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Jairus' Daughter Craft for Kids

A Jairus daughter craft for kids in three levels. Kids turn the girl from lying to standing: "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise" (Mark 5:41). Free template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Jairus' Daughter Craft for Kids
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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages
Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Scripture
Mark 5:21–43
Bible story
Jairus's Daughter

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • 1 paper fastener (brad) per child
  • Crayons or markers in tan (or light brown), brown, black, blue and pink, plus crayons for drawing the girl and her parents
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed doors page (page 3), one per child (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the room: the walls tan, the floor brown, the doorway black and the window blue.Color the room: the walls tan, the floor brown, the doorway black and the window blue.
  2. Draw the girl in the oval on the damsel card, with long hair and a long dress. Color the rest of the card pink. Draw her father, Jairus, in the left oval on the room and her mother in the right oval, with long hair and a long dress.
  3. Cut out the room, the damsel card and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  4. Push the paper fastener through the dot on the damsel card, then through the dot on the floor, and open its legs on the back.
  5. Turn the room over and glue the verse strip on the back, above the fastener. Read it together.
  6. Tell it: turn the damsel card so she lies down on the floor. Jesus took the damsel by the hand and said, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise" (Mark 5:41): turn her up so she stands. "Straightway the damsel arose, and walked" (5:42).Tell it: turn the damsel card so she lies down on the floor. Jesus took the damsel by the hand and said, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise" (Mark 5:41): turn her up so she stands. "Straightway the damsel arose, and walked" (5:42).

This Jairus' daughter craft turns one printed page into the room where the girl was lying. When word came that she was dead, Jesus said, "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36). He took her by the hand and said, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise" (5:41). Kids turn the girl on her paper fastener from lying down to standing up, with her father and mother beside her, because "straightway the damsel arose, and walked" (5:42). It comes in three levels, with the template and teacher notes in one free PDF.

The finished craft, easy and medium level

The finished craft, harder level

What it looks like finished: easy and medium (first photo) and harder (second photo).

Why this craft works

  • Cheap and simple: one printed page, one paper fastener, crayons, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids act out the story: the girl turns from lying down to standing up when Jesus says, "arise" (Mark 5:41–42).
  • Gentle and full of hope: the focus is on Jesus' words, "Be not afraid, only believe," and the girl alive and walking.
  • It follows the Bible closely: her father and mother are in the room (5:40), and there is no bed, because Mark 5 doesn't name one. Jesus is not drawn.
  • It carries the verse home: Mark 5:36 (KJV) is glued on the back of the room.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces, put in the fastener and glue on the verse strip. Kids color, draw and turn the girl up. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out and put the pieces together themselves.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also add two doors from page 3 that open and shut, because Jesus put the mourners out and went in with only the girl's parents and three disciples (Mark 5:37, 5:40).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who fell at Jesus' feet (Mark 5:22), who touched Jesus' garment on the way (5:27), what Jesus said when the bad news came (5:36), who went in with Jesus (5:37, 5:40), what "Talitha cumi" means (5:41) and how old the girl was (5:42). Then read Mark 5:36 together.

Tips for the classroom

Poke the holes for the paper fastener with a pencil tip before class, so little hands can push it through. For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and put the fastener in ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and turn the girl up. Cardstock keeps the damsel card stiff enough to turn.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Jairus' daughter lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Jairus' daughter craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's room, damsel card and verse strip ahead of time, put the paper fastener in, and glue the verse strip on the back. Preschoolers color the room and draw the girl and her parents. Then they turn the girl from lying down to standing up when you say, "Arise!" About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Jairus' daughter craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, one paper fastener, a little glue, and crayons you already have. The template is free to print. The harder level adds a second page.

What Bible verse goes with a Jairus' daughter craft?

Mark 5:36 (KJV), "As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe." It is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back of the room.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also color and cut out two doors from page 3 and glue them on the doorway so they open and shut, because Jesus put the mourners out and went in with only the girl's father and mother and Peter, James and John (Mark 5:37, 5:40).

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