One of the most stressful times as Christian teachers can be Easter. As teachers, we want so much for our kids to realize and grasp the truth of Easter and the promises it represents.
Preschoolers can learn that Jesus died on a cross. Jesus loves every one of us. He died because of the love He had for us. Preschoolers can memorize the story of his death as well as scriptures.
Take a deep breath and enjoy this time in the classroom. It should be a time of rejoicing instead of stressing. Be sure to model the joy of Christ during this time. Here are a few activities throughout your centers to get you going in the beautiful time of Easter.
Art
Cut out a four foot by six foot cross out of butcher paper. Lay it on the floor. Allow the kids to finger-paint it purple. When dry, hang it on the wall. Then allow the children to place a different color flower to the bottom of the cross. This can be done with double sided tape or Velcro. Include a banner that says, "Jesus died for me!" You can allow the children to write their name on the flowers as well.
A variation to this project is to take pictures of the children in your class. Allow them to glue their pictures to the cross to represent who Jesus died for on the cross.
Outside art: Cut out brown crosses from construction paper. Allow the kids to splatter red paint on the cross as a symbol of Jesus blood shed on the cross.
Stained glass crosses: cut out a cross shape from black construction paper. Use contact paper to stick on the back so that the sticky side faces up. Allow the kids to stick small pieces of red, orange and yellow tissue paper to the sticky side. It will make a pretty stain glass cross. Allow the kids to take home and place in their windows as a reminder that Jesus loves them.
Snack
Jellybean art: Take a piece of construction paper and glue. Allow the kids to glue the right color jelly beans to the sheet of paper. Glue the following poem to the page with the jellybeans.
Red is for the blood he shed,
Green is for the grass he made,
Yellow is for his sun so bright,
Orange is for the edge of night.
Black is for the sins we made,
White is for the grace he gave,
Purple is for his hours of sorrow,
Pink is for a new tomorrow.
A page of jelly beans,
So colorful and sweet,
Is a PRAYER, a PROMISE,
An Easter Treat.
Allow the kids to eat the extra jellybeans for their snack.
Resurrection Rolls: You will need refrigerated crescent rolls, divided into triangles, large marshmallows, cinnamon/sugar mix, foil sprayed with cooking spray and a cookie sheet. Give each child a triangle and one large marshmallow. Demonstrate how to roll the marshmallow up in the crescent roll beginning at the little pointy end and ending at the bottom of the triangle. Pinch any gaps closed tight. Then help them sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the top. Have each child work on a square of foil with their name written in permanent marker on the foil. Then place on the cookie sheet. Bake for nine to 12 minutes at 350 degrees. While waiting for the rolls to bake, tell the story of Christ's death and resurrection. Explain that when you were making your treats, you rolled the marshmallow up inside the dough and sealed the dough tight. After Jesus died on the cross, he was put inside a cave and the door was sealed tight. But on the third day, Jesus came back to life, He left that cave and when his friends came to see him, they found the cave empty. "Let's go get the rolls you made and see if they changed too." The rolls will be hollow because the marshmallow melted. While the children enjoy the rolls, explain that knowing Jesus is alive and he loves us feels so good, like the rolls taste good and sweet.
Science
Allow the kids to glue a picture of Jesus to a balloon filled with helium. As a class, walk outside. Tell the children to let go of their balloons. Explain that just as their balloon with Jesus on it is floating to heaven, so did Jesus after he died on the cross.
Storytime
Resurrection eggs: These can be bought at your local Wal-Mart or Christian store. I usually believe you can make the teacher resources you need, but these are so worth the money to teach preschoolers about Easter. These are perhaps the greatest teaching tool ever invented. At the preschool age, it gives them the ability to memorize the story. It gives them a concrete example to remember the story.
Music
Jesus Loves Me should be a staple song sung in your classroom by now. No child is ever to old to hear this song. Even as adults, it is important to sing this song as a daily simple reminder.
Another song is sung to the tune of Jesus Loves The Little Children.
Jesus died for all the children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus died for all the children of the world.
Another simple song is to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb. I have had toddlers who have loved this song.
Jesus is alive today, alive today, alive today. Jesus is alive today, it is Easter morning!
Remember, this should be a joyous time in your classroom. Jesus dying on the cross is only the beginning of the story. Have the children march around screaming, "Jesus is Alive!" Rejoice with them about this miracle! Enjoy this time of teaching in your class.
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