Easter Ideas

"Eggs"-entration
Make or print clipart images of non-matching Easter eggs.  You will need at least 12-16 (for a total of 6-8 matches).  Write numbers, song titles, lines from songs ("Whenever I hear the song of a bird" on one & "or look at the blue, blue sky" on the other), or keywords for songs on the back of each egg.  Pictures representing the topic/keyword of the songs would also work.  Lay them out on the table or tape them to the chalkboard.  Have a child try to make a match.  Whenever a match is made, sing the corresponding song.

Easter "Do As I'm Doing"
I purchased these masks & ears from the Target dollar section, but I have seen similar items at Michael's.  Make Easter action cards that say, "Hop like a bunny", "Peck like a chick", "Roll like an egg", "Gambol like a lamb", etc.  Simply have a child draw a card & lead the rest of the children in "Do As I'm Doing" Easter style!  Have him or her wear the mask or ears that corresponds to the card chosen.

Easter Egg Hunt
Place song titles in plastic Easter eggs & hide them around the room.  Choose a child to find an egg.  Sing the song inside.

Week 4: Jesus Christ is our Savior

If you did not do the activity I posted for week 1, it would also work well for this week.  See the post here.

Another idea is to put the following scriptures in plastic Easter eggs.  Each scripture contains a message that Christ taught.  Have a child pick an egg and read the scripture.  Have the child identify what the Savior taught us & discuss it with the group.  Sing the corresponding song.

Opening song - Tell Me the Stories of Jesus p. 57

John 13:34-35 - Love One Another p. 136
Mark 16:15 - The Church of Jesus Christ p. 77
3 Nephi 11:37 - Baptism p. 100
3 Nephi 18:19 - A Child's Prayer p. 12
Matthew 5: 16 - Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam p. 60
John 15: 10-12 - I Feel My Savior's Love p. 74
John 13:15  - I'm Trying to Be like Jesus p. 78
Matthew 5:14-16 - I Am like a Star p. 163
John 13:17 - Choose the Right Way p. 160
Matthew 5:43-46 - Jesus Said Love Everyone p. 61

Bear your testimony of the Savior, His life, and the Atonement.  Testify that Jesus provided us with a perfect example to follow.  He then gave His life so we could all be saved from sin.  He is truly our Savior.  Close by singing "He Sent His Son" (p. 57).

Jesus Christ is Our Savior - Week 3

This is a continuation from last week's activity.  Again, you may intersperse this activity with teaching "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" or other song practice.  You will need the following numbered eggs with objects placed inside them:

Egg 10 - Piece of white cloth & Egg 11 - Spices

One of Jesus' disciples asked Pilate if he could care for Jesus' body after He died. Pilate agreed to let him do this.  Mary & Mary Magdalene wrapped Jesus' body in linen & used spices to preserve His body.  They would return to do this again in a few days.

Egg 12 - Rock

A large rock was rolled in front of the tomb.  The Pharisees asked Pilate to place a guard in front of the tomb...Jesus had told them that He would rise on the third day.  They were afraid that the disciples might come & take the body to make it look like Jesus had risen.

Egg 13 - Empty egg

An angel of the Lord descended from heaven & rolled back the stone from the tomb.  When Mary & Mary Magdalene returned, they entered the tomb & saw an angel of the Lord who told them, "Be not affrighted:  Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified; He is risen; He is not here."  Mary Magdalene ran to tell Jesus' disciples.  They ran to the tomb & saw that it was empty.

Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene while she was in the garden mourning.  She turned & saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize Him.  She thought He was the gardener or caretaker.  Jesus called Mary by her name...she realized it was the Savior & cried, "Rabboni" (Master).  Jesus asked Mary not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to His Father in Heaven.  He told her to go to the apostles & tell them what she had seen.

Bear testimony of your love for the Savior, the resurrection, & the blessings we receive from it.

Other songs for practice include:
On a Golden Springtime
Did Jesus Really Live Again?
Jesus Has Risen

Jesus Christ is Our Savior - Week 2

This week's sharing time focuses specifically on the Atonement & Crucifixion.  I have done the following activity several times & it ALWAYS invites the spirit.  I am sure many of you have seen this before, but I feel that the best way to teach is often through repetition.

This activity will be spread over two weeks...the first week focuses on the Atonement & Crucifixion while the second week focuses on the Resurrection.  You will need numbered plastic eggs with the following objects placed inside them:

Egg 1 - Sacrament cup

Jesus introduces the sacrament at the Passover dinner.  This is known as the Last Supper because it was Jesus' last supper before he was crucified.  Jesus told his disciples what would happen that night & that one of them would betray Him.

Egg 2 - White cloth with drops of blood on it (use red food coloring)

Jesus led his disciples to a garden of olive trees called Gethsemane.  He asked Peter, James, & John to wait for Him nearby while He went to pray.  While Jesus prayed, He "atoned" for our sins...He bled from every pour of His body because He was suffering for the sins of all people.

Egg 3 - 3 dimes & Egg 4 - Chocolate kiss

After Jesus finished praying, Judas came with a group of men carrying clubs & swords.  The Pharisees (Jewish leaders) paid Judas 30 pieces of silver to take them to Jesus.  Judas showed them who Jesus was by kissing Him on the cheek.  The men took Jesus & led him to the high priest.  The high priest questioned Jesus.  They hit Him & spit on Him.

Egg 5 - Piece of yarn & Egg 6 - Piece of soap

The next morning, the soldiers tied Jesus' hands & took him to the governor (Pontias Pilate).  Pilate asked Jesus many questions & did not think Jesus had done anything wrong.  The Pharisees told Pilate that Jesus should die.  Pilate did not want any trouble withe the Pharisees so he told his soldiers to crucify Jesus.  He washed his hands before the multitude saying that he found no fault with Jesus & that crucifying Him was their choice.

Egg 7 - Thorns & Egg 8 - Piece of red cloth

Pilate's soldiers stripped Jesus & beat Him with whips.  They put a red robe on Him & placed a crown of thorns upon His head.  They mocked Him by saying "Hail, King of the Jews".  They spit upon Him.

Egg 9 - Nail

Jesus was taken to a hill (Calvary) near Jerusalem to be crucified.  They nailed Him to a cross.  They put nails in His feet, hands, & wrists.  Jesus prayed, asking Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who crucified Him because they did not understand that He was the Savior.

Egg 10 - Small rocks

About 3 hours after Jesus was nailed to the cross, the sky became very dark.  The darkness lasted about 3 hours.  Jesus' suffering was so great that it was almost more than He could stand.  He cried out, "My God, my God, why has Thou forsaken me?"  Jesus then said, "I thirst".  Someone dipped a sponge in vinegar, placed it on a stick, & put it up to Jesus' mouth.  In a loud voice, Jesus said, "It is finished.  Father into Thy hands, I commend my spirit."  Jesus bowed His head & His spirit left His body.  He had accomplished what He came to earth to do...He had completed it on His own.  The earth immediately began to shake.

Invite a child (or two children on those with two eggs) to come up & open an egg.  Discuss the objects & then sing a song of your choice.  You can focus on teaching "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" or you can practice additional songs about the Savior as well.   Close by bearing testimony of the Savior's atonement & His love for each of us.

Other songs for practice might include:
To Think about Jesus
He Sent His Son
I Lived in Heaven