Easter Craft

With Easter just around the corner, I wanted to share a special Easter craft that my students created before we left for spring break. Not only was this project fun and colorful, but it also opened the door to meaningful conversations about faith, forgiveness, and the story of Jesus’ resurrection.

Creating the Easter Craft

This simple but impactful project began with a piece of white construction paper. My students filled their paper with tissue paper squares in warm sunset colors—reds, oranges, yellows, and purples. The goal was to imitate the beauty of a setting sun, and the students loved layering the colors together to create a glowing background.

Once the sunset background was finished, we added a green hill at the bottom of the page. On top of the hill, students glued three crosses to represent Jesus and the two criminals who were crucified alongside Him.

The finished artwork was striking—vivid skies with bold crosses silhouetted in front. More importantly, it gave us an opportunity to talk about the significance of the cross.

Classroom Discussion

After completing the craft, we had a thoughtful class discussion about what the three crosses represent. Many students were curious about the other two men who were crucified next to Jesus. We talked about how not all criminals are “bad guys,” but often people who made mistakes or poor choices. This led to a broader conversation about forgiveness and grace, two themes central to the Easter story.

It was a powerful reminder that art can spark meaningful reflection, even in young learners.

Displaying the Easter Craft

To finish, I created a bulletin board display using the students’ artwork. I added a title sign and arranged the projects together so that the classroom was filled with glowing sunset skies and crosses. The display became a centerpiece during Holy Week, helping set the tone for the season and encouraging students to reflect on the true meaning of Easter.

If you’d like to create this in your classroom, I’ve made the hill, crosses, and a bulletin board sign available for free. Just click the link below to grab your copy.

Easter Craft

Other Religious Easter Activities for the Classroom

If you’d like to expand your Easter lesson plans beyond this craft, here are a few more activities to try:

• Resurrection Rolls: Bake crescent rolls with marshmallows inside. As the rolls bake, the marshmallow melts, leaving an “empty tomb.” This is a delicious and memorable way to illustrate the resurrection story.
• Easter Story Bracelets: Use different colored beads to represent parts of the Easter story—purple for royalty, red for Jesus’ sacrifice, white for forgiveness, and gold for eternal life. Students can make bracelets while reviewing the events of Holy Week.
• Prayer Garden Craft: Have students create mini prayer gardens with small pots, soil, grass seed, and a small cross. As the grass grows, it becomes a living reminder of new life in Christ.

Easter Books to Read in the Classroom

Pairing your Easter craft with a read-aloud is another wonderful way to help students connect to the story of Jesus. Some excellent choices include:

• The Story of Easter by Patricia A. Pingry – A simple but beautifully told version of the Easter story for young learners.
• God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergren – A faith-filled picture book that explains Easter in a child-friendly way.
• The Easter Storybook by Laura Richie – A collection of stories that walk children through Jesus’ life leading up to Easter.

These books provide age-appropriate explanations of the Easter message while reinforcing the values of forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope.

Bringing Easter to Life in Your Classroom

Celebrating Easter in the classroom can go beyond crafts and books—it’s about helping students understand the heart of the season. By combining hands-on activities like this Easter craft with meaningful discussions and faith-based stories, you create a space where children can reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection in an age-appropriate way.

Whether it’s through art, cooking projects, or story time, these activities remind students that Easter is more than just springtime fun—it’s a season of renewal, forgiveness, and hope.

Check out these additional spring resources: