Lesson

Transfiguration Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Transfiguration Sunday school lesson (Matthew 17:1–9) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions and a take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

Transfiguration Sunday School Lesson 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), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: Matthew 17:1–9
Bible story: The Transfiguration

What you need

A Bible (mark Matthew 17:2 and Matthew 17:5)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
6 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A flashlight and a white sheet of paper or a white cloth (preschool)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (preteens)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Transfiguration word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Transfiguration Sunday school lesson teaches kids to listen to Jesus. Jesus took Peter, James and John up into an high mountain, and there "his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light" (Matthew 17:2). A voice out of a bright cloud said, "hear ye him" (17:5), and when the disciples looked up, they saw "Jesus only" (17:8). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a flashlight shine game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("hear ye him") with a motion, and a bright mountain drawing.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the Hear Ye! listening game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Cloud Strips memory verse game, and an Arise! game.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a whisper-down-the-line game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (transfigured, Moses and Elias, the three tabernacles, the bright cloud, "Jesus only"), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Matthew 17:1–9 out loud themselves, then look closer at Peter's eyewitness account (2 Peter 1:16–18), Moses and Elias, Jesus' glory and kindness, and the road to the resurrection. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Matthew 17:5 and 2 Peter 1:16).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: Matthew 17:1–9
Main point: Listen to Jesus. He is glorious, and He tells us, "Be not afraid."
Memory verse: Matthew 17:5 (KJV), with 2 Peter 1:16 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about listening carefully.
Bible story: up into an high mountain (Matthew 17:1), "his face did shine as the sun" (17:2), Moses and Elias (17:3), Peter's three tabernacles (17:4), the bright cloud and "hear ye him" (17:5), "Arise, and be not afraid" (17:7), and "Jesus only" (17:8). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Matthew 17:5.
What this means for us: listen to Jesus, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Transfiguration craft, an Arise! game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching the Transfiguration

Read Matthew 17:2 straight from your Bible. "Transfigured" is a big word; kids remember it when they hear what it looked like.
Matthew calls the prophet "Elias." Tell kids it is the New Testament way of writing Elijah.
Matthew tells it simply. The lessons don't add details from Mark 9 or Luke 9, and they don't name the mountain, because Matthew doesn't.
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this Transfiguration lesson take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What is the Transfiguration of Jesus, explained for kids?

Jesus took Peter, James and John up into an high mountain, and there He was transfigured: His whole look was changed. "His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light" (Matthew 17:2). Moses and Elias appeared talking with Him, and a voice out of a bright cloud said, "hear ye him" (17:3–5).

What is the main point of the Transfiguration for kids?

Listen to Jesus. The voice out of the cloud said, "hear ye him" (Matthew 17:5). When the disciples looked up, "they saw no man, save Jesus only" (17:8). Jesus is the One we listen to and follow, and He tells us, "be not afraid" (17:7).

Who were Moses and Elias?

Moses was the man God used to give His law to Israel (John 1:17). Elias is the way the New Testament writes the name of Elijah, the prophet. Both appeared and talked with Jesus on the mountain (Matthew 17:3), and then the disciples saw Jesus only (17:8).