Stations of the Cross Activities
Teaching the Stations of the Cross can be a powerful way to help students reflect on Jesus’ journey to Calvary. Whether you’re a teacher in a Catholic school, a catechist, or a parent, there are many ways to make this devotion meaningful for children. Below are some practical, engaging, and faith-filled Stations of the Cross Activities to teach your Catholic Kids.
Stations of the Cross Activities for Catholic Kids
You don’t need a big plan to teach the Stations of the Cross effectively! Here are some simple and meaningful ways to bring this devotion to life:
1. Pray the Stations Together
Set aside time during Lent or Holy Week to walk through the Stations of the Cross as a class or family. Many parishes offer a prayer service, or you can use a simple booklet to guide your reflection at home or in the classroom. The most important thing is to do it and help kids to see the Stations as an important part of our faith.
2. Act Out the Stations
Assign roles for each Station, letting students act out key moments of Jesus’ journey. This kinesthetic approach helps bring the story to life in an interactive and memorable way. I do have a PowerPoint with suggested motions–it’s made for young students, but older kids would love the chance to reflect on their own motions.
3. Scripture & Stations of the Cross Activities & Games
Help students get familiar with the stations by sorting them in order or playing games to remember the order of the stations. These sorting cards can help with that, and this post talks about my favorite sequencing games!
Write out Bible verses that correspond to each Station and challenge students to match them correctly. This reinforces biblical connections and deepens understanding of the Passion. This is included as a part of the Stations of the Cross Presentation where students reflect on the scriptural basis of the stations and write their own prayers. This makes the Stations of the Cross SO personal as students make their own connections (and can lead their own prayers!).
4. Stations of the Cross Symbols Sort Activity
Get students thinking by asking them to match items to the Stations of the Cross. I like to give the students a pile of creative symbols and items and encourage them to get creative while matching them to the stations. Then, have students explain why they chose each item. I include some obvious symbols, like a small cross, as well as more abstract symbols, such as shells, rocks, string, etc. The more abstract symbols help students think creatively instead of simply matching items. Check out this post for more info.
5. Artistic Reflections of the Stations of the Cross
Encourage students to draw or paint their own images of the Stations of the Cross. They can create a personal reflection booklet with their illustrations and short prayers. This FREE Blackout Poetry activity is my ALL-TIME favorite Lent Activity. The students reflect on the Passion through scripture and can draw their own image as a part of the poetry. Seriously–this activity is amazing. Pass it out to your students and watch magic happen.
6. Create a Stations of the Cross Walk
Print or draw images of the 14 Stations and place them around the room, hallway, or even outdoors. Have students or children move from station to station, pausing to reflect on each moment of Jesus’ Passion. I love to have the students draw the stations with black crayons (encouraging a rugged messy drawing) and then painting with watercolors to make it dramatic artwork.
Engaging Stations of the Cross Activities with Ready-to-Use Resources
For structured, interactive learning, my Stations of the Cross Reading Comprehension & Activity Bundle is a great way to engage students while reinforcing literacy skills. Here’s how these resources can enhance your lessons:
✝️ 7. Stations of the Trivia Cards
- Interactive trivia game for engaging Stations of the Cross learning
- Two play options: traditional trivia or walk-around-the-room activity
- Covers 14 Stations plus historical insights on saints and traditions
✝️8. Stations of the Cross Reading Comprehension Packet
- Three reading levels for differentiated learning (upper elementary, middle school, high school)
- 10 multiple-choice & 10 discussion questions for deeper understanding
- Mini-poster activity to help students summarize key ideas
✝️9. Stations of the Cross Student Presentation Project
- Step-by-step outline with Bible verses for each Station
- Prewriting worksheet to help students reflect on the Stations
- Example slides and rubric for clear expectations
Click here to get all of the Stations of the Cross activities for one low price!
Why Use These Stations of the Cross Activities?
These Stations of the Cross Activities will help students:
✅ Deepen their faith and understanding of Jesus’ Passion
✝️ Engage with Scripture and Catholic traditions
✅ Participate actively in their Lenten journey
✝️ Reflect in meaningful ways through art, discussion, and movement
Click here or here for more Lent ideas!
Make this Lent and Holy Week a time of deep reflection and faith-filled learning for your students! Try these ideas and resources to bring the Stations of the Cross to life.
April Catholic Kids Bulletin
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- ✨ 1. Enjoy a FREE Download!
- I created these bulletins as a new mom who couldn’t afford resources like this for my kiddos. So, these will always be free for anyone who needs them! Free downloads are made available a week or two before each new month begins.
- ✨2. Monthly Purchase
- Not ready to commit to a full year? No problem! You can buy this month’s bulletins for just $9 to help support my small business.
- ✨3. Full-Year Purchase
- Save time and get the entire YEAR of Catholic Kids Bulletins in one easy download! This comprehensive resource includes both Spanish and English versions, covering every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. This page includes detailed descriptions of the bulletins if you want more information.
- ✝️ Weekly Gospel Connection:
- Each bulletin includes a coloring page that reflects the week’s Gospel reading.
- ✨ Saint of the Week:
- Each week highlights a Catholic Saint, inspiring kids with the stories of holy men and women.
- ✍️ Weekly Activities:
- Kids can dive into fun activities, which are different every week. The bulletins may include Psalm tracing, mazes, color-by-number, puzzles, and word searches.
- ✔️Mass Liturgy Outline:
- The top of each bulletin features an outline of the Mass, helping kids learn the order and structure of the liturgy as they follow along.
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If you like these bulletins and likewise want to extend the learning about the Mass, check out these activities!
April Catholic Kids Bulletin
Abril Boletín para Niños Católicos
April Bulletins include…
- ✝️ Lent
- ✝️ Saint Faustina (I love this book for moms!)
- ✝️ Divine Mercy Sunday (Beautiful Prayer Handout & Coloring Page)
- ✝️ Holy Week
- ✝️ Palm Sunday
- ✝️ Mary, Mother of God
- ✝️ Saint Benedict of Palermo
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