Holy Week, Week 4 (Mar. 31, 2024)
The Empty Tomb
Bible Passage: John 20:10-18
Big Idea: We Are Part of God’s Work In The World
Preschool-Kindergarten
Welcome — Activity Leader — 2 minutes
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class and introduce yourselves.
Warm-Up Activity: Easter Sensory Bins — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Intro & Bible Story— Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Happy Easter! Today is our last day talking about the Easter story.
First we learned that Jesus had a special dinner with his friends where he said that someone was going to turn against him. And then Jesus went to a garden with his friends to pray because he was scared of what was about to happen to him.
Then last week we learned that Jesus got arrested, and instead of fighting back, he showed everyone that being peaceful is God’s better way. Finally, on Good Friday, Jesus went to the cross and then was buried in a tomb for three days. On Easter we celebrate Jesus coming back to life again!
Let’s watch our video to see what happened in that part of the story…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Does anyone remember the name of the person who saw Jesus first when he came back to life? (Mary Magdalene - one of Jesus’ friends)
When Mary first saw Jesus, she didn’t recognize him. Who did she think he was? (the gardener)
Then when Mary realized that it was actually Jesus and he was alive, she was so excited. What was the first thing she did? (she ran to go tell the others the great news)
So even though Mary wasn’t one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, she still had a very important part in Jesus’ plan. Do you think that we can also have an important part in God’s big plans in the world?
What kind of things do you think we can do to share God’s goodness and love to others?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how Jesus came back to life again, showing how powerful and good you are. Thank you that just like Mary Magdalene, we all have an important part in your great plan for the world. We can share your love and goodness with others in so many different ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Empty Tomb Mural — Activity Leader — 7 minutes
Kids will make sunburst art using paper strips. They can draw a cross, Jesus, or an empty tomb, and create a sunburst around it by gluing the pre-cut paper strips.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Free Play — Both — 7 minutes
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
Grades 1-3
Welcome —Both— 3 minutes
Have the children sit near the TV. Welcome them to class. Introduce yourselves .
Warm Up Activity: Easter Treasure Hunt — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Read: Kids will each get a bingo card and will try to find all of the Easter pictures hidden around the room (without taking down the pictures)
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Happy Easter! Today is our last day talking about the Easter story.
First we learned that Jesus had a last supper with his disciples where he said that someone was going to betray him. Then Jesus went to a garden with his friends to pray because he was scared of what was about to happen to him.
Last week we learned that Jesus got arrested, and instead of fighting back, he showed everyone that being peaceful is God’s better way. And finally, on Good Friday, Jesus went to the cross and then was buried in a tomb for three days. On Easter we celebrate Jesus coming back to life again!
Let’s watch our video to see what happened in that part of the story…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Does anyone remember the name of the person who saw Jesus first when he came back to life? (Mary Magdalene - one of Jesus’ friends)
When Mary first saw Jesus, she didn’t recognize him. Who did she think he was? (the gardener)
Then when Mary realized that it was actually Jesus and he was alive, she was so excited. What was the first thing she did? (she ran to go tell the others the great news)
So even though Mary wasn’t one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, she still had a very important part in Jesus’ plan. Do you think that we can also have an important part in God’s big plans in the world?
What kind of things do you think we can do to share God’s goodness and love to others?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how Jesus came back to life again after three days in the tomb, showing how powerful and good you are. Thank you that just like Mary Magdalene, we all have an important part in your great plan for the world. Please help us to see the many different ways that we can share your love and goodness with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Empty Tomb Mural — Activity Leader — 10 mins
Kids will make sunburst art using paper strips. They can draw a cross, Jesus, or an empty tomb, and create a sunburst around it by gluing the pre-cut paper strips.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
Grades 4-6
Welcome and Warm-Up — Activity Leader— 5 minutes
Welcome the kids to class, introduce yourselves.
Game: Easter Egg Minute to Win It Challenges
Using plastic Easter eggs, compete in a variety of challenges
Egg Toss - put a basket at one end of the room while kids stand at a designated point on the other side. They will try to get as many eggs into the basket in one minute as they can.
Egg Stack - kids have to try to stack as many egg halves as they can in a minute without it falling over.
Egg Roll - Mark a start and finish line. The kids put their eggs at the start line and, using straws, try to blow their eggs to the finish line. This may have to be done in turns depending on how many kids there are.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Happy Easter everyone! Today is the final day we’ll be talking about the Easter Story. On the first week we learned that Jesus had a last supper with his disciples where he said that someone was going to be tray him. Then we learned about how Jesus and his disciple went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray because Jesus was scared about what was to come. The next morning, a crowd of people came to arrest Jesus and on Good Friday, he was taken to the cross, killed, and buried in a tomb for three days. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus coming back to life again.
Let’s watch our video to find out more about this part of the story…
Video Lesson — 4 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
What was the name of the first person who saw Jesus alive again? (Mary Magdalene)
Who did she think he was at first? (the gardener)
What was so special about Mary Magdalene that she got to have the honor of seeing Jesus first? (nothing in particular; she was one of Jesus’ close friends and followers, but she wasn’t one of the 12 famous disciples)
What was the first thing that she did after realizing that Jesus was alive? (ran to tell the others the great news)
What do you think this story can teach us about our place in God’s plans in the world? (we all, like Mary, have an important part to play, whatever that may be)
What do you think are some ways that we can be a part of God’s work in the world each day?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about Jesus coming back to life again on Easter Sunday, and how it shows your power and goodness. Thank you for what we learn from this story about how it is not only the people who we normally think of as important or significant that have a part to play in your bigger story and plan in the world. You have an important role for each and every one of us, just like you did for Mary Magdalene, a woman who wasn’t even one of the 12 disciples. Please help us to see the opportunities we have each day to make a difference in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Empty Tomb Mural — Activity Leader — 10 minutes
Kids will create sunburst art using rulers and watercolour paint. They will draw their central picture (can be a cross, Jesus, or an empty tomb… something that represents the story they learned), and then using a ruler and pencil, they will draw lines emanating out from it. They will then paint in the lines to create a bright sunburst.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
