handprints. Glue them in a fanned-out pattern onto a large craft stick or a strip of green cardboard to resemble a palm leaf. Write “Hosanna!” on the handle.
Style Guide:
- Paper: Various shades of green construction paper for depth.
- Handle: Jumbo craft stick or a ruler painted green.
- Glue: Glue stick or school glue.
4. ‘Jesus Paid It All’ Coin Cross 🪙
This is a tactile way to explain a big concept: that Jesus paid the price for our sins. Using pennies makes it a sensory experience that kids find fascinating.
I find this one also helps teach counting and pattern making if you use different coins. It turns out looking quite rustic and beautiful.
How to Make:
Cut a cross shape out of sturdy cardboard. Have the child glue pennies (or any play coins) all over the surface of the cross until it is completely covered. You can explain that just like money pays for things, Jesus paid for us with His love.
Style Guide:
- Base: Thick cardboard box scrap.
- Decor: Shiny copper pennies or plastic gold play coins.
- Glue: Tacky glue or strong craft glue (school glue might be too weak).
5. Resurrection Rolls Baking Activity 🍞
Okay, this is technically a treat, but the “craft” of making them tells the story perfectly. The marshmallow disappears like Jesus’ body leaving the tomb!
Kids are always amazed when they bite into the roll and find it empty. It creates a memory that really sticks with them.
How to Make:
Dip a large marshmallow (representing Jesus) in melted butter and roll it in cinnamon sugar (representing the spices for burial). Wrap the marshmallow completely in crescent roll dough (the tomb), sealing the edges tight.
Bake according to package directions. When you open them, the marshmallow has melted away, leaving an empty “tomb.”
Style Guide:
- Ingredients: Large white marshmallows, crescent roll tube dough, cinnamon, sugar, butter.
- Tools: Baking sheet, parchment paper.
6. Jelly Bean Prayer Jar 🍬
This is a colorful way to walk through the Gospel using different colors. Each jelly bean color stands for a part of the story (e.g., Red for blood, White for forgiveness).
It makes a sweet gift for grandparents or friends. Plus, who doesn’t love a craft you can snack on while you work?
How to Make:
Fill a small mason jar or clear plastic cup with specific colored jelly beans. Print out a “Jelly Bean Prayer” poem (Red is for the blood He gave, Green is for the grass He made, etc.) and tie it to the jar with a ribbon.
Style Guide:
- Container: Small 4oz mason jar or clear baby food jar.
- Fillers: Jelly beans sorted by color (Red, Green, Black, White, Yellow).
- Tag: Kraft paper tag with twine.
7. Clothespin Crucifixion Scene ✝️
I appreciate this idea because it focuses on the people at the cross. It allows children to act out the scene and understand the sadness before the joy.
It is very inexpensive and uses items you probably have in your laundry room. You can make Jesus, Mary, and the soldiers.
How to Make:
Paint wooden clothespins to look like people (wrap them in scrap fabric or use markers). Glue three popsicle sticks together to form three crosses and stand them up in a playdough base or a styrofoam block. Clip the Jesus figure to the center cross.
Style Guide:
- Figures: Old-fashioned round-top wooden clothespins (doll pins).
- Crosses: Popsicle sticks and wood glue.
- Base: Brown playdough or air-dry clay.
8. 3 Crosses Silhouette Art 🎨
This art project turns out stunning every time, even with very young kids. The masking tape technique guarantees crisp lines that look professional.
It is a great way to talk about the two thieves and how Jesus saves us. The colors can be as wild or as calm as your child likes.
How to Make:
Tape three crosses onto a piece of white cardstock using painter’s tape or masking tape. Let your child paint over the entire paper with watercolors or finger paints (sunset colors look great). Once the paint is dry, peel off the tape to reveal the white crosses underneath.
Style Guide:
- Paper: Watercolor paper or heavy cardstock.
- Tape: Blue painter’s tape (tears easily).
- Paint: Orange, yellow, and purple watercolors.
9. Paper Bag Donkey Puppet 🐴
This brings us back to the start of Holy Week. Kids absolutely love puppets, and this donkey can help tell the story of carrying the King.
You can use this puppet to act out Jesus riding into Jerusalem while the other kids wave their palm branches. It brings the whole story together!
How to Make:
Use a brown paper lunch bag. The flap is the donkey’s face. Glue on big paper ears, googly eyes, and draw a nose. Use yarn for a mane down the back. You can even glue a small paper coat or blanket on the donkey’s back to represent where Jesus sat.
Style Guide:
- Bag: Standard brown paper lunch sack.
- Details: Brown and black construction paper, black yarn.
- Eyes: Large googly eyes.
10. ‘He Lives’ Garden Pot 🌱
This is a lovely project that grows over time, just like our faith. It symbolizes new life coming from the earth.
We do this every year, and watching the grass grow is a daily reminder of the resurrection. It makes a great centerpiece for your Easter lunch table.
How to Make:
Take a small terracotta pot and let your child paint it or decorate it with stickers saying “He Lives.” Fill it with soil and plant quick-growing grass seeds (like cat grass or wheatgrass). Stick a small popsicle stick cross in the dirt.
Style Guide:
- Pot: 3-inch terracotta pot.
- Plant: Wheatgrass seeds (sprouts in 3-4 days).
- Decor: Acrylic paints, foam stickers.
I hope these 10 Easter Bible Crafts Preschool ideas help you share the joy of the Gospel with your children. There is nothing quite like seeing their eyes light up when they understand that Jesus loves them! If you try any of these, I would love to see how they turned out.
