"He has risen!"
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Amid all the secular symbols of Easter
such as bunnies, chicks, and candy, it is essential that we
instill in our children a knowledge of the real meaning of Easter.
They need to see clearly that the resurrection of Jesus from the
tomb is a central doctrine of Christianity. As Paul says in 1
Corinthians 15:14: "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching
is useless and so is your faith."
*Bring some colored Easter eggs and hide them around the
area. Let the children hunt the eggs, explaining that they are to
find only one and then return. After they all have an egg, ask
them why the egg is a symbol of Easter. Lead them into an
understanding that just as a live baby chick will emerge from the
egg, Jesus emerged from the tomb alive. Emphasize the importance
to each of us of the resurrection of Jesus.
*Show the children a picture of a caterpillar. (Bring a live
one if you can find one.) Show a picture of a cocoon and explain
how the caterpillar spins the cocoon around itself. Ask them what
will emerge from the cocoon and then show a picture of a beautiful
butterfly. See if they can now tell you why the butterfly is a
symbol of Easter.
*Read the Gospel account of the resurrection and then ask
each of the children to draw a picture of something they heard in
the story. When they are done, let some or all of the children
show their pictures and explain what they have drawn.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Greet the children with a loud "He is risen!" Teach them to
respond to this by saying, "He is risen indeed!" Do this a few
times until they will always respond to your, "He is risen!" with
their own, "He is risen indeed!" Now ask some of the children to
explain what this is all about. Why do we get so excited about the
resurrection? What does it mean to us?
such as bunnies, chicks, and candy, it is essential that we
instill in our children a knowledge of the real meaning of Easter.
They need to see clearly that the resurrection of Jesus from the
tomb is a central doctrine of Christianity. As Paul says in 1
Corinthians 15:14: "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching
is useless and so is your faith."
*Bring some colored Easter eggs and hide them around the
area. Let the children hunt the eggs, explaining that they are to
find only one and then return. After they all have an egg, ask
them why the egg is a symbol of Easter. Lead them into an
understanding that just as a live baby chick will emerge from the
egg, Jesus emerged from the tomb alive. Emphasize the importance
to each of us of the resurrection of Jesus.
*Show the children a picture of a caterpillar. (Bring a live
one if you can find one.) Show a picture of a cocoon and explain
how the caterpillar spins the cocoon around itself. Ask them what
will emerge from the cocoon and then show a picture of a beautiful
butterfly. See if they can now tell you why the butterfly is a
symbol of Easter.
*Read the Gospel account of the resurrection and then ask
each of the children to draw a picture of something they heard in
the story. When they are done, let some or all of the children
show their pictures and explain what they have drawn.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Greet the children with a loud "He is risen!" Teach them to
respond to this by saying, "He is risen indeed!" Do this a few
times until they will always respond to your, "He is risen!" with
their own, "He is risen indeed!" Now ask some of the children to
explain what this is all about. Why do we get so excited about the
resurrection? What does it mean to us?
