Easter Sunday School Lesson for Kids
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · John 20:1-18
An interactive Easter Sunday lesson for ages 6-10. Children hear how Mary found the empty tomb and met the risen Jesus, play a name-calling game, make an Empty Tomb card and learn John 20:18.
Memory verse
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. (John 20:18, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell in order what happened to Mary at the empty tomb in John 20:1-18.
- Explain that Jesus is alive and that He called Mary by name.
- Celebrate Easter by sharing the good news that Jesus is risen.
The full lesson plan
Dark Morning, Bright Greeting (5 min)
Setup: Dim the lights if it is safe. Hold the flashlight.
Say: Good morning! Today is Easter, the happiest day of the year for Christians.
Say: Let's learn a special Easter greeting. I say, "He is risen!" and you say, "He is risen indeed!"
Practice three times: whisper it, say it in a normal voice, then cheer it with arms raised. (Background: Christians have used this greeting for many centuries.)
Say: Our story starts on a morning when it was still dark. Let's find out what happened.
Turn on the lights or flashlight.
Say: Now let's hear the story from John.
Mary at the Empty Tomb (8 min)
Open the Bible to John 20 and tell the story in order. Kids do the actions in their seats.
Say: Early on the first day of the week, while it was yet dark, Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre. She saw the stone taken away. (Tiptoe fingers on your knees.)
She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple and said, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him." (Pat knees fast.)
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb. They saw the linen clothes lying there. The other disciple went in, saw, and believed. Then they went home. (Peek through hands.)
But Mary stood outside the sepulchre weeping. She stooped down and saw two angels in white. They asked, "Woman, why weepest thou?" (Rub eyes.)
She turned and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. She thought He was the gardener. (Turn around.)
Jesus said, "Mary." She turned and said, "Rabboni," which means Master. (Cup hands by mouth and call it out.)
Jesus sent her with a message. Mary went and told the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" (Point out to everyone.)
Say: Now let's talk about what this means.
Sad Morning, Surprising Joy (7 min)
Say: Mary came to the tomb weeping. She thought Jesus was still dead, and she was looking for His body.
Ask: Where was Mary looking for Jesus? (At the tomb, among the dead.) Where did she find Him? (Alive, standing right behind her.)
Say: Jesus had died on the cross for our sins. On the third day God raised Him to life. The tomb was empty because Jesus is alive!
Point 1: Jesus is alive. The empty tomb was the first sign. Mary then saw Him herself.
Point 2: Jesus knows us by name. Mary did not recognize Him until He said, "Mary." Say: Jesus knows your name too, and He cares about you.
Point 3: Good news is for sharing. Jesus sent Mary to tell the others. She went and said, "I have seen the Lord."
Say: We can be like Mary. We can go and tell people that Jesus is alive.
Teach the memory verse. Say it line by line and have kids echo you. Then say it again, pointing to a friend on the word "told."
Say: Now let's play a game about hearing Jesus call Mary's name.
Game: Who Called My Name? (8 min)
Setup: Tape a circle on the floor for the group to sit around. Tape a walking path around the room.
Time: about 8 minutes.
1. Ask for a volunteer to be "Mary." She sits in the middle facing away from the group, or closes her eyes. Any child may pass.
2. Silently point to one child in the circle, the "caller."
3. The caller says Mary's real name in a gentle voice.
4. Mary guesses who called, then turns around. Everyone cheers, "He is risen!" and Mary answers, "He is risen indeed!"
5. Repeat with new children. Finish with a Joy Walk: line up and walk slowly along the taped path, waving and calling the greeting.
Say: Mary knew Jesus when He said her name. Jesus knows each of you by name.
Safety: Walk only, no running. No one is forced to take a turn.
Say: Now let's make something to remind us of the empty tomb.
Craft: Empty Tomb Card (8 min)
Setup: Fold each cardstock sheet in half like a card. Pre-cut the gray circles. Set out crayons, glue sticks and tape.
Time: about 8 minutes.
1. On the front, draw a hill and a dark oval doorway for the tomb.
2. Write "He is risen!" in bright colors next to the doorway.
3. Tape one edge of the gray circle beside the doorway so it swings like a stone rolled away. Add more tape if it will not stay.
4. Color a sunrise above the hill.
5. Inside the card, write "John 20:18" and your name.
Say: The stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. Take this card home and tell someone, "He is risen!"
Safety: Scissors are optional and need adult supervision. Glue and crayons are non-toxic, but check for any sensitivities. Do not put materials in mouths.
Say: Now let's talk together about the story.
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask these questions. Let several children answer each one.
1. Why was Mary crying at the tomb? (She thought someone had taken Jesus' body away.)
2. What made Mary know it was Jesus? (He said her name, "Mary.")
3. What did Jesus send Mary to do? (Go and tell the disciples the message He gave her.)
4. Who is one person you could tell that Jesus is alive? (A friend, a brother or sister, a grandparent.)
Say: Mary did not keep the news to herself, and we don't have to either.
Say: Let's close by remembering our verse and praying.
Verse and Prayer (4 min)
Say: Let's say our verse together twice. First in a whisper, then with a shout.
Recite John 20:18 together with the actions: point on "told" and cup hands to eyes on "seen."
Pray together. Lead one short line at a time and have kids repeat it.
- Thank You, Jesus, that You are alive.
- Thank You that You know my name.
- Help me tell others the good news.
End with the greeting: "He is risen!" / "He is risen indeed!"
Hand out the parent take-home and the cards. Send the children home with the greeting.
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Cardstock, one sheet per child
- Gray paper circles (pre-cut), one per child
- Crayons or markers
- Glue sticks
- Masking tape
- Safety scissors
- Flashlight
Teacher notes
- Background: The words "He is risen" are from Matthew and Luke. John 20 does not use them. The greeting is a traditional Easter greeting and we use it to celebrate what John records.
- Safety: Glue, crayons and optional scissors are used in the craft. Supervise closely, pre-cut the circles, and check for sensitivities. No food is used.
- Adaptation: For children with special needs or mixed ages, pair children as buddies. Use picture cards for the story. Let anyone pass on a game turn and join in quietly instead.
- If time is short, play fewer game rounds. Keep the Joy Walk, the craft and the memory verse.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied John 20:1-18. Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty and met the risen Jesus. He called her by name and sent her to tell the others. The children learned that Jesus is alive, that He knows us by name, and that we can share the good news.
- How did Mary find out that the person she was talking to was Jesus?
- Who could you tell this week that Jesus is alive?
At breakfast or dinner, read John 20:11-18 aloud together. Then take turns saying the greeting "He is risen!" and "He is risen indeed!" Let your child show the Empty Tomb Card and retell the story.
Say "He is risen!" to at least one person this week and tell them why Easter is important to you.
Make this lesson your own: change the age, length or language · Printables to go with this lesson · Printables for this story
More teaching resources
More free lessons
See all free lessons