SUBJECTS: Art and Religion
GRADE LEVELS: 2-8

OBJECTIVES:
To increase knowledge of saints, miracles and symbols.

TIME: 45 minutes to design puzzle with additional time for research

MATERIAL:
Construction Paper, manila folders or light tag board
Markers
Scissors
Resealable freezer Baggies with label to hold pieces
OR
Precut blank puzzles available at hobby stores.
Research materials on saints or time to do this project at home

ACTIVITIES:
1. Share your favorite saint with the class. Show them a drawing you made and some of the things you put on the edge to remind you of the saint. You might want to read a short story of a saint from Kids Explore America’s Catholic Heritage. These stories are a good length for an intro activity.
2. Demonstrate how to cut up your drawing and the sizes of each of your pieces. You might want to tell the kids how many pieces they can have so they don’t have too few or too many. Size of pieces will vary with age of child.
3. Give students some time to do research on their saint.
4. Have students draw a picture that represents their saint on construction paper.
5. Cut pieces apart to make a puzzle.
6. Store in freezer bags.
7. Have students share about their saint with a buddy and do each other’s puzzles.
8. After this activity, have each student share a fact about his or her partner’s saint.

EXTENSION: Make a classroom Saint Puzzle-see lesson plan. Students could glue their puzzle pieces on paper to display their saints on a special bulletin board.