Make a Giant Rosary With Kids

My daughter and I made a giant rosary out of pool noodles! We love to work on crafty stuff, and you can find all of my crafty rosary resources for kids here. This project is so much fun, such a great counting exercise, and a really good way to get kids excited about the rosary- plus, you can make it with just $3! Here’s my daughter with our completed rosary. 

Giant Pool Noodle Rosary

For making your own, you can pick up most of what you need at Dollar Tree.

Supplies Needed:

  • 2 Pool Noodles of different colors. (One for the “Hail Mary” beads, and one for the “Our Fathers”. Using a third color for the cross is optional). I used 1 pool noodle that was flower shaped, and one that was not.
  • Clothesline (or any small rope)
  • Scissors
  • Bread knife (or other serrated knife)
  • Cool Glue Gun

First, take the pool noodle that you selected for the Hail Marys and slice it into thin beads. You will need 53 total.

Cut-Out Pool Noodle Shapes

The pool noodle you have selected for the Our Fathers should be sliced about twice as thick as the others. You will need a total of 6 of these.

 

Now you’re ready to start stringing! String 10 small beads, 1 large bead, 10 small beads, 1 large bead, 10 small beads, 1 large bead, 10 small beads, 1 large bead, and then 10 more small beads. It should look something like this:

Pool Noodle Shapes Strung Together

For the rosary center, you can use a slice of a 3rd color of a pool noodle, or an extra Our Father bead. Poke holes in both sides with scissors, and bring your clothesline through.

Stringing Pool Noodle Shape

Tie the two ends together tightly, and trim one side off.

Tying-Off Pool Noodle String

Make another hole with scissors in the bottom of the rosary center, and bring the clothesline through like so:

Pool Noodle String

Next, string on one Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, and one more Our Father.

Now it’s time to make the cross. Start with 2 pieces of pool noodles, one the length you want your cross to be, and the other slightly shorter.

Pool Noodle Segments

Make 2 cuts halfway through the pool noodle. The cuts should be as far apart from each other as your pool noodle is wide.

Slits in Pool Noodle

Cut between the 2 cuts to connect them and remove a chunk.

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Chunk out of Pool Noodle

Repeat with your other cross-section.

Pool Noodles With Cutout Sections

Fit the 2 pieces together like lincoln logs to complete your cross. You can stick them together with your cool glue gun. (A glue gun that is too hot will melt the pool noodle).

Attatching Cross Parts

 

Pool Noodle Cross

Make a hole in the top of your cross, string the clothesline through, and make the completing knot.

Pool Noodle Cross

 

Pool Noodle Cross Tied On

 

Ta Da! Giant Rosary!
Giant Pool Noodle Rosary

These are so much fun, and I have some future plans for ours (especially during “R” week this school year). My daughter was really proud of it!

 

 
Giant Pool Noodle Rosary

More Catholic Pool Noodle Fun!

I now also have directions on how to make a giant Sacred and Immaculate Heart out of pool noodles. It can be used as a frisbee toss game or a larger-than-life yard decoration for the summertime.
 
Children Playing
 
 
Pool Noodle Monstrance

If you think this is a cool project, but you’re planning on doing it later in the year, you might want to go ahead and get some pool noodles now because you can’t find them when it’s not Summer time. More importantly, if you make one, send me pictures! 😉 Happy Catholic Crafting!

More Rosary Resources for Kids

 

As always, use caution when working with children, and never give them an inappropriate toy for their age. I can’t imagine that these are safe in pools, so use them with caution. Watch for choking hazards. Don’t give children knives or hot glue guns. Safety first!

Comments

  1. Oh, this is SO COOL! When I am able to get the pool noodles (i.e. when they’re in season!), I am going to help our kids make two…one for us, and one for our (small) church’s religious ed program!

  2. I love this! I teach in a Catholic school and can’t wait to get started on making this for my classroom! Great idea!

  3. Becky Hurt says

    Love this. Will use this for our next Jr. High retreat. What a great take home memory. Thank you for sharing.

  4. Sonja Campbell says

    I saw this last year and handed out the instructions on how to make it to my VBS class. As a reward to my students who remembered their verses I even gave out a pool noodle to them to help them get started! I would really like to make this craft for my kids this summer. Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas 🙂

  5. Barbara Eretto says

    What great resources for those with small hands! Thanks for having such a service to the little ones!

  6. Jennifer Brook says

    Wow, what a great idea!!! I can’t wait to try this with my 2nd grade Christian Formation class!! I love all these ideas, thank you so much for inspiring those of us who are also spreading God’s Word to children. 🙂

  7. Marilou Purpura says

    Hey Lacy I shared this on pinterest,blog page, but of course gave this site a recommendation. YOUR roasary is NOT on pinterest, under pool noodles, I don’t feel comfy since its not mine, I just want you to get credit, and want pinterest action. MOST of my daughters action comes from pinterest.

  8. Hello,
    What a fantastic idea you have with these pool noodles! I Can’t wait to make them. I just had a question. Do the still float well when turned to rosary’s? We love the pool noodles for floating around in the pool and other water places. Thanks so much.

    • They do still float, but due to safety concerns, I can’t suggest actually using them with children in a pool.

  9. That is such a good idea. I can’t wait to try it out.

  10. Kelli LeBlanc says

    Can you give me an estimate of how long the rope needs to be to make one whole rosary? Trying to plan ahead for summer faith camp. Thank you!!!!

    • Hi Kelli –

      That will really vary based on how thick the slices are that you use for your “beads.”

      Angie, Catholic Icing Project Manager

  11. Hello, I love this project, where can I find these types of pool noodles? I can only find the straight ones. please share. thanks have a blessed day.

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