Zacchaeus Craft for Kids
An easy paper plate Zacchaeus craft for kids in three levels, preschool to 5th grade, with a free printable sycomore tree template, supply list and steps.
Preschool–Grade 5
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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 19:1–10
- Bible story
- Zacchaeus
What you need
- One 9-inch white paper plate per child
- The printed tree template, one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
- Crayons or markers in green, brown and black, plus any colors for drawing Zacchaeus
- Scissors and a glue stick
- The printed leaves page, one per child (harder level)
- Green paper (harder level), or a green crayon to color the printed leaves
Steps
- Lay the paper plate face up. With a green crayon, color grass along the bottom of the flat middle.
- Color the treetop green and the trunk brown on the template. Leave the oval window white.
- In the oval window, draw Zacchaeus up in the tree, looking out to see Jesus.
- Cut out the treetop, the trunk and the memory verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
- Glue the trunk standing up in the middle of the plate with its roots on the grass. Glue the treetop over the top of the trunk.
- Turn the plate over, glue the memory verse strip on the back and read it together.
This Zacchaeus craft turns a paper plate into the sycomore tree Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus (Luke 19:4). Kids color a printed tree, draw Zacchaeus in the oval window in the leaves and glue the tree on the plate. It costs under 50 cents a child, takes about 20 minutes and comes with a free printable tree template and memory verse strip. It comes in three levels, from preschool to 5th grade.
What it looks like finished: easy and medium (first photo) and harder (second photo).
Why this craft works
- Cheap and simple: a paper plate, one printed page and crayons.
- It retells the story: Zacchaeus up in the tree is the moment Jesus looked up and called him by name (Luke 19:5).
- It carries the verse home: the template includes Luke 19:10 (KJV) on a strip to glue on the back.
Three ways to make it
- Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the treetop and trunk ahead of time. Kids color the grass and the tree, draw Zacchaeus in the window and glue the tree on the plate. No scissors.
- Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the photo. Kids color the tree, draw Zacchaeus in the window, cut out the pieces, glue the tree on the plate and glue the verse strip on the back.
- Harder (grades 3–5): do the medium steps, then cut eight leaves and a leaf flap from the printed leaves page. Fold the leaves and glue them around the treetop so they stand up, and glue the flap over the window by its tab so it lifts to show Zacchaeus. Then say the verse from memory.
Questions to ask
While kids work, ask why Zacchaeus climbed the tree (Luke 19:3–4) and what Jesus said when He looked up and saw him (Luke 19:5). Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).
Tips for the classroom
Print the template on cardstock if you can, so the tree pieces are sturdy. For preschoolers, cut out the pieces ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and glue. For the harder level, print the leaves page too, and use green paper if you have it.
Teaching the story first? Use the free Zacchaeus Sunday school lesson and the Zacchaeus word search.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a simple Zacchaeus craft for preschoolers?
Cut out the treetop and trunk ahead of time. Preschoolers color grass on a paper plate, color the tree, draw Zacchaeus in the oval window (a simple face is fine) and glue the tree on the plate. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.
How much does this Zacchaeus craft cost?
Under 50 cents a child: one paper plate, one printed page and crayons you already have. The template is free to print.
What Bible verse goes with a Zacchaeus craft?
Luke 19:10 (KJV), "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." It is printed on the verse strip in the template.
How can older kids make this Zacchaeus craft harder?
Use the harder level for grades 3–5. After making the tree, kids cut out eight leaves and a leaf flap from the printed leaves page. They fold the leaves and glue them around the treetop so they stand up, and glue the flap over the window by its top tab, so it lifts to show Zacchaeus. Then they say Luke 19:10 from memory.
