The story of Zacchaeus is one of those Bible stories little ones never seem to tire of. A small man, a tall tree, and a Savior who looked up and called him by name. There’s something in it that children just love.
When a story takes hold in our home, I usually reach for the craft basket. Busy hands help the words settle in, and these Zacchaeus craft ideas are simple enough for a Sunday school table or a slow morning at home.
Most of them use what you likely already have on hand — paper, glue, a few clothespins, a toilet paper roll or two. If you’re building a little collection of faith crafts, these sit nicely beside our quick Bible verse crafts for a peaceful creative time.
a little about the story of zacchaeus
Zacchaeus was a tax collector in Jericho, and not a well-loved one. He was also quite short, so when Jesus came through town and the crowd was thick, he climbed a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse.
And Jesus stopped. He looked right up into that tree and called him down by name. “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” — Luke 19:5 That day changed everything for Zacchaeus, and it’s a gentle picture of how Jesus seeks and loves the ones others pass by.
It’s a wonderful story to fold into a wider Sunday school rotation. If you’re teaching through the people who followed Jesus, our creative 12 Disciples crafts work the same way for little hands.
10 simple zacchaeus craft ideas for sunday school fun
These follow the heart of the story, so you can work through them in order or simply pick the one that fits your morning.
1. zacchaeus climbing ladder craft
Make a little ladder from craft sticks or strips of paper, then add a small Zacchaeus figure that slides or climbs up the rungs. As the children move him up, you can talk about how badly he wanted to see Jesus — enough to climb where everyone could watch.
2. jesus and zacchaeus craft
Draw or print two simple figures, one for Jesus and one for Zacchaeus, and let your little ones color and glue them onto a sycamore tree scene. It gives them a sweet, visual way to retell the moment Jesus looked up and called Zacchaeus by name.
3. zacchaeus paper bag puppet
A plain paper lunch bag becomes a puppet with a few crayons, some yarn hair, and a little glued-on tunic. Puppets are wonderful in a group because every child ends up with a Zacchaeus to make talk and act out the story in their own words.
If your class loves a craft they can act out, you’ll find more of that same hands-on retelling in our simple Good Samaritan crafts.
4. toilet paper roll zacchaeus
Save an empty toilet paper roll and turn it into a standing Zacchaeus figure with paper, markers, and a bit of glue. He’s sturdy enough to stand on a shelf or beside a paper tree, which makes him a nice keeper after Sunday school is done.
5. accordion fold tree
Fold a strip of green paper accordion-style to make a sycamore tree that pops out from the page. Children love the little surprise of a tree that opens up, and it’s a gentle way to show just how tall Zacchaeus had to climb.
6. clothespin climbing zacchaeus
Draw a small Zacchaeus on a wooden clothespin, then clip him onto a paper tree so he can be moved up and down the branches. The little ones will want to climb him up again and again, which means they’re retelling the story without even realizing it.
7. luke 19:1-10 zacchaeus craft
For older children, write out the reference Luke 19:1-10 on a decorated card or scroll, with simple drawings along the border. It connects the craft straight back to the passage and gives them a keepsake that points to where the story lives in their own Bible.
8. paper plate sycamore tree craft
Turn a paper plate into the leafy top of a sycamore tree with green paint or torn paper leaves, then add a little Zacchaeus tucked into the branches. Paper plates are forgiving and easy for small hands, so this one comes together quickly.
If your craft basket leans on plates and rolls as hard as mine does, our easy animal crafts for kids are full of the same simple, low-supply ideas.
9. zacchaeus spinner wheel craft
Make a simple spinner wheel with the parts of the story drawn around it — the crowd, the tree, Jesus calling, and the meal at Zacchaeus’s house. As children turn the wheel to each scene, they get to walk through the whole story one piece at a time.
10. story sequencing craft
Print or draw a few simple scenes from the story and have your children cut and glue them in order onto a long strip of paper. Putting the story in sequence helps it stay, and it’s a quiet way for them to show you what they remember.
If your little ones enjoy putting a story back together, they’ll love our Jonah and the whale story sequencing activity too.
simple supplies to keep on hand
The lovely thing about these crafts is how little they ask of you. A few paper plates, some craft sticks, clothespins, a couple of saved toilet paper rolls, green and brown paper, glue, and crayons will carry you through nearly all ten.
I keep a small basket of these bits and pieces in the kitchen, so when a story settles in we can start right away. The best craft is almost always the one you can begin with what’s already in the drawer.
gentle tips for using these crafts in sunday school
Let the story lead and the craft follow. The glue and paper are just the doorway — the real teaching happens in the questions little ones ask while their hands are busy, so leave plenty of room for those.
Prep your supplies ahead of time if you’re working with a whole room of children, and don’t aim for anything Pinterest-perfect. A wonky tree or a lopsided Zacchaeus is part of the charm. For another gentle, low-supply Bible craft to round out your rotation, the Good Shepherd sheep craft is a sweet one to keep nearby.
pick one craft and let the story do the rest
You don’t need all ten, sweet friend. Choose the one craft that makes you smile, gather your little ones close, and let the story of Zacchaeus do its quiet work while their hands stay busy. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10
If you’d like a little help getting started, you can always browse our free printables and crafts for ready-to-go pages.
I’d love to hear which craft your family or class reaches for first. Scroll down and leave me a comment below — tell me which one you’re trying, and how the story landed with your little ones.
With love,
Betty
Get the FREE Printable Jonah and the Whale Printable Crafts
Don’t let your kids just hear Jonah’s story—help them step into it.
With these 2 free Jonah activities, children can explore the story in a fun, memorable, hands-on way. They’ll make an interactive pull-tab whale slider craft that reveals five scenes from Jonah’s journey, and follow along with an 8-page coloring storybook that shares the complete story—including God’s important lesson about mercy and compassion that’s so often missed.
frequently asked questions
what age are these zacchaeus crafts best for?
Most work beautifully for ages two through ten with a little adjusting. The paper plate tree and toilet paper roll figure are gentle enough for the very littlest, while the Luke 19:1-10 scroll, spinner wheel, and sequencing craft give older children more to do.
what’s the simplest craft to start with?
The accordion fold tree is about as simple as it gets — just a strip of green paper and a few folds. It comes together in minutes and still opens the door to telling the whole story.
how do i explain the story of zacchaeus to a toddler?
Keep it small and warm. I tell mine that a short man wanted to see Jesus so badly that he climbed a tree, and Jesus looked up, called him by name, and came to his house. Toddlers understand wanting to see someone they love.
can i use these for a sunday school class or co-op?
Yes, and they shine in a group. The paper bag puppet and clothespin climbing Zacchaeus are especially good for a roomful of little ones, since every child ends up with something to move and retell. Just prep your supplies ahead of time.
where is the story of zacchaeus found in the bible?
You’ll find it in Luke 19:1-10. It’s worth opening your Bible and reading it aloud together before you craft — there’s something special about little ones seeing the story come straight from the pages they’re holding.
