How to Teach Children the Easter Story + Printable Story Cards
Today I’m sharing some tips and ideas for how to teach the Easter story to children. By incorporating some of these ideas, parents and teachers can help children gain a deeper understanding of the Easter story and its significance.
Be sure to download my free printable Easter Story Sequencing Cards at the end of the blog post!
Originally published March 2023. Updated March 2024.
Easter is a special time of year for Christians as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As parents or teachers, it’s important to teach children the Easter story in a way that is age-appropriate and meaningful to them.
I hope you find these tips and strategies for teaching the Easter story to children helpful.
5 Tips to Help You Teach the Easter Story: Video
How to Teach the Easter Story to Children
There are lots of ways you can teach children the Easter story and I’m sharing some of my favorites below. Of course, the best way to teach children is always through everyday life and being available to answer questions and share your own thoughts about this important event in history.
Use Visual Aids
Visual aids such as pictures, videos, and even props can be helpful in engaging children in the Easter story. You can use illustrations or pictures to show key events such as Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem or his crucifixion.
You can also use props such as a crown of thorns or a cross to help children understand the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Tell the Story in an Engaging Way
When teaching the Easter story to children – especially young children, it’s important to the story engaging and interactive.
You can use storytelling techniques such as asking questions, using sound effects or even acting out the story. This can help children to remember the key events and understand their significance.
And honestly, I have found that any time I take the time to talk to kids and share my thoughts and listen to their questions they enjoy the interaction.
Most kids want to spend time talking to the adults they love! Take advantage of a good conversation every chance you can get.
Use Age-Appropriate Language
When teaching the Easter story, it’s important to use language that is appropriate for the age of the children you are teaching. You can use simpler language for younger children and, of course, more detailed language for older children.
This can help children to understand the story better and ask questions if they need clarification.
Relate the Story to Children’s Lives
Another effective way to teach the Easter story is to relate it to children’s lives. You can use real-life examples to show how the story relates to their lives. For example, you can talk about forgiveness and how it applies to everyday situations.
Encourage Children to Ask Questions
Encouraging children to ask questions is an important part of teaching the Easter story. Children may have questions or concerns about the story, and it’s important to address them in an open and honest way.
This can help children understand the story better and feel more engaged.
The Easter Story for Children
You can read the story in the Bible in the book of Luke: It’s found in all four gospels as well. Luke 23:32-24:12. If you are reading the story to children you’ll need to use a good translation that is easy to understand or be sure to explain the words and context as you read out of the King James Version.
You can also read this version of the Easter story below:
Easter is one of the most significant events in the Christian faith. It is the time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The Easter story is a story of hope, love, sacrifice, and victory over death.
Read the Easter Story
The Easter story begins with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, where the people welcomed him with shouts of “Hosanna!” and waving palm branches. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah who had come to save them from their sins.
But the religious leaders were threatened by Jesus’ popularity and plotted to have him arrested and put to death.
On the night before he was crucified, Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room to celebrate the Passover meal. During the meal, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
He also took a cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
After the meal, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed to God, asking him to take the cup of suffering from him. But he also said, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
While he was praying, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, arrived with a group of soldiers and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest’s house for trial.
The next day, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Despite finding no fault in Jesus, Pilate gave in to the demands of the people and sentenced Jesus to be crucified.
Jesus was beaten, mocked, and forced to carry his own cross to the place of execution, called Golgotha. There, he was nailed to the cross and left to die.
As Jesus hung on the cross, he forgave his executioners and prayed for them, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
He also spoke to one of the criminals being crucified beside him, promising him eternal life in paradise. Then, after hours of suffering, Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” and died.
But the story doesn’t end there. On the third day after his death, Jesus rose from the dead, just as he had promised.
The women who went to his tomb found it empty, and an angel told them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
Jesus appeared to his disciples, proving that he was alive, and then ascended into heaven, promising to return one day.
The Empty Tomb Fingerplay
The Empty Tomb fingerplay is a fun and interactive way to teach toddlers about the Easter story. Here’s how to do it:
Start by making a fist with one hand, which represents the tomb.
Say, “This is the tomb where Jesus was laid.”
Use your other hand to cover the fist, as if closing the tomb. Say, “The tomb was sealed with a big stone.”
Pause for a moment, then say, “But on the third day, the stone was rolled away!”
Use your fingers to open the fist, revealing an empty space. Say, “The tomb was empty! Jesus had risen from the dead!”
Repeat the fingerplay a few times, encouraging children to join in and mimic your movements.
The Empty Tomb fingerplay is a great way to teach children about the key events of the Easter story and help them to understand the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. By making it interactive and engaging, children are more likely to remember the story and its message.
The Easter Story Sequence Cards for Kids
You’ll love this set of sequencing cards that you can use to teach children about the Easter story. Just fill out the form at the bottom of the post and you’ll receive the link to download in your email!
Each printable set comes with 12 story cards and 4 pages to use for sequencing the story if you’d like to use them. You may want to laminate the cards for durability.
These cards would be perfect to use in your homeschool, children’s ministry class, as an Easter basket filler, or just as a fun activity around Easter time. You’ll receive 2 .pdf files with a total of 8 pages and 12 story cards.
Creative Ideas to Teach the Easter Story
Here are some creative ideas to teach the Easter story to children:
Easter Story Sequencing Cards: These printable sequencing cards are available to download at the bottom of this post. Cut them out and have your children put the cards in order. Great for children’s ministry, homeschoolers, and moms looking for creative ways to teach the Easter story.
Here are some other resources:
Easter Egg Hunt: Hide plastic eggs with Bible verses or story elements inside, and have children search for them. Once all the eggs have been found, use the verses and elements to tell the Easter story.
Resurrection Garden: Create a miniature garden with a small pot, soil, grass, and stones. Add a cross made of twigs or popsicle sticks and a small tomb made of cardboard or clay. On Easter morning, roll away the tomb to reveal an empty space, symbolizing Jesus’ resurrection.
Passion Play: Have children act out the Easter story, from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his crucifixion and resurrection.
Sensory Stations: Set up different stations that represent different parts of the Easter story, such as a station with palm branches for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, a station with bread and wine for the Last Supper, and a station with nails and a cross for the crucifixion.
- Easter Story Multi-Sensory Activity
- 11 Creative Stations to Celebrate Jesus’ Easter Journey
- Multi-Sensory Easter Story Talk and Activity
Easter Story Bracelet: Create a bracelet with different colored beads that represent different parts of the Easter story, such as green for the palm branches, brown for the cross, and white for the resurrection.
Bible Story Stones: Paint rocks with different scenes from the Easter story, and use them to retell the story to children.
Easter Story Charades: Write down different parts of the Easter story on slips of paper, and have children act them out without speaking.
Easter Story Snacks: Create snacks that represent different parts of the Easter story, such as bread and grape juice for the Last Supper, pretzels for the cross, and marshmallow peeps for the resurrection.
Easter Story Collage: Have children cut out pictures from magazines or draw their own pictures to create a collage that represents the Easter story.
Easter Story Puzzle: Create a puzzle with a picture of the Easter story, and have children put it together as you tell the story.
More Ideas for Teaching the Easter Story
- Easy Empty Tomb Rolls | Resurrection Rolls for Easter
- Creative Ways to Teach the Resurrection
- Easter Story Scavenger Hunt for Kids: A Fun Faith-Based Printable
Conclusion
The Easter story is a powerful reminder of God’s love for us and the sacrifice that Jesus made for our salvation. Despite the deep meaning behind the Easter story, children can understand the concept when you share your faith with them.
Free Printable Easter Story Sequencing Cards
Welcome to our printable set of Easter story sequencing cards! This set includes a series of cards that will help children understand and remember the story of Easter in a fun and interactive way.
Each card features a different scene from the story of Easter, allowing children to arrange them in the correct order and create their own visual representation of the story.
These cards are a great educational tool for parents, teachers, and children’s ministry teachers to use with children of all ages, helping them to develop their sequencing, memory, and storytelling skills. Your kids will have fun with these cards!
How to Use the Easter Story Cards
You’ll receive two files to download. Print out the cards on heavy card stock if desired. Cut out the story cards and have your child arrange the cards in order on the sequencing pages. You may want to laminate the cards for durability.
How to Get the Printable
- Just fill out the form below and you’ll receive an email giving you instant access to this free printable.
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