Introduce young preschoolers to the main character in the lost sheep parable with a simple cut and paste activity. Help students cut out a sheep shape outline on plain black paper or pre-cut the shapes for younger preschoolers. Give each student a pile of white cotton balls and some glue and let them add a fluffy wool coat to their sheep as you discuss the shepherd's search.
Preschoolers join the story when they create simple lamb masks to wear during class. Use a paper plate or cut a round shape out of cardboard for each student. Cut two holes for their eyes and punch a hole in each side near the child's ears with a hole punch. Thread yarn through the side holes to tie onto each preschooler's head. Use cotton balls to add fluff to the sheep face and add construction paper ears to the top of the mask. Draw a black mouth and nose onto the mask with crayons or marker as a finishing touch.
Keep your empty egg cartons out of the trash while you teach the story of the lost lamb. Cut the cups of the egg carton apart with one for each preschooler. Glue white cotton ball fluff all over the upside down egg carton and add black construction paper ears. Glue on small googly eyes found at most craft stores to complete the little lost sheep. Students can also display all of their little sheep together as they pretend to be shepherds to their new flock.
Let your hands do the folding while you tell the simplified story of the little lost sheep to your preschoolers and watch them smile as you end up with a clever folded paper sheep. Help each student create their own out of a square of white paper before you discuss the story. Fold the square of paper diagonally in half to create a triangle and turn it so the fold is at the top. Fold the paper in half again matching the left and right corners and unfold so there is a crease down the middle of the triangle. Fold the top left and right corners down approximately three-fourths of the way to make ears for the sheep. Fold the outside points on the ears under a bit if desired. Fold the bottom tip of the triangle under for a flat nose. Add googly eyes and a black nose along with cotton balls to decorate the sheep.