Lent is here, and for Catholic school teachers, Sunday school leaders, and parish educators, it’s time to bring Lent activities for Catholic classrooms to life. But let’s be honest—explaining the significance of Lent to kids (without losing their attention by the second sentence) can be a challenge. How can you make Lent meaningful for young hearts and minds?
What is Lent? A Simple Explanation for Catholic Classrooms
Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving leading up to Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of Easter Sunday. During these 40 days, Catholics reflect on Jesus’ time in the desert, His sacrifice, and His call to conversion. It’s a time to grow closer to God by making sacrifices, helping others, and deepening faith.
The Three Pillars of Lent:
- Prayer – Strengthening our relationship with God through conversation, devotion, and reflection.
- Fasting – Giving up something meaningful to unite with Jesus’ sacrifice.
- Almsgiving – Acts of charity, kindness, and service to others.
For kids, it helps to explain that Lent is a time to reset—kind of like restarting a video game when things aren’t going well, except instead of fixing a level, we’re fixing our hearts.
Engaging Lent Activities for Catholic Classrooms
Instead of just talking about Lent, let’s help students experience it. Here are three engaging ways to bring Lent to life in your classroom, homeschool, or Sunday school–These engaging Lent activities for Catholic classrooms make Lent interactive, helping students experience the season beyond just hearing about it.
40 Days of Kindness with the Saints
The 40 Days of Kindness with the Saints activity set encourages kids to follow the examples of 40 inspiring saints through daily acts of kindness, short prayers, and reflection.
✔ Meet the Saints – Each day, kids learn about a saint like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Mother Teresa, or St. Joan of Arc.
✔ Perform a Kindness Challenge – Simple, meaningful acts inspired by the saints.
✔ Daily Prayer & Reflection – Helps children connect faith with action.
Explore the full 40-day kindness challenge here: 40 Days of Kindness with the Saints
Teach the Symbols of Lent with Visual Posters
From ashes to palms, the Symbols of Lent Poster Set helps students visually understand the significance of this sacred season.
✔ 12 Beautifully Designed Posters – Each featuring a key Lenten symbol (cross, tomb, chalice, etc.).
✔ Engaging Explanations & Bible Verses – Making faith lessons easy to digest.
✔ Great for Bulletin Boards, Prayer Corners, and Religion Class
For teachers who love visual learning, this set is a must-have. It brings faith to life, making Lent more concrete and relatable for students.
Download the Symbols of Lent Poster Set here: Symbols of Lent Posters
Introduce the Lives of Catholic Saints
Saints can inspire kids to live out their faith during Lent. The Catholic Saints for Kids Bulletin Board features 24 incredible saints, each with a brief biography. Displaying these in your classroom or parish hall is a fantastic way to introduce kids to real-life faith heroes who exemplify prayer, sacrifice, and service.
✔ Interactive Bulletin Board – Great for discussions on saintly virtues.
✔ Perfect for Lent & Easter – Use during Holy Week lessons.
✔ Printable & Easy to Use – Just download, print, and display!
Saints like St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Patrick, and St. John Paul II all have inspiring stories that connect beautifully with Lenten themes.
Grab the Saints for Kids Bulletin Board here: Catholic Saints Poster Set
Other Great Resources for Catholic Educators
–Lenten Lesson Plans for Catholic Schools – Ideas for classroom activities, crafts, and faith-building discussions.
–Lenten Calendar – Daily Scripture readings, prayers, and fasting ideas.
–Dynamic Catholic’s Best Lent Ever – Free video reflections to inspire your Lenten journey.
Final Thoughts: Make Lent More Than Just a Classroom Lesson
Lent is a season of transformation, not just a countdown to Easter candy. By incorporating acts of kindness, meaningful visuals, and inspiring saints, teachers and catechists can help students experience Lent as a journey of faith, reflection, and love.
Whether it’s through daily acts of kindness, visual storytelling with Lent symbols, or learning about the saints, these resources make Lent interactive, engaging, and deeply personal for young learners.
So, this Lent, let’s go beyond just teaching the season—let’s help kids live it.
What’s your favorite way to teach Lent in the classroom? Let me know in the comments!
Check out my full collection of Catholic classroom resources for Lent here!
Check out my Catholic classroom resources bundle here!
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