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Saul to Paul Craft for Kids

An easy Saul to Paul craft for kids in three levels, a road to Damascus card with a pop-up light from heaven (Acts 9). Free printable template and steps.

Preschool–Grade 5

Saul to Paul 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 9:1–19
Bible story
Saul Meets Jesus (Paul's Conversion)

What you need

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

Steps

  1. Color the card: the sky light blue, the grass green, the road brown, the wall of Damascus yellow with a brown gate, and the water blue. Leave the cloud and the two ovals white.
  2. In the oval on the road, draw Saul fallen to the earth (Acts 9:4). In the oval in the water, draw Saul being baptized (9:18).
  3. Color the light from heaven yellow.
  4. Cut out the card, the light, the two springs and the verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
  5. Fold each spring back and forth on the dotted lines, like a paper fan, so it is springy.
  6. Glue the bottom end of one spring on each dotted square under the cloud. Put glue on the top ends of the springs and press the light on them, narrow end up under the cloud, so the light shines down toward Saul and stands up off the card.
  7. Glue the verse strip on the back of the card and read it together.
  8. Tell it: walk your finger along the road toward Damascus. Press the light down and let it pop up: "suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven" (Acts 9:3). Then point to the city: Saul was three days without sight (9:9), Ananias came, and Saul "arose, and was baptized" (9:18).

This Saul to Paul craft turns one printed page into the road near Damascus, where "suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven" (Acts 9:3). Kids draw Saul fallen on the road, and a yellow light pops up off the card on paper springs. On the other side is Damascus, where Saul "arose, and was baptized" (9:18) after three days without sight. The memory verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 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, glue, crayons and scissors. The springs are printed paper strips.
  • Kids feel the "suddenly": press the light down and it pops right back up, the way the light from heaven "suddenly" shined round about Saul (Acts 9:3).
  • It tells the whole story: the road and the light on one side; Damascus, where Saul received his sight and was baptized, on the other (9:18).
  • It points to Jesus: "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" (9:5). Jesus changed Saul's life. Jesus is not drawn; the light is only yellow rays.
  • It carries the verse home: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and fold the springs. Kids color, draw Saul and press the light. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out and fold the pieces themselves.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also add a gray scales cover from page 3 that closes over Damascus for the three days without sight and lifts open: "there fell from his eyes as it had been scales" (Acts 9:18).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask where Saul was going (Acts 9:1–2), what shined round about him (9:3), what the voice said (9:4), who was speaking (9:5), how long Saul was without sight (9:9), who the Lord sent to him (9:10–17) and what happened next (9:18). Then read 2 Corinthians 5:17 together.

Tips for the classroom

Tell Saul's persecution gently: he was hurting the people who loved Jesus, and Jesus changed him. Acts 9 doesn't mention a horse, so the craft doesn't show one. For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and fold the springs ahead of time; if the springs are too fiddly, glue the light flat. Cardstock keeps the light standing up.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Saul to Paul lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Saul to Paul craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, light, springs and verse strip ahead of time, and fold the springs. Preschoolers color the pieces and draw Saul in the two ovals. Then help them glue the light on the springs so it pops up off the card. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Saul to Paul craft cost?

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

What Bible verse goes with this craft?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV), "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 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 also add a gray scales cover from page 3 that closes over the city while Saul is three days without sight, and lifts open: "there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized" (Acts 9:18).

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