Lesson Plan- (Pre K - K): Easter

Easter/Empty Tomb


Objectives: The children will be able to
- retell the Easter/Empty Tomb story
- explain that on Easter Jesus rose from the dead
- discuss resurrection



Review:
Prayer and questions from last week’s lesson.



Vocabulary Words:

dltk-bible.com- Easter Word Wall Word Templates (scroll down for this.). Word wall templates are large flash card printables that you can hang on the wall to aid children when they are learning or using new vocabulary words. Use the cards you want that are posted.

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Easter Wordwall Cards (scroll down for this)

prekinders.com- Christian Easter Picture-Word Cards



Plan:


Circle Time:


Read your Easter/Empty Tomb story to the children. Then ask the questions from below:

Where was Jesus buried? (In a tomb.)

Why were guards placed around the tomb? (The Jewish leaders asked Pilate to put guards at the tomb because they were afraid someone might try to steal the body and claim that Jesus had come alive again.)

Later when Jesus’ friends came to the tomb, was Jesus inside? (No)

Why was Jesus' body not in the tomb? (Because he had risen from the dead.)

What day did Jesus rise from the dead? (Easter Sunday)



Songs and/or Finger Plays:

Introduce songs and/or finger plays:

theholidayzone.com- Christian Easter Songs and Fingerplays

Go and Tell (Wiggly, Giggly Bible Stories about Jesus by Group Publishing)
Children stand in a circle and complete the actions with the children standing next to them. (Scroll down to this.)

Go and tell a friend (Have children repeat the phrase.)
That Jesus was buried in a grave. (Have children repeat phrase.)
Now go and tell everyone while you sadly pat a back. (Encourage each child to turn to the child next to him or her, gently pat his or her back, and repeat the phrase “Jesus was buried in a grave.”)

Go and tell a friend. (Have children repeat the phrase.)
Jesus was dead for three days. (Have children repeat the phrase.)
Now go and tell everyone as you count to three. (Encourage each child to turn to the child next to him or her, count to three, and repeat the phrase “Jesus was dead for three days.”)

Go and tell a friend. (Have children repeat the phrase.)
The sad women went to the grave. (Have children repeat.)
Now go tell everyone as you hug and cry. (Encourage each child to turn to the child next to him or her, hug him or her, and repeat the phrase “The sad women went to the grave.”)

Go and tell a friend. (Repeat)
There was a giant earthquake. (Repeat)
Now go and tell everyone as you tremble and shake. (Encourage children to move around and shake as they repeat the phrase “There was a giant earthquake.”)

Go and tell a friend. (Repeat)
That an angel met the women. (Repeat)
Now go and tell everyone as you cover your eyes from the brightness of the angel. (Encourage children to turn to the child next to them and repeat the phrase “There was a giant earthquake,” as he or she covers his or her eyes.)

Go and tell a friend. (Repeat)
That Jesus is alive! (Repeat)
Now go and tell everyone as you pass out hugs of happiness!
(Encourage children to share hugs with the children next to them as they repeat the phrase “Jesus is alive!”



hubbardscupboard.org- Jesus Died For You and Me, Jesus Died For All The Children, Jesus Saved Me, etc. (songs)
Scroll down to these.



Activities:

Introduce activities: What day did Jesus rise from the dead? (Easter Sunday)

dltk-bible.com- The Easter Story lesson with memory verse, teacher's guide, puzzles, take home sheet, coloring pages, crafts, etc.

godshand.clclutheran.org- The Resurrection lesson with activities

Easter Lapbooks- Make an Easter lapbook to celebrate the Easter season.

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Easter Bible Printables
A collection of free Easter Crafts, Printables and Resources you can use in your personal homeschool or Sunday School Classroom!

lambsongs.co.nz- Easter booklets and coloring books (in color or black and white)

ouroutofsynclife.com- An Easter Activity Workbook: Take Me to the Cross (preschool)

truewaykids.com- Easter Lesson

ministry-to-children.com- Easter Sunday (Preschool Bible Lesson)

ministryspark.com- Jesus Is Alive! Easter Sunday (Preschool and Elementary Lesson)

prekinders.com- Easter: Christian Preschool Activities

daniellesplace.com- Free Easter Lesson

simplelivingmama.com- Easter Theme Preschool Activities and Lesson Plans

ouroutofsynclife.com- An Easter Activity Workbook: Take Me to the Cross (FREE)



Crafts:

daniellesplace.com- Easter Crafts

The Empty Tomb- A cute craft that the children will get to "roll the stone away" on Jesus' tomb to retell the story of the resurrection. (Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke, page 57 & 58).

catholicicing.com- Printable Resurrection Set

prekinders.com- Life of Jesus: Easter Cross Craft (scroll down to this)

jesus-without-language.net- Mary Magdalene (John 20) | Craft 1

jesus-without-language.net- Mary Magdalene (John 20) | Craft 2

jesus-without-language.net- Mary Magdalene (John 20) | Craft 3

The Empty Tomb- A cute craft that the children will get to "roll the stone away" on Jesus' tomb to retell the story of the resurrection. Even though this comes from a preschool craft book, it is appropriate for older children to do. (Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke, page 57 & 58).

Resurrection Story Wheel- Children turn their story wheel dial to retell the Resurrection of Jesus story they learned over and over again. Even though this comes from a preschool craft book, it is appropriate for older children to do. (Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke, page 37, 38, 39, 40, and 42).

conservamome.com- Resurrection Easter Craft : A Printable Easter Story Craft

Resurrection Story Wheel- Children turn their story wheel dials to retell the Bible story they learned over and over again. (Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke. Directions on page 37 - 39, craft template on page 40 & 42.)

Easter- Bible Story Wheel (Bible Wheels to Make and Enjoy by Carmen Sorvillo, page 57 & 58.)

storiesbystephen.com- Easter Story Wheel

hubbardscupboard.org- Easter Scripture Reading Wheel (scroll down to this)

nontoygifts.com- The Easter Story Wheel Craft

cedargrove.org- Jesus Lives Story Wheel (page 2 & 3)

lambsongs.co.nz- He is Risen (Craft Wheel)

teacherspayteachers.com- The Easter Story Wheel (Distance Learning)

Resurrection Story Wheel- Children turn their story wheel dials to retell the Bible story they learned over and over again. (Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke. Directions on page 37 - 39, craft template on page 40 & 42.)

teacherspayteachers.com- The Easter Story Wheel (Distance Learning)

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Empty Tomb Easter Craft, Easter Cross Watercolor, Stained Glass Easter Cross, He Is Risen Easter Craft, etc. (scroll down to these)

totallytots.blogspot.com- Jesus is Risen! (craft)

dltk-bible.com- The Angel Rolled Away the Stone craft


Introduce craft: Have you ever heard of the Jelly Bean Prayer?

craftbits.com- Jellybean Jar

mama-jean.blogspot.com- Jelly Bean Prayer label (printable)

churchhousecollection.blogspot.com- Jelly Bean Prayer Toilet Paper Roll Craft For Easter


Introduce craft: Remember the caterpillar we made at Lent? We made a caterpillar to remind us that we are to change during Lent and become more like Jesus. Now the caterpillar has changed. What did he change into? A butterfly. Let’s have our caterpillars change into a butterfly.

Butterfly- A butterfly is made from using the child's handprints. The butterfly represents how the caterpillar changed and became a butterfly and received new life. (From the Hands of a Child by Anthony Flores, page 40).

Plastic Bag Butterfly- A beautiful magnet butterfly to represent new life. (Crafts to make in the Spring by Kathy Ross, pages 52 & 53).

onelittleproject.com- How to Make Classic Coffee Filter Butterflies

freepreschoolcrafts.com- Plastic Bag Butterfly- Make this butterfly according to the directions or use a painted clothes pin for the body that has googly eyes glued on it. Gather the plastic bag together at the center and slide it between the clamps of the clothes pin. Shape some pipe cleaner into antennae and glue the center of the pipe cleaner between the clamps of the clothespin. You can make this into a magnet by putting a sticky magnet on the back of the clothespin.

firstpalette.com- Coffee Filter Butterflies



Games:

toysinthedryer.com- Easter Story in an Egg Hunt

thehopefilledfamily.com- DIY Resurrection Eggs (with free Story Book PDF!) also has free printable pictures to put inside the eggs

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Make Your Own Resurrection Eggs (scroll down to this for printable pictures to put inside the eggs)

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Easter Bingo, Easter Memory Match Game, Easter Spin To Win Game, etc. (scroll down to these)

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Easter Story Printable Game
This is a file folder game about the Resurrection of Easter time, and goes perfectly with the Resurrection Eggs below. Children move their player along the board collecting different picture representations to the true Easter Story.

filefolderfun.com- These file folder games all have a fun Easter theme. You'll find games for all ages and abilities that can easily be adapted for special needs student.


Introduce game: What was rolled away from the tomb where Jesus laid?

Who’s Got The Stone?

Need: One small rock

Directions: One student is picked to be “It”. All the students (except "It") put both of their hands together and form a cup with just a little hole up on top. The teacher walks around and pretends to put the stone in someone's hand. One student will actually get the stone. The student who is “It” is then asked by the teacher, "Who's got the stone?". Whoever has the stone is "It". (Game is like “Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button?).


You Can’t Keep Jesus Down- Your children will discover that even thought people tried to keep Jesus in the grave, they couldn’t; just as Jesus said. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 148).

kidssundayschool.com- In the Tomb, Out of the Tomb
A good energy burner, game can be adjusted to fit many different themes.



This game is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.

The Empty Tomb File Folder Game- The objective of the game is to get to the empty tomb first. Players take turns spinning the spinner and then moving their marker ahead to the next space of that color. (Like Candy Land)



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What did they find in the tomb? It was empty.

christiancrafters.com- Empty Tomb Snacks

dltk-holidays.com- He’s Alive Buns

dltk-kids.com- Resurrection Cake

dltk-kids.com- Resurrection Rolls


Note: You can make these cookies below the night before and have the students make another batch during class and seal up the oven. While the students are doing another activity, you can remove their cookies and add the batch you made the night before.

crosswalk.com- Resurrection Story Cookies


Introduce snack: Jesus died and received new life. A caterpillar changes into something. What does he become?

christiancrafters.com- New Life Butterfly Snack



Coloring/Puzzles/Worksheets:

Prayers while students are doing coloring/puzzles/worksheets.

sermons4kids.com- Resurrection (coloring)

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Easter Coloring Pages, He Is Risen Easter Puzzle, Jelly Bean Prayer Cards, Jelly Bean Prayer Mini Booklet, Jelly Bean Prayer Coloring Page, Jelly Bean Puzzle, and Easter/Resurrection Bible Puzzles (scroll down to these)

lambsongs.co.nz- 5 booklets and one page Bible stories to print out for the children to color

biblestoryprintables.com- Easter Bible Minibook (scroll down to this)

teacherspayteachers.com- EASTER The JESUS Bible Story Activity Pack with Guided Story Book (FREE)

first-school.ws- The Resurrection of Jesus | Printable Puzzle Craft
Children color then make an easy puzzle that they can put together.

ateachingmommy.com- Easter Symbols {Expanded} (LOTS of free printables)

sermons4kids.com- The Resurrection (Maze)

Jesus Lives for You (find the hidden picture)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s World: PK – K by Linda Standke, page 29.

Where Is He? (dot-to-dot)- Dot-To-Dot Bible Pictures PK-K by Linda Standke, page 29.

Jesus Lives for You (find the hidden picture) page 128, Where Is He? (dot-to-dot) page 129, and Jesus Lives (put the pictures in order) page 130- Bible Story Puzzle ‘n’ Learn! PK-K

prekinders.com- Jesus is Risen: Easter Sequencing, Jesus is Risen Mini Book (scroll down to these)

ouroutofsynclife.com- An Easter Activity Workbook: Take Me to the Cross (FREE)

looktohimandberadiant.com- The Way of Light Mini Book & Full Size Coloring Book
During Lent, we pray the Way of the Cross, the fourteen stations that tell the story of Jesus' Passion and Death. During Easter, there is also a set of fourteen stations about the stories that happened between the Resurrection and Pentecost. The Biblical accounts are collected with simple pictures and the Scripture references in this mini coloring book: The Way of Light