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Jesus Washes Disciples' Feet Craft for Kids

An easy Jesus washes the disciples' feet craft for kids in three levels, a paper bason with feet that slide in and a towel (John 13:5). Free printable template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Jesus Washes Disciples' Feet 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
John 13:1–17
Bible story
Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in blue and light brown
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed serving feet page (page 3), one per child, plus crayons in any colors and a pencil (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the water on the bason back blue. Color the rest of the bason back and the whole bason front light brown. Color the two feet light brown and their water drops blue. Leave the towel white and color its stripes blue.Color the water on the bason back blue. Color the rest of the bason back and the whole bason front light brown. Color the two feet light brown and their water drops blue. Leave the towel white and color its stripes blue.
  2. Cut out the bason back, the bason front, the two feet, the towel and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  3. Make the bason: put glue only on the dotted line of the bason back. Press the bason front on top so the sides and bottoms line up. Leave the top open, so it makes a pocket.
  4. Turn the bason over and glue the verse strip on the back. Read it together.
  5. Tell it: Jesus poured water into a bason (John 13:5). Slide the two feet into the bason, heels first, so the toes stick up out of the water.
  6. Jesus began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel (13:5). Pull the feet out one at a time and wipe them with the towel.Jesus began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel (13:5). Pull the feet out one at a time and wipe them with the towel.

This Jesus washes the disciples' feet craft turns one printed page into a paper bason with water, two feet and a striped towel. At supper, Jesus "took a towel, and girded himself," then "poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel" (John 13:4–5). Kids slide the feet into the bason and wipe them with the towel as they tell the story. The memory verse, John 13:15, is glued on the back. It costs under 50 cents a child.

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, two crayon colors, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids act out the story: the feet slide into the bason, come out, and get wiped with the towel (John 13:5).
  • It turns into serving: older kids make serving feet with a way to serve someone each day this week, because Jesus said, "ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (13:14).
  • No people drawn, and never Jesus: the craft shows only the bason, the towel and the feet.
  • It carries the verse home: John 13:15 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole set, is glued on the back of the bason.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue the bason pocket. Kids color, slide the feet in and wipe them with the towel. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, cut out the pieces, glue the bason pocket and tell the story.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make four serving feet from page 3 and write on the back of each who they will serve and how.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask how long Jesus loved His own (John 13:1), what Jesus girded Himself with (13:4), what He poured water into (13:5), what Peter said first (13:8), what the disciples called Jesus (13:13) and what Jesus said He had given them (13:15). Then read John 13:15 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the bason pockets ahead of time, so all they do is color, slide and wipe. There is no real water: the paper towel does the wiping. Cardstock makes the bason last longest.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Jesus washes the disciples' feet lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Jesus washes feet craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's pieces ahead of time and glue the two bason pieces together into a pocket, with the verse strip on the back. Preschoolers color the water blue and the feet light brown, slide the feet into the bason and wipe them with the paper towel. About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Jesus washes feet craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, 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 this craft?

John 13:15 (KJV), "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." It is the memory verse for the whole set, and it is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back of the bason.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also make four serving feet from page 3, each with a picture of a way to serve. On the back of each one they write who they will serve and how. They keep them in the bason and do one every day, because Jesus said, "ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14).

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