Zacchaeus Lesson for Kids
A free Zacchaeus Sunday school lesson (Luke 19:1–10) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions, memory verse and take-home.
Preschool–Grade 6
Download
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, kindergarten to 2nd grade (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Take-home sheet (PDF) · 1 page
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preschool ages 3–5 (PDF) · 2 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, 3rd to 5th grade (PDF) · 3 pages
- ⬇ Teacher lesson, preteens ages 11–12 (PDF) · 3 pages
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
- Luke 19:1–10
- Bible story
- Zacchaeus
What you need
- A Bible (mark Luke 19:5 and Luke 19:10)
- Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
- 5 index cards and a marker (memory verse game)
- A sturdy chair or step stool to be the "tree" (optional, with a grown-up holding the child's hand)
- 10 play coins or paper circles (optional, to show "half" and "fourfold")
- Paper and pencils (3rd grade and up)
- Printed take-home sheets, one per child
- Printed Zacchaeus word search and crayons for early finishers
This free Zacchaeus Sunday school lesson teaches kids that Jesus knows them by name and came to seek and to save the lost. It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Pick the one that fits your class. Everything is in the order you teach it.
Choose your age level
- Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, a name game, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("to seek and to save") with motions, and a turn being Zacchaeus in the "tree."
- Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Seek and Save Echo memory verse game with five cards, and the no-prep Make Haste and Come Down game.
- 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (who the publicans were, the sycomore tree, half and fourfold), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
- Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Luke 19:1–10 out loud themselves, compare Zacchaeus with the rich ruler in Luke 18, and discuss welcoming people others write off and what real repentance looks like. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Luke 19:10 and Luke 5:32).
Lesson at a glance
- Bible passage: Luke 19:1–10
- Main point: Jesus knows my name, and He came to seek and to save the lost.
- Memory verse: Luke 19:10 (KJV), with Luke 5:32 added for preteens
- Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions
Lesson outline (the same in every version)
- Opening game: a short game about being seen and called by name, like "Tall, Short, Climb!"
- Bible story: Zacchaeus climbs the sycomore tree, Jesus looks up and calls him by name, the crowd grumbles, and Zacchaeus gives half to the poor and promises to pay back fourfold. 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 Luke 19:10.
- What this means for us: Jesus came looking for us, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a make-it-right challenge for the week.
- Activity: the Zacchaeus word search, a coloring page or craft, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
- Prayer.
Tips for teaching Zacchaeus
- Let kids hear Luke 19:5 read straight from your Bible. Jesus looking up and calling Zacchaeus by name is the turning point of the story.
- The KJV spells the tree "sycomore." It is not the North American sycamore; it is a kind of fig tree that grows in that land (Amos 7:14).
- Read Luke 19:8 carefully: Zacchaeus says "if" he has taken anything by false accusation. Each lesson keeps that wording and doesn't add to it.
- Show "half" and "fourfold" with play coins. Kids remember what Zacchaeus gave when they can count it.
- 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 Zacchaeus 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 age is this lesson for?
All ages from preschool to preteen. The lesson comes in four separate teacher PDFs: preschool (ages 3 to 5), kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade, and preteens (ages 11 to 12). Each one tells the same Bible story at the right length and reading level, with its own questions and activity.
What is the lesson of Zacchaeus for kids?
Jesus came to seek and to save people who are lost (Luke 19:10). He looked up, saw Zacchaeus in the tree and called him by name. Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully, gave half of his goods to the poor and promised to make things right (Luke 19:5–8).
Why did Zacchaeus climb a tree?
He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he couldn't see over the crowd because he was short. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree (the KJV spelling; a kind of fig tree) along the road where Jesus would pass (Luke 19:3–4).
Is this Sunday school lesson really free?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your church, school or home. Please don't resell it.
