By Gail Marsh
My least favorite words are “Teacher, we’ve already heard this Bible story.”
Students don’t say the words maliciously, but somehow these are “fighting words” for me! They challenge me to reach down deep. Pull out all the stops. Do something (anything!) to help students hear the Bible message in a fresh, meaningful way.
Teaching the story of Jesus’ resurrection is perhaps the most important lesson in the Bible. It’s the brilliant culmination of God’s salvation story—not only are we washed clean by the blood of Jesus but his rising from the dead seals our own resurrection. He lives! Therefore, we live! There’s nothing ho-hum about the resurrection, for sure!
So, what can you do or say to make the Easter story new and exciting for students? Use one of the following ideas, or let them inspire your own idea:
- Find a powerful opening statement, movie clip, or unique object as an introduction to the lesson. For example, this video features a moving introduction to the resurrection and is appropriate for older students.
- Younger children will catch your enthusiasm if you retell the Bible story in your own words, perhaps using a few, well-chosen objects like a stone, white cloth, padlock, and others. Use highly descriptive words and animated gestures to help your students “see,” “hear,” “smell,” and “touch” the parts of the story you mention.
- Let students familiar with the biblical account act it out. Or, read the story from Scripture and then let the children reenact it. As they do, act alongside every actor’s part: the women’s overwhelming grief and genuine frustration as they hurry to the garden and wondering how they can remove the boulder from the grave’s opening; the mighty angels’ proclamation, “Jesus is not here! He is alive!”; the disciples’ fear and distrust upon hearing Mary’s announcement; and so on.
- Use colored construction paper and a scissors to tell the story to young children. Do not cut shapes ahead of time. Let students watch as the story unfolds. Use these:
- Yellow – (Cut a large circle shape to be the “sun.”) It was a bright, beautiful, and sun-shiny day!
- Green – (Cut several slits in one side of the paper to form “grass.”) Mary and her friends walked quickly through the grass to the garden where Jesus had been buried.
- Brown – (Cut a cross shape.) Jesus died just three days ago on a cross. Friends laid Jesus’ body in a grave.
- Gray – (Cut a large stone shape.) “Who will roll away the stone that covers Jesus’ grave?” the women wondered. When the women came near Jesus’ grave, they were amazed! (Move the “stone.”) The stone is rolled away! Where is Jesus?
- White – (Cut an angel shape.) As the women came closer still, they saw an angel! The angel said, “Jesus is not dead! He is alive!”
- Red – (Cut a “smile” and hold it to your lips.) Hooray! Hooray! Jesus is alive!
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