K-2 Catechism Lesson: Jesus Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22-33)

When teaching young children about the miracles of Jesus, few stories capture their imagination quite like the story, Jesus Walks on Water. For our littlest believers (Pre-K to 2nd Grade), this story isn't just an incredible miracle—it’s a powerful, visual lesson on trust, faith, and knowing that Jesus is always there to catch us when we sink.  

This simple, low-prep lesson plan utilizes a multi-sensory approach to keep early learners fully engaged.

1. Open with the Word: Scripture & Storytelling, Jesus Walks on Water

Start your lesson gathered together in a comfortable circle or sit comfortably on the couch and have your child sit on your lap as you read a children's Bible together. If you have a wooden Jesus doll or a small toy boat, bring them out to help visually tell the story.

• Read the Scripture: Read Matthew 14:22-33: Jesus Walks on Water from a child-friendly Bible, or summarize the narrative simply:  

  
  

  Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him in a boat. Late at night, a giant storm came, and the waves were tossing the boat up and down! Suddenly, the disciples saw someone walking on top of the water. They were scared, but Jesus called out, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter stepped out of the boat to walk to Jesus, but when he looked at the big wind, he got scared and began to sink. He cried, "Lord, save me!" and immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.  

  
  

• Discussion Wonder Prompt: * “How do you think Peter felt when he looked at the big waves instead of looking at Jesus?”

  • “What did Jesus do the exact moment Peter asked for help?”

2. Hands-On Activity Blocks

Keep small fingers moving while reinforcing the story's key themes. You can pick and choose from these simple activities based on your schedule:

Paper Tearing Wave Craft (Fine Motor Skill)

Give your child a printout of Jesus reaching out to Peter in the water.  

• How to do it: Provide sheets of blue construction paper. Instead of using scissors, have your child rip and tear the paper into small strips and pieces.  

  
  

• The Lesson: Glue the torn blue paper over the wavy lines to create a roaring sea. Talk about how even the biggest, wildest waves have to obey Jesus!  

  
  

Boat Dot-to-Dot (Math Integration)

• How to do it: Use a simple 1 to 10 dot-to-dot sheet of the disciples' boat.  

  
  

• The Lesson: Have your child carefully count aloud from 1 to 10 as they connect the lines to build the boat. Once completed, let them color the boat and write the names of the disciples inside.  

Jesus Walks On Water Bible Story Activity Pages

$1.50

Buy Now

3. Vocabulary & Handwriting Practice

Introduce early literacy concepts centered around the sea and the storm.  

• Word Wall Tracing: Introduce four core words from the lesson: Storm, Boat, Waves, and Sea. Have your child trace the letters to practice letter formation and phonics.  

• Left-to-Right Tracking: Use wave-tracing sheets. Have children guide their pencils or crayons along the dotted curved paths from the sinking Peter over to Jesus, practicing the left-to-right hand movements essential for early reading.  

4. Simple Science Integration: Sink vs. Float

Bring the miracle into real life with a quick science experiment that directly ties into Peter's journey onto the water.

The Setup: Fill a large clear bowl or plastic container with water. Gather a few household objects (e.g., a plastic toy boat, a heavy rock, a twig, a coin, a sponge).

The Experiment: Before dropping each item in, ask your child to predict: "Will it sink, or will it float?"

The Catechism Connection: Rocks and heavy things naturally sink, while lightweight wooden boats float. Peter was a heavy human—he should have sunk immediately! But as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, faith let him do the impossible. When he doubted, he began to sink—but Jesus was right there to pull him back up. 

Journaling: Have your child draw one item that sank and one item that floated in their science journal

5. Liturgical Feast Day Treat:

Jell-O Ocean Cups Celebrate the sweet truth that Jesus calms our storms with a themed snack.

What you need: Blue Raspberry Jell-O, clear plastic cups, graham crackers, and gummy bears.

How to make it: Prepare the blue Jell-O according to the package instructions and pour it into clear cups to represent the Sea of Galilee. Once set, break off a small triangular piece of graham cracker to look like a boat sail, and place a gummy bear on top as "Peter" sailing safely on top of the blue waves!

Want to download a sample of Jesus Walks on Water Pre-K & K Activity Pack featuring the coloring pages, word puzzles, and tracing sheets used in this lesson?

Enter your email below to join our mailing list, and we'll send the free PDF sample printable directly to your inbox!

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST