Stained Glass Unit Study

Stained Glass Lesson Plans

Stained glass has a way of stopping you in your tracks. Whether it’s sunlight pouring through a church window or a colorful panel hanging in someone’s home, it’s hard not to be drawn in by the glowing colors and shapes. But stained glass is more than just decoration—it’s a blend of history, craftsmanship, and creativity that’s been around for centuries. In this unit, you’ll explore how it’s made, what it’s used for, and even try your hand at creating your own version. It also pairs wonderfully with other badges like Mosaics, Art, or Glass Art, if you want to dive even deeper into the world of glass.

What is Stained Glass?

Stained glass is a type of art made by arranging pieces of colored glass into a design or picture, kind of like putting together a glowing puzzle. The pieces are usually held in place with strips of lead or copper, and sometimes details are painted on with special glass paint. Once everything is in place, the glass is soldered together and framed to create a finished panel. What makes stained glass really special is how it plays with light—when sunlight shines through, the colors come alive and cast beautiful patterns around the room. It’s both a craft and an art form, and once you understand how it’s made, you’ll never look at a stained glass window the same way again.

See It for Yourself

If you have the chance, take a field trip to see stained glass in person—visit a local church, museum, or even a public building with decorative windows. Seeing the way light filters through the glass makes a big difference, especially when you can move around and notice how the colors shift. If an in-person trip isn’t possible, try a virtual tour instead. YouTube has some excellent options, like The Stained Glass Museum Virtual Tour, which gives a close-up look at both traditional and modern stained glass from around the world. Either way, take time to really observe the colors, shapes, and stories hidden in the glass.

(Fulfills Preschool requirement #1 or optional requirement #13)

Stained Glass Search & Find

This activity invites students to slow down and really study how stained glass designs come together. Click on and print out the black-and-white coloring pages provided—each one features a stained glass-style image with hidden objects cleverly tucked into the design. There’s a simpler version for younger kids and a more detailed one for older students and adults. As they search for the hidden items, they’ll also get to choose their own colors to fill in the image. Encourage them to think about how the colors they select affect the overall look and feel of the design, just like real stained glass artists do.

Create Your Own Faux Stained Glass

One of the easiest and most beautiful ways to explore stained glass art is by making your own faux version with tissue paper. This hands-on craft lets students experiment with color, shape, and light—no glass or soldering required! Using a simple black paper frame, clear contact paper, and bits of colorful tissue, kids can layer their design to mimic the look of real stained glass. When hung in a sunny window, the light shines through just like the real thing, bringing their artwork to life. It’s a fun, mess-free project that works for all ages and helps students understand how light and color work together in stained glass design.

(Fulfills Preschool requirement #2 )

Supplies Needed:

• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Clear contact paper or laminating film
• Colored tissue paper

Instructions:

1. Cut a shape (e.g., butterfly, cross, heart) from black construction paper. Remove the center so it forms a “frame.” (or click on the the provided butterfly frame below to print)
2. Place the shape face down onto the sticky side of the contact paper.
3. Tear or cut tissue paper into small pieces.
4. Stick the tissue onto the contact paper inside the frame. Try to keep the tissue within the outside edge of the frame.
5. Cover with a second sheet of contact paper to seal it.
6. Trim the edges and hang in a sunny window.

Build-a-Window Vocabulary Game

Turn vocabulary practice into a creative challenge with this Build-a-Window game! In this activity, students earn pieces of a stained glass “window” by correctly matching vocabulary words with their definitions or clues. Each correct match lets them add a new colored piece to their paper window design. Once all the terms are matched—like lead came, solder, flux, and panel—they’ll have a complete stained glass-style artwork to show off. It’s a fun way to reinforce key terms while keeping hands and minds engaged. Plus, the final window makes a great visual reminder of what they’ve learned.

(Fulfills Level 3 requirement #2 )

Supplies Needed:

• Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Black and white printed window template for each team
• Color printed window template for each team
• Printable game card clues

Instructions:

1. Click on each of the templates below and print one of each for each team.
2. Cut the colored template into 10 separate pieces: the frame, the sun, and 8 sky panels.
3. Click on the game cards and print out a set for each team. Cut into cards and place each set face down in a stack in front of the teams.
4. Give each team a copy of the black and white template and a glue stick.
5. Alternating teams, the leader/teacher takes the top card and reads the clue. If the team has the correct answer they can glue one colored piece to their window and that card gets left face up next to their deck. If they get it wrong they do not add a piece to their window and the card goes back to the bottom of the deck.
6. First team to complete their window wins. (If teams finish on the same round it is a tie regardless of which team went first.)

Stained Glass Timeline

Looking for a creative way to make a timeline? Check out my blog post, “9 Timeline Activities to Make History Come Alive,” for ideas that go beyond just writing dates on a line. Combine those activities with the 15 stained glass events listed here to create a timeline that’s as unique and colorful as the topic itself. Whether you’re working with one student or a whole group, there’s something in there to fit your style.

Another timeline option is to use the tissue paper faux stained glass project above and to create a separate “window” for each event. Click on the frames below to print and cut out enough for each event on your timeline. Follow the directions for the tissue paper project. Then use a sharpie to write the date and event in the center of each window. Hang them in chronological order to create your timeline.

Fulfills Level 2 requirement #2

1. 100 AD – Early Colored Glass in Rome
Romans develop colored glass techniques for vessels and small decorative windows, laying the groundwork for future stained glass artistry.

2. 675 AD – Oldest Known Stained Glass in England
Fragments found at St. Peter’s Monastery in Monkwearmouth–Jarrow mark some of the earliest surviving stained glass used in architecture.

3. 1100s – Gothic Cathedral Boom in Europe
Stained glass becomes a storytelling medium in churches like Chartres Cathedral (France), using large lancet windows to depict biblical scenes.

4. 1194 – Chartres Cathedral’s Blue Glass Innovation
Chartres pioneers a rich cobalt blue glass, now iconic in medieval stained glass art, made with cobalt oxide.

5. 1300s – Use of Silver Stain Begins
Artists discover that applying silver nitrate and firing it creates vibrant yellow hues—introducing a new palette for storytelling.

6. 1400s – Flashed Glass Becomes Common
Thin layers of colored glass are fused onto clear glass, allowing artists to etch through the top layer to reveal fine details underneath.

7. 1600s – Decline During Reformation and Puritanism
Many stained glass windows are destroyed or whitewashed due to iconoclasm, especially in Protestant regions.

8. 1800s – Gothic Revival and Stained Glass Resurgence
Architects like Augustus Pugin and artists like William Morris revive medieval stained glass methods for churches and public buildings.

9. 1847 – Invention of Cathedral Glass
A machine-rolled, textured glass made in the U.S. and England becomes popular for its affordability and use in Victorian homes and churches.

10. 1870s – Tiffany and American Opalescent Glass
Louis Comfort Tiffany and John La Farge develop opalescent glass, combining colors within a single sheet and creating depth without painting.

11. 1893 – Tiffany Exhibits at World’s Fair
Tiffany Studios presents stained glass lamps and windows at the Chicago World’s Fair, popularizing stained glass as fine decorative art.

12. Early 1900s – Stained Glass in Secular Architecture
Art Nouveau and later Art Deco architects integrate stained glass into homes, offices, and public spaces for aesthetic design.

13. 1940s – WWII Damage and Post-War Restoration
Many historic stained glass windows across Europe are damaged or lost; decades of restoration follow, using both traditional and modern techniques.

14. 1960s – Scientific Glass Innovations
Developments in chemistry and materials science improve the durability, coloration, and firing methods used in modern stained glass art.

15. Today – Digital and LED-Integrated Stained Glass
Contemporary artists combine traditional stained glass with digital design tools and modern lighting for innovative installations in both sacred and secular spaces.

Watch the Magic Happen

One of the best ways to truly understand stained glass is to watch an artist in action. If you have a local stained glass studio nearby, plan a visit and see the process unfold in person—from cutting glass to soldering the final pieces together. If a field trip isn’t an option, find a how-to video on YouTube that shows the full process. Pay close attention to the tools being used, like glass cutters, grinders, foiling tools, and soldering irons. What safety gear do they wear? (Look for gloves, goggles, and even ventilation fans.) Watching a skilled artisan work brings the science and artistry of stained glass to life in a way books and photos simply can’t.

A few good videos to get you started include:

• How was it made? Stained glass window | V&A
• Beginner Stained Glass Studio Set Up for Small Spaces
• I Spent Days With A Top Stained Glass Studio – here’s what happened
• STAINED GLASS FOR BEGINNER – COMPLETE STEP BY STEP VIRTUAL LEARNING – SUNCATCHER

Fulfills Level 4 requirement #2