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Transfiguration Craft for Kids

A Transfiguration craft for kids in three levels, a mountain sun-catcher with a shining window for Matthew 17. Free printable template, supplies and steps.

Preschool–Grade 5

Transfiguration 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
Matthew 17:1–9
Bible story
The Transfiguration

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in light blue, green and yellow, plus any colors for drawing Peter, James and John
  • One 1½-inch square of yellow tissue paper for each child
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed cloud page (page 3), one per child, plus a light blue crayon (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the card: the sky light blue, the mountain green, and the 12 short rays around the round window yellow. Leave the three ovals white.Color the card: the sky light blue, the mountain green, and the 12 short rays around the round window yellow. Leave the three ovals white.
  2. Draw Peter, James and John, one in each oval on the mountain (Matthew 17:1).
  3. Cut out the card and the verse strip on the dashed lines. Cut out the round window at the top too. Help younger children with the cutting.
  4. Turn the card over. Rub glue stick around the edge of the round window and press the yellow tissue square over it.
  5. Glue the verse strip on the back of the card, below the tissue. Read it together.
  6. Hold the card up to a window or a lamp. The light shines through the yellow window: "his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light" (Matthew 17:2).Hold the card up to a window or a lamp. The light shines through the yellow window: "his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light" (Matthew 17:2).

This Transfiguration craft turns one printed page and a square of tissue paper into a mountain sun-catcher. Jesus took Peter, James and John "up into an high mountain apart," and there "his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light" (Matthew 17:1–2). Kids draw the three disciples on the mountain and hold the card up to the light, so the yellow window shines. 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, a small square of yellow tissue paper, a glue stick, crayons and scissors.
  • Kids see it shine: hold it up to a window, and the light comes through, the way Jesus' face "did shine as the sun" (Matthew 17:2).
  • It tells the whole story: the three disciples on the high mountain (17:1), the shining (17:2), and, at the harder level, the bright cloud and "Jesus only" (17:5, 17:8).
  • It points to Jesus without drawing Him: kids draw Peter, James and John; the shining window stands for Jesus' glory.
  • It carries the verse home: Matthew 17:5 (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 the round window. Kids color, draw the disciples and press the tissue on. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw and cut out the pieces; a grown-up helps start the round window.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also add a paper cloud from page 3 that folds down over the shining window and lifts up again: "a bright cloud overshadowed them" (Matthew 17:5).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who went up the mountain with Jesus (Matthew 17:1), what happened to His face and clothes (17:2), who appeared talking with Him (17:3), what the voice out of the cloud said (17:5), what Jesus said when the disciples were afraid (17:7) and who they saw when they looked up (17:8). Then read Matthew 17:5 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the cards and round windows ahead of time. Use glue sticks so the tissue stays smooth. Send the cards home to tape on a sunny window, where the yellow light will shine all week.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Transfiguration craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, round window and verse strip ahead of time. Preschoolers color the sky, the mountain and the rays and draw the three disciples. Then they press the yellow tissue square over the window on the back, and you hold it up to the light together. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Transfiguration craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, a small square of yellow tissue paper, 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?

Matthew 17:5 (KJV), "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." 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 paper cloud from page 3 that folds down over the shining window and lifts up again, because "a bright cloud overshadowed them" (Matthew 17:5) and then "they saw no man, save Jesus only" (17:8).

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