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Peter and John Heal the Lame Man Craft for Kids

A free Peter and John heal the lame man craft for kids in three levels. A paper spring makes the man leap up at the gate called Beautiful (Acts 3:8).

Preschool–Grade 5

Peter and John Heal the Lame Man 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
Acts 3:1–11
Bible story
Peter and John Heal a Lame Man

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in light blue, gray, yellow, light brown, dark brown, light green and red, plus any colors for drawing the man
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed harder page (page 3), one per child, plus an orange crayon (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the card: the sky light blue, the wall gray, the gate frame yellow, the ground light brown and the footprints dark brown. Leave the inside of the gate and the dotted spot white. Color the edge of the man piece light green and the spring strip red.
  2. In the window of the man piece, draw the man standing up with his hands lifted, praising God (Acts 3:8).
  3. Cut out the card, the man piece, the spring strip and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  4. Fold the spring strip back and forth on every dotted line, like a fan, so it folds up into a little stack.
  5. Glue the square at one end of the spring on the dotted spot by the gate. Glue the square at the other end on the back of the man piece, so the man sits on top of the spring.
  6. Glue the verse strip on the back of the card. Read it together.
  7. Tell it: press the man down. He was lame from his mother's womb and sat at the gate called Beautiful to ask alms (Acts 3:2). Peter said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (3:6). Let go: he leaps up! Then walk two fingers along the footprints into the gate, because he went into the temple "walking, and leaping, and praising God" (3:8).

This Peter and John heal the lame man craft turns one printed page into the gate of the temple called Beautiful, where a man "lame from his mother's womb" was laid daily to ask alms (Acts 3:2). Kids draw the man on a little piece that sits on a paper spring. Press him down, say Peter's words, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (3:6), and let go: he leaps up! Then walk along the footprints into the temple, "walking, and leaping, and praising God" (3:8). The memory verse is on the back. It costs under 50 cents a child, takes about 20 minutes and comes in three levels, from preschool to 5th grade.

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, a glue stick, crayons and scissors.
  • Kids act out the story: the man really leaps up on his paper spring, just as "he leaping up stood, and walked" (Acts 3:8).
  • It points to Jesus' name: Peter had no silver or gold, but he gave what he had, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (3:6). Jesus is not drawn.
  • It carries the verse home: Acts 3:6 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole Peter and John set, is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue the folded spring on. Kids color, draw the man and make him leap up. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out the pieces, fold the spring and glue it.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids weave a stronger spring from two strips on page 3 and add Peter and John in their own windows: Peter, "fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us" (Acts 3:4).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who went up to the temple (Acts 3:1), what the gate was called (3:2), what the man asked for (3:3), what Peter said (3:6), what happened to the man's feet (3:7) and how he went into the temple (3:8). Then read Acts 3:6 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and fold and glue the springs ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and make the man leap. Cardstock makes the spring bounce best. Speak kindly about the man: "lame" is the Bible's word for someone whose feet could not walk.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Peter and John lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Peter and John craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, man piece and verse strip ahead of time, and fold and glue the spring on the dotted spot for them. Preschoolers color the card, draw the man and press his piece onto the spring. Then they push him down and let him leap up. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this lame man craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, a glue stick 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?

Acts 3:6 (KJV), "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." It is the memory verse for the whole Peter and John set, and it is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back of the card.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids weave a stronger spring from two strips on page 3, so the man leaps higher, and add a piece with two windows where they draw Peter and John. Peter, "fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us" (Acts 3:4).

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