Easter/Holy Week

Now that the kids are old enough to really get Easter, I want to have them learn about Palm Sunday through Easter, knowing the facts and the order of things.  So here are a bunch of links and ideas that I've found.

Some new things I got in an email from HSB:
easter scripture/quote cards
story of easter craft book
Make Your Own Resurrection Eggs
Printable Resurrection Egg items

We're using the questions from the Antioch Arcade game and some of their map ideas.
Games and other ideas

easter printables

clip art/coloring pages

tons of bible coloring pages

garden, peter, judas links/ideas

holy week info

some holy week links - more liturgical

lots of bible lessons/links

map of Jerusalem

route Jesus took

another, more detailed map of Jerusalem

christianity today easter

Christianity Today Easter Ideas

CT Holy Week activities/ideas

Listen to/Download dramatic Easter Story

trivia/facts to include

1. D. Palm Sunday. Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem (John 12:12-16), publicly proclaimed he was the long-awaited Messiah of Zechariah's prophecy. He rode a donkey and not a war horse to symbolize his kingdom would be one of peace.

2. A. Jonah. Jesus explained (Matt. 12:38-40) that just as Jonah spent three days "buried" inside the fish, he would spend three days in the grave before his resurrection. The men of Nineveh repented at Jonah's miraculous return (Jonah 1-4), but the wicked people of Jesus' day would not.

3. C. 30 pieces (Matt. 27:3-10). According to Exodus 21:32, thirty shekels of silver was the price of a male slave in Old Testament times. During Jesus' time, it was equivalent to four months' wages for a common laborer.

4. B. Psalms (Psa. 22:1). Although David wrote this psalm centuries earlier, it provides almost an eyewitness account of the crucifixion. At Calvary, the weight of humanity's sin truly separated Jesus from his Father; David merely felt abandoned.

5. A. Jesus' bones. John 19:36-37 records that the Roman soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves to hasten their deaths, but Jesus was already dead. In Exodus 12:46, the Israelites were told not to break the bones of the Passover Lamb. Slain at Passover, Jesus' death fulfills this sacrifice.

6. C. Isaiah (Isa. 53:5). Written 700 years before Christ, this prophecy pictures the Messiah's sacrificial death as a guilt offering (v. 10). According to Leviticus 5:15-16, a lamb or ram was sacrificed for the guilt offering, providing atonement for sin and cleansing from defilement.

7. B. David. The apostles were quick to recognize Jesus' resurrection as the fulfillment of David's psalm (Psa. 16:10). Peter quoted this verse in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost, and Paul used it when he preach-ed (Acts 2:27, 13:35.)

Palm Sunday
make your own cryptograms
colt/disciple coloring page
donkey picture


I enlarged the donkey picture and converted it to b/w in Photoshop.  Then we cut it out and glued it to purple construction paper  (purple for royalty).   Then they colored the hooves black, and painted glue all over his body except for the eye and nose and mane.  Then we sprinkled dry tea leaves from tea bags all over the glue and let it dry.  Glue on wiggly eye, some string for a halter, and material for a blanket if wanted.

draw and cut out palm leaves, of course.   We read the story of the blind men being healed,, along with the prophecy in Zechariah, and then the Palm Sunday story.  I made 2 cryptograms - one said Hosanna, and the other said Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Holy Monday
The Cleansing of the Temple takes place.
cleansing temple coloring page
cleansing coloring page

Reading the cleansing of the temple story, and the fig tree story.  Eat some figs - the kids love them.  Make soft pretzels - arms folded in prayer.  Recipe at the last link at the top of the post.

Holy Tuesday
Jesus teaches in the temple.
Jesus teaching coloring page - very authentic - excellent page!
Learn the Shema & most important commandment verse.   Make bread dough and freeze it for Good Friday activity.
Do some kind of map activity with map of Jerusalem/Israel. 
Play a game with questions about facts learned so far.  I'll probably modify these games somewhat.

Holy Week File Folder Game
holy week question cards


Spy Wednesday
this is an old name for the day, but I have a 5 year old boy, so that's what we're using

Jesus is anointed, Judas decides to betray Jesus.
Read the stories.  Read Colossians 3:23 and 2 Corinthians 2:15-16
Light a fragrant candle.  other devotional ideas
talk about betraying Jesus
Judas betrays Jesus coloring page I know he doesn't really betray him until Friday - but there's not much out there for this one
 Mary anoints Jesus coloring page
talk about  30 pieces of silver - Exodus.21:32
play games/trivia questions again


Maundy Thursday
The Last Supper
Have a mini-passover.   We've done a full one before at church and it's fun, and the kids remember it.  I don't think we're having one this year, so we'll just do a mini-one at home.

Matzo bread
horseradish
haroset (apples, nuts, honey)
parsley
grape juice

Garden of Gethsemane, Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial
act out Peter's denial
last supper word search
talk about Jesus' prayers
Last Supper Coloring Page

Good Friday

stations of the cross FFG
stations of the cross coloring pages  - I reduced this in the printing option, putting 4 pages on one page, so it will be a mini-book.  I liked this one because this ends with the resurrection, which the typical stations of the cross do not have.

make bread crown of thorns - take frozen bread dough, divide into thirds and braid together, making a circle.  Let it rise a final time, and place toothpicks sticking out all over the braid.  Bake. 

crucifixion coloring page

Saturday
Festival of Lights - light candles and read verses. Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16, Isaiah 60, Matthew5:14, 5:16, John 8:12, 12:46, Matthew 5:14, John 8:12.

Make Resurrection Cookies  Resurrection Cookies recipe


Easter Sunday
easter word search
resurrection coloring page
Resurrection Eggs - make your own or buy them from the link at the bottom - resurrection eggs and story