PLEASE UP DATE YOUR BOOKMARKS

The Idea Door has been redone, if you are reading this message you are on the old section of the web site, please up date you book mark by going to www.theideadoor.com and going to the page you need or check out the site directory below.

 

Church History

Church History

Company Info

General

Cub Scouts

Cub Scouts

Family Home Evening

Family Home Evening

General Conference

General Conference

General Pages

General Pages

Gospel Topics

Gospel Topics

Holidays

4th of July

Christmas

Easter

Father's Day

Halloween

Holidays

Mother's Day

Saint Patrick's Day

Thanksgiving

Valentines

Home and Family

FHE Lessons

Home and Family

Idea Door Instant Clipart

Idea Door Instant Clipart

Missionary

Missionary

Object Lessons

Object Lessons

Preparedness

Food Storage

Preparedness

Primary Files

AOF

Baptism

Faith in God - Activity Day

Primary 2009

Primary Files

Primary Leadersip

Primary Music

Primary Printables

Quarterly Activities

Sharing Time

Printables

Printables

Temple

Relief Society

Crafts

HFPE

Relief Society

Visiting Teaching

Skits and Programs

Skits and Programs

Small gift Ideas

Small gift Ideas

Stories and Poems

Christmas Stories

Stories and Poems

Ward Activities

Ward Activities

Ward Choir

Ward Choir

Young Men

Young Men

Young Women Pages

Young Women

YW Lessons

Youth

Youth

 

 

Easter

 

 

Easter Handout

About Christ's resurrection, color and cut out these pictures then use a Fastener to hold all three pieces together, when you move the stone, the picture of Christ is behind it. 

Easterhandout.pdf

Coloring Pages on Easter

Image

Coloring pages/fr07apr31_colorpage.pdf

April 2007, page 31, Jesus Christ and Mary

 

 


Coloring pages/76.pdf

April 1999, page 13, Savior and Redeemer

 

The Empty Easter Egg
This Easter egg's not empty,
It's full of love for you,
And we want you to know
That Jesus loves you too.

When Jesus died his friends were sad,
They put him in a tomb.
A stone was then placed in front
And soldiers watched the room.

When three days passed an angel came
And moved the stone away.
The soldiers saw the angel
And they didn't want to stay

The Empty Egg.pdf

There are 9 on a page, you can cut them up and put one in a plastic egg and give them out.

Picture Story on Easter

 

or

Sharing Times Based on Easter or topics having to do with Easter

 

“The First Easter,” Friend, Apr 1973, 43

Matthew 26, 27 [Matt. 26, 27]; Mark 14, 15; Luke 22, 23; John 18, 19

1. Wicked men came to the Garden of Gethsemane and took Jesus away.

2. They went to a place called Calvary, and there they crucified Him on a cross between two thieves.

3. From the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Then Jesus cried, “It is finished,” and bowed His head and died.

4. The disciples of Jesus carried His body and laid it in a tomb in a nearby garden.

5. Those who had put Jesus to death rolled a large stone in front of the door of the tomb and ordered soldiers to guard the place.

6. When the Sabbath was past, several women went to the tomb. They found the guards gone and the stone rolled away.

7. An angel appeared and said that Christ had risen from the dead as He had promised. The messenger told the women to go and tell Jesus’ disciples.

8. Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb after delivering the message. While she stood outside the tomb weeping, Jesus appeared to her. Later He also appeared to many others.

9. Jesus came to a room where the disciples were and stayed with them for forty days, teaching and healing.

10. One day while the disciples watched, Jesus was taken up to heaven. Two angels declared, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go.”

 

Family Home Evenings Helps on Easter
  • Family Easter Traditions

  • From the Garden to the Empty Tomb,”  p. 8: Use this article to create an Easter program. Assign family members to read the quotes in order. Choose songs or hymns about the Savior, about Easter, or about the sacrament to intersperse during the reading of the quotes. At the conclusion of the program, bear your testimony.

  • He Is Risen!

  • Keeping Easter Focused on the Savior

  • Why I Believe in Jesus Christ,”  p. F14: Write the bold words from the article on pieces of paper. Place them in a container. After reading the article, let each family member take a paper and discuss how those things helped Lindsey gain her testimony. Have family members share what helps their testimonies grow by asking them to write down their feelings, draw a picture, or sing a song.

Stories out of the Friend on Easter

Here are some links to story's out of the Friend on Easter, some are very short, and some are a little longer, some are picture stories that little kids can read

Easter Story

The First Easter

The First Easter (Picture Story)

The Atonement and Resurrection

The Beautiful Story of Easter

Mending Easter

Sharing Time: When He Comes Again

Sharing Time: Savior and Redeemer

Sharing Time: Testimony of Easter

The First Easter (Picture Story)

For Little Friends Easter and Signs of Spring

Sharing Time: The Atonement

 

Why We Rejoice: An Easter Program

By Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

See Matt. 26–27; Luke 22–24; John 18–21; 3 Ne. 8–11.

Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen, “Why We Rejoice: An Easter Program,” Friend, Mar. 2005, 10
Note: You will need three narrators (or you may choose to have many children act as narrators). If possible, use pictures from the Gospel Art Picture Kit (GAK). The songs below are suggestions. You might consider other songs or hymns focusing on the Savior.

SONG:

“Beautiful Savior” (Children’s Songbook, 62–63).

FIRST NARRATOR:

Show GAK 227—Jesus Praying in Gethsemane.

 

Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life to pay the price for our sins.

SECOND NARRATOR:

He said, “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent” (D&C 19:16).

THIRD NARRATOR:

Jesus’s perfect life, His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, His death on the cross, and His Resurrection are part of the Atonement. The Atonement makes it possible for everyone to live with Him again.

FIRST NARRATOR:

That is why we rejoice. We are happy, and we show how grateful we are when we rejoice.

SECOND NARRATOR:

Show GAK 228The Betrayal of Jesus.

 

Soon after Jesus suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, wicked people came with swords and sticks to arrest Him. They took Him to the chief priests, elders, and scribes, who wanted Him to die.

THIRD NARRATOR:

Then they took Him to a Roman leader named Pilate, who had the authority to kill Him. The people told Pilate that Jesus had committed many crimes and should die.

FIRST NARRATOR:

Pilate did not believe them. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent and wanted to let Him go.

SECOND NARRATOR:

The people cried, “Crucify him, crucify him” (Luke 23:21).

THIRD NARRATOR:

Finally Pilate told his soldiers to crucify Jesus.

FIRST NARRATOR:

Show GAK 230The Crucifixion.

 

Jesus suffered on the cross for many hours.

SECOND NARRATOR:

Then Jesus cried in a loud voice, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

THIRD NARRATOR:

Jesus died.

FIRST NARRATOR:

The sky was dark. A great earthquake shook the earth.

SECOND NARRATOR:

Jesus’s disciples and friends were very sad.

SONG:

Begin to hum or softly play “On a Golden Springtime” (Children’s Songbook, 88).

THIRD NARRATOR:

After three days, Jesus’s spirit returned to His body. He had been resurrected.

FIRST NARRATOR:

Because of Jesus’s Resurrection, everyone who dies can live again with his or her spirit and body reunited.

SONG:

Verse 2 of “On a Golden Springtime” (Children’s Songbook, 88).

SECOND NARRATOR:

The resurrected Lord appeared to many people.

THIRD NARRATOR:

Show GAK 233—Mary and the Resurrected Lord.

 

The first was Mary Magdalene. She loved Jesus very much and rejoiced when she saw Him.

FIRST NARRATOR:

Show GAK 234—Jesus Shows His Wounds.

 

Later Jesus appeared to His disciples. They touched the wounds in His hands and feet. They saw Him eat. They knew He was alive again, and they rejoiced.

SONG:

“Hosanna” (Children’s Songbook, 66–67).

SECOND NARRATOR:

Just as there had been a great storm in Jerusalem when Jesus died, there was an even greater storm in the Americas.

THIRD NARRATOR:

Earthquakes, fires, and floods destroyed many cities. Mountains fell down.

FIRST NARRATOR:

The sky blackened. Candles would not light. Fire would not burn. No one could see anything.

SECOND NARRATOR:

The Nephites were frightened and started to cry. Many of their family members and friends had died.

THIRD NARRATOR:

Their homes were destroyed. They wished they had repented of their sins. For three days they cried in the darkness. Then—

FIRST NARRATOR:

—they heard a quiet voice. It said: “I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. … Whoso repenteth and cometh unto me … , him will I receive. … Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved” (3 Ne. 9:15, 22).

SECOND NARRATOR:

When the third day finally ended, light returned to the earth. The Nephites rejoiced and praised their Redeemer.

THIRD NARRATOR:

Some time later many people gathered near the temple in the land of Bountiful. They talked about the changes that had come to the earth.

FIRST NARRATOR:

They talked about Jesus.

SECOND NARRATOR:

Suddenly, another voice began to speak. It was a soft voice. The people listened carefully to the voice of Heavenly Father.

THIRD NARRATOR:

He said, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him” (3 Ne. 11:7).

FIRST NARRATOR:

Show GAK 315—Christ Appears to the Nephites.

 

The Nephites looked up and saw Jesus descending out of heaven.

SECOND NARRATOR:

Jesus said, “Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world” (3 Ne. 11:14).

THIRD NARRATOR:

The Nephites went to Him. They felt the wounds in His hands and feet and side.

SECOND NARRATOR:

“Hosanna!” they cried. “Blessed be the name of the Most High God!” (3 Ne. 11:17).

SONG:

Easter Hosanna” (Children’s Songbook, 68–69).

FIRST NARRATOR:

Show GAK 227—Jesus Praying in Gethsemane.

 

Jesus loves everyone so much that He paid the price for our sins. He also made it possible for us to live again after death.

THIRD NARRATOR:

That is why we rejoice when we think of Him. That is why we rejoice at Easter.

SONG:

“Jesus Has Risen” (Children’s Songbook, 70).

 
Simply buy a bag of plastic eggs and place the items listed below into each egg. Hide the eggs around the house (or you could hide them around the Primary Room) and allow the children to find them all. Then have each child open their egg and discuss what the items in each egg represent. You may want to number the eggs so that you remember the correct order to open them.
Egg 1:
Three dimes
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Matthew. 26:14)
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Egg 2:
One sacrament cup
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Matt. 26:39)
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Egg 3:
Twine with knots in it
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Matt. 27:1)
1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Egg 4:
A piece of soap
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Matt. 27:24)
24 ¶¶ When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26 ¶¶ Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Egg 5:
Square of red fabric
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Matt. 27:28)
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 ¶¶ And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

Egg 6:
A small nail
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Matt. 27:31)
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Egg 7:
Two dice
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Matt. 27:35)
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there
 
Egg 8:
A tiny bag of crushed rock
And a small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Matt. 27:50, 51 & 54)
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Egg 9:
Strip of white cloth
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference
(Matt. 27:58)
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

Egg 10:
A stone
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference...
(Matthew 27:65)
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Egg 11:
Bayleaf spice
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Mark 16:1-4)
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

Egg 12:
An empty egg
A small piece of paper with the following verse reference:
(Mark 16:5-6)
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
 

Using l2 Easter Eggs put one of these strips of paper and the accompanying item in an egg.
1.Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. And he went a little further and fell on his face, and prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:36, 39) (a plastic sacrament cup)
2. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty and worthy of death. Then did they spit on his face and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands. (Matthew 26:66-67) (Piece of a reed)
3. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death; And when they bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. (Matthew 27:1-2) (Piece of rope)
4.Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. (Matthew 27:3) (coins)
5.And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him and took the reed and smote Him on the head. ( Matthew 27:28-30) (piece of red cloth)
6.And after they had mocked Him they took the robe off from Him, and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by named: him they compelled to bear His cross (Matthew 27:31-32) And he was crucified . . . nailed to the cross. (nail)
7.And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there. (Matthew 27:35-36) (dice)
8.And straightaway one of them ran, and took a sponge and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. (Matthew 27:48) (piece of a sponge)
9.(Then Joseph, a rich man) went to Pilate, and begged for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth., and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed. (Matthew 27:58-60) (piece of white linen cloth)
10.And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. (Matthew 28:2) (stone)
11.His countenance was like the lightning, and his raiment white as snow: (Matthew 28:3) (sugar cube, or cotton, or something very white)
12. HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, AND HE SAID, Come see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:6) (Empty).
 
 
None of these ideas are original to me... they are collected from different lists I am on...
Cute treat:
Make a batch of rice crispie treats and shape them into individual nests,put 3 malted milk eggs in the nest and a "peep" marshmallow bird on top. 

To be made the evening before Easter
  You need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested the Roman soldiers beat him.
Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. 
Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. 
Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. 
Read Luke 23:27.
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. 
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.  Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. 
Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.  Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. 
Read Matt. 7:65-66
GO TO BED!  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. 
Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9
 
Where is the Garden of Gethsemane located? (Mount of Olives)
How did the disciples know who to follow to locate the room for the last supper? (Follow a man with a pitcher of water)
Complete: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ___________________ (ye have done it unto me.)
By the Lord's definition, who is the greatest? (He who is a servant.)
What is the symbolism of the bitter herbs? (Remember the bitterness of bondage)
What disciple did not want the Savior to wash his feet? (Peter)
Who was given the sop of bread from the Master? (Judas Iscariott)
How did Jesus identify who would betray him? (He who he dipped into sop with him)
What was the new commandment that Jesus gave his Apostles the evening of the Passover? (Love one another as I have loved you)
The bread was a symbol of (The body of Christ)
The wine was a symbol of (The blood of Christ)
Where did Jesus go when the Last Supper was over? (Garden of Gethsemane)
What prophecy did Jesus give to Peter? (He would deny him three times)
What is the Comforter that Jesus promised His Disciples? (The Holy Ghost)
How much was Judas paid for the betrayal of Jesus? (30 pieces of silver)
What does Gethsemane mean? (wine press)
Which three apostles stood watch while Jesus prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane? (Peter, James and John)
How many times did Jesus find the disciples sleeping? (Three)
What did Christ suffer in the garden? (Atonement)
What happened to Jesus' body during the atonement? (He sweat great drops of blood.)
How did Judas identify who Jesus was when they came to arrest him? (A kiss)
About many soldiers came to arrest Jesus? (300-500)
What did Peter do with his sword? (Cut off the servant's ear)
Who did the Savior proclaim he was to those who came to arrest him? (I am)
Jesus was taken first to who's house? (Anna).
Why was Jesus' trial illegal? (It was at night and he was his own witness).
Where was peter when he denied Christ? (Palace of Caiaphas).
What did Judas do with the 30 pieces of silver? (Put it in the treasury of the temple)
After his conviction by the Jews, Christ was taken to ________. (Pontius Pilate)
What question did Pilate ask the Savior? (What is truth?)
Who did Pilate send Christ to? (Herod)
What prisoner did Pilate release? (Barabbas)
Why did Pilate wash his hands? (He said he was innocent of the blood of this just person)
How many others died with Christ? (Two)
What did the sign say that was ordered by Pilate and nailed to the cross of  Jesus? (King of the Jews)
Who was commanded to carry the cross of Jesus? (Simon, a Cyrenian)
What day of the week was Jesus crucified? (Friday)
Who did Jesus forgive? (The Roman soldiers)
What were the Savior's last words? (Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit.)
What happened at the temple at the moment of Christ's death? (The veil of the temple was rent in half.)
What did the Roman centurion say at Christ's death? (Truly this man was the son of God.)
What happened from noon to three when the Savior was crucified? (The sun was darkened.)
Were was Jesus buried? (The tomb of Joseph of Armathea)
Name the place where Jesus was crucified. (Golgatha)
Name two women of the women who went to the tomb to anoint Christ's body.  (Mary Magdalene and Joanna)
What day did Christ rise from the dead? (First day of the week)
Who rolled away the stone from the sepulchre? (An angel)
Which two disciples rushed to the tomb? (John and Peter)
What was in the place of Jesus' body? (The burial linens folded up)
Who was the first person to see the risen Lord? (Mary Magdalene)
Where were the two disciples walking to when Jesus walked with them? (Emmaus)
Who was missing when the Savior appeared to the twelve? (Thomas)
Where did Jesus appear to the apostles (a closed and locked room)
What were the apostles doing when he appeared to them in Gallilee?  (fishing)
What was the greatest desire of John the Beloved? (To live until the Savior comes again)
How many days did the resurrected Savior come and minister to his apostles?(40 days)
What did the Savior command Peter three times? (Feed my lambs, feed my sheep, feed my sheep)
How did the Savior prove he was not a spirit? (They handled and felt the signs in his feet and hands)
What did Jesus eat as a resurrected person? (Honey comb and fish)
What commission did the Savior give to his apostles? (To go out to the world and preach the gospel)
Crescent rolls
melted butter
large marshmallows
cinnamon
sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Give each child (YW) a triangle of crescent rolls.  The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.
Give each child a marshmallow, this represents Jesus.
Have them dip the marshmallow in melted butter, which represents the oils of embalming.  Then dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represent the spices used to annoint the body.
Then wrap the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.)  This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.
Place in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.  The oven represents the tomb.
When the rolls have cooled slightly, the children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there, He is risen. (The marshmallow and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.)
Here's a poem I wrote a couple years ago.  I attached it to an empty egg (I poked a hole through the egg with a needle and then tied a string through the egg to the note.)

           This Easter egg's not empty,
           It's full of love for you,
           And we want you to know
           That Jesus loves you too.

            When Jesus died his friends were sad,
           They put him in a tomb.
           A stone was then placed in front
           And soldiers watched the room.
     
           When three days passed an angel came
           And moved the stone away.
           The soldiers saw the angel
           And they didn't want to stay

 

          The friends came to look for Jesus,
          They didn't want him harmed.
          But Jesus Christ had risen,
          So they were not alarmed.
 
           The tomb may have been empty,
           But Jesus was full of love.
           And if we can live righteously,
           We'll live with him above.

 

Some folks think that Easter time
Is just for pretty clothes
And Easter baskets filled with eggs
Of colors bright and bold,
But Mother told me differently
It’s for another reason
For Jesus rose up from His Tomb
That Happy Easter season.
This gives to me a precious gift
It means that when I die
I’ll live again, as Jesus did,
And dwell with Him on High 

Red is for the blood He gave.
Green is for the grass He made
Yellow is for the sun so bright.
Orange is for the edge of night
Black is for the sins that were made.
White is for the grace He gave.
Purple is for the hour of sorrow.
Pink is for the new tomorrow.
An egg full of jelly beans,
Colorful and sweet.
Is a prayer....is a promise....
Is an Easter treat!
You put 1 of each of the 8 colors of jelly beans into the plastic egg and attach the poem to it.
 

         Little jelly beans
         Tell a story true.
         A tale of Father's love
         Just for me and you.
         GREEN is for the waving palms.
         YELLOW is for the sun above.
         BROWN is for the soft earth where
         People sat hearing of HIS love.
         A SPECKLED bean for fish and sand.
         RED for precious wine and
         BLACK is for the sin
         He washed from your soul and mine.
         PURPLE'S for the sadness of
         HIS family and His friends,
         WHITE is for the glory of
         The Day HE rose again.
         Now that you've heard the story
          You know what each color means.
         The story of our Father's love
         Told by some jelly beans.
         So every morning take a bean
         They're really very yummy.
         Something for the soul, you see
         And something for the tummy.
         Happy Easter
 
     THE EASTER EGG:
     Many ancient cultures believed that the world began with a single
     egg. Eggs were given as springtime gifts in ancient China, Greece,
     and Rome. Based in this tradition, the egg came to symbolize the
     resurrection of Christ. Lavish decoration of Easter eggs began in
     England, during the Middle Ages. Members of royal families gave one
     another gold-covered eggs as Easter gifts but, most people could not
     afford this and instead decorated them with dyes and other materials.
     The most famous example of decorated Easter eggs were the Faberge
     Eggs. From 1870 until 1918, Peter Faberge designed eggs of gold,
     silver and precious gems for European and Russian royalty. Those eggs
     are now valued as priceless works of art found only in museums and
     private collections.

     THE PALM BRANCH:
     It was the Roman custom to welcome royalty with waving palm branches.
     When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, people cut
     branches from palm trees, blanketed the streets with them, and waved
     them in the air. Today, Christians carry palm branches in parades,
     create palm crosses, and weave palm leaves to decorate their
     churches.

     THE LAMB:
     Long before the time of Jesus, families gave lambs as offerings to
     God. And since the first Passover, the symbolism of serving lamb as
     an important part in the Passover feast. Since Jesus died during
     Passover, his death was interpreted giving himself as an offering to
     God for the sins of all the world. It's for this reason the Bible
     calls Jesus the Lamb of God. Early Christians saw the lamb as a
     symbol of Jesus and continue to use it as a part of their Easter
     celebrations. Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it
     does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting
     the water. Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be
     made evident to others from the love which he imparts to us. ...
     Sadhu Sundar Singh

     How Easter Got Its Eggs
     Only within the last century were chocolate and candy eggs exchanged
     as Easter gifts. But the springtime exchanging of real eggs - white,
     colored, and gold leafed - is an ancient custom, predating Easter by
     many centuries. From earliest times, the egg signified birth and
     resurrection. The Egyptians buried eggs in their tombs. The Greeks
     placed eggs atop graves. The Romans coined a proverb: Omne vivum ex
     ovo, "All life comes from an egg." And legend has it that Simon of
     Cyrene, who helped carry Christ's cross to Calvary, was by trade an
     egg merchant. (Upon returning from the crucifixion to his farm, he
     found that all his hens' eggs had miraculously turned a rainbow of
     colors; (however, evidence for this legend is weak.) Thus, when the
     Church stated to celebrate the Resurrection in the second century, it
     did not have to search far for a popular and easily recognizable
     symbol. In those days, wealthy people would cover a gift egg with
     gilt or gold leaf, while peasants often dyed their eggs. The tinting
     was achieved by boiling the eggs with certain colors, leaves, logwood
     chips, or the cochineal insect. Spinach leaves or anemone petals were
     considered best for green; the bristly gorse blossom for yellow;
     logwood for rich purple; and the body fluid of the cochineal produces
     scarlet. In Germany during the early 1880s, Easter eggs were
     substituted for birth certificates. An egg was dyed, then a design
     with the receipt's name and birthdate was etched into the shell with
     a needle or sharp tool. Such Easter eggs were honored in law courts
     as evidence of identity and age. Easter's most valuable eggs were
     hand crafted in the 1880s. Made by the great goldsmith Peter Carl
     Faberge, they were commissioned by Czar Alexander III of Russia as
     gifts for his wife, Czarina Maria Feodorovna. The first Faberge egg,
     presented in 1886, measured two and half inches long and had a
     deceptively simple exterior. Inside the white enamel shell, though,
     was a golden yoke, which when opened revealed a gold hen with ruby
     eyes. The hen itself could be opened by lifting the beak to expose a
     tiny diamond replica of the imperial crown. The faberge eggs today
     are collectively valued at over $4 million. Forty three of the fifty
     three eggs known to be made are now in museums and private
     collections.

Easter Fun Poems

Easter Bunny Hugs And Kisses  

That cute little bunny has hopped all day, delivering baskets for the holiday. His paws are so tired and his nose how it itches, He left you something special to fulfill all your wishes- Lots of cute little Easter bunny hugs and kisses.



Easter Bunny Poop

The Easter Bunny came last night
And left this little scoop.
Because you weren't too good this year,
You're getting Bunny Poop!

Use some of those teeny jelly beans, chocolate-covered raisins, 
Fruit Loops, or perhaps some of those little candies that look 
like rocks; put a few in a little baggie, and attach it with 
this poem to the handle of a little throw-away detergent scoop... 




Meeting the Easter Bunny
by Rowena Bennett

On Easter morn at early dawn 
before the cocks were crowing 
I met a bob-tail bunny kin 
and asked where he was going. 

"Tis in the house and out the house 
a-tispy, tipsy-toeing, 
Tis round the house 
and 'bout the house a-lighlty I am going." 

"But what is that of every hue 
you carry in your basket?" 
"Tis eggs of gold and eggs of blue;
 I wonder that you ask it.  

"Tis chocolate eggs and bonbon eggs 
and eggs of red and gray, 
For every child in every house 
on bonny Easter day.

He perked his ears 
and winked his eye and twitched his little nose; 
He shook his tail -- what tail he had -- 
and stood up on his toes. 

"I must be gone before the sun; 
the east is growing gray; 
Tis almost time for bells to chime."
 -- So he hippety-hopped away. 		


Funny Bunny
by Grandpa Tucker 

Little Easter, the comedienne bunny, 
Tried too hard at being funny. 
She juggled and she dropped the eggs 
They fell and smashed between her legs.  
Poor Easter left the stage in shame 
And thought that she might change her name. 
But then that bunny read this ad, 
"This Sunday we need help real bad."  
So Easter Bunny kept her name 
And through the years has gained much fame, 
When Easter's Sunday comes each year. 
She delivers eggs and we all cheer.