Praying the Rosary with Preschoolers: A Floor Decade Rosary

The decade rosary made out of paper is a way for kids to be up and moving while praying.  And, best of all, it is super simple.

To make the floor decade rosary you will need 7 sheets of cardstock or construction paper.

Put a heart on one of the sheets of cardstock or construction paper.  The heart is for the “Sign of the Cross” and the “Our Father” prayers.  [Note:  This also goes along with the heart on the decade rosary made from beads.]  You can color and draw the heart or you can print it — depending on how much time you have.

On another sheet of cardstock or construction paper, draw or print a cross for the “Glory Be” and the “Sign of the Cross” prayers.

If you want to print the heart and cross, here is the pdf.

 

Now cut five sheets of cardstock or construction paper in half and use them for the “Hail Mary” beads.

Lay the papers out on the floor in a line:  the heart, 10 half sheets of paper, and the cross.  And you are ready to pray a decade of the rosary!

Before praying the rosary, I reminded the children to not jump or run on the papers because the papers will move and the children could easily fall.

The children begin by standing on the paper with the heart.  Pray the “Sign of the Cross” and the “Our Father”.

Step forward to the first half sheet of paper and pray the “Hail Mary”.

Step forward to the next half sheet of paper and pray another “Hail Mary”.

Continue stepping forward and praying “Hail Marys” until you reach the cross.

While standing on the cross, pray the “Glory Be” and the “Sign of the Cross.”

 

[Note:  You can use this decade rosary on the floor with the decade rosary made out of beads.  Children use their feet to step on the floor “beads” and use their hands to move the plastic beads.]