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Peter Denies Jesus Craft for Kids

An easy Peter denies Jesus craft for kids in three levels. Lift three paper flames by the fire to find Peter's three answers, then the cock crew. Free template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Peter Denies Jesus 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
Luke 22:54–62
Bible story
Peter Denies Jesus

What you need

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

Steps

  1. Color the card: the sky dark blue, the wall gray, the floor and the logs brown, and the rooster brown with a red comb and a yellow beak. Leave the window, the doorway, the three printed flames and the dotted spots white.Color the card: the sky dark blue, the wall gray, the floor and the logs brown, and the rooster brown with a red comb and a yellow beak. Leave the window, the doorway, the three printed flames and the dotted spots white.
  2. In the window, draw Peter sitting by the fire (Luke 22:55).
  3. Color the three flame flaps: one orange, one red and one yellow.
  4. Cut out the card, the three flames and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  5. Put glue on the dotted tab of one flame only. Press it on the dotted spot under the first printed flame, so the flame stands up and covers the words. Do the same with the other two flames.
  6. Glue the verse strip on the back of the card. Read it together.
  7. Tell it: lift the first flame: a maid said, "This man was also with him," and Peter said, "Woman, I know him not" (Luke 22:56–57). Lift the second: "Man, I am not" (22:58). Lift the third: "Man, I know not what thou sayest" (22:59–60). Then point to the rooster: immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew (22:60).Tell it: lift the first flame: a maid said, "This man was also with him," and Peter said, "Woman, I know him not" (Luke 22:56–57). Lift the second: "Man, I am not" (22:58). Lift the third: "Man, I know not what thou sayest" (22:59–60). Then point to the rooster: immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew (22:60).

This Peter denies Jesus craft turns one printed page into the fire in the high priest's hall. Peter "sat down among them" by a fire "in the midst of the hall" (Luke 22:55). Kids draw Peter by the fire and glue on three paper flames. Lift each flame to find one of Peter's three answers, "Woman, I know him not," "Man, I am not" and "Man, I know not what thou sayest" (22:57–60), and then the rooster on the wall: "immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew" (22:60). The memory verse, Luke 22:32, goes on the back.

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 count the three denials with their hands: one flame at a time (Luke 22:57–60), just as Jesus said, "thou shalt deny me thrice" (22:61).
  • It shows Peter's sorrow: the harder level adds a door that opens on Peter weeping, because he "went out, and wept bitterly" (22:62).
  • It stays gentle: no soldiers and no mocking are shown, and Jesus is not drawn.
  • It carries the verse home: Luke 22:32 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole set, is glued on the back of the card: Jesus prayed for Peter.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces. Kids color, draw Peter by the fire and glue the flames on with your help. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out the pieces and glue the three flames.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also draw Peter weeping in the doorway and glue a paper door from page 3 over it (Luke 22:62).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask what Peter promised (Luke 22:33), where Jesus was taken and how Peter followed (22:54), where the fire was (22:55), who spoke to Peter first (22:56), when the cock crew (22:60) and what Peter remembered (22:61). Then read Luke 22:32 together: Jesus prayed for Peter.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and glue the flames. Cardstock keeps the flames standing up. Let the whole class crow when you reach the rooster, and end with hope: Jesus appeared to Peter after He rose (Luke 24:34).

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Peter denies Jesus craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, flames and verse strip ahead of time. Preschoolers color the card and the flames, draw Peter by the fire, and glue the three flames on with your help. Then they lift one flame at a time while you tell the story, and everyone crows when the rooster's turn comes. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Peter denies Jesus 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?

Luke 22:32 (KJV), "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." It is the memory verse for the whole Peter denies Jesus 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 draw Peter weeping in the doorway of the hall, then glue a paper door from page 3 over it that opens, because Peter "went out, and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:62).

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