How Our Kidmin Celebrated Easter

Like most of my kidmin friends, the weeks leading up to Easter kept us busy.  They were action-packed – extra services, egg hunts – lots to do to help children and families celebrate our Savior’s Resurrection.

Here are a few things we did for Easter:

EASTER EGG HUNT

On Saturday, April 12, we welcomed children and families into our building for a morning of games, prizes, egg hunting, candy (lots of candy actually!), refreshments and Journey to Easter stations, which chronicled the last week of Jesus’ life.  Each station had a skit that helped the children understand the Easter story better.  The children also completed a progressive craft as they traveled to each station.  What makes this time so special is that many children hear the true meaning of Easter for the first time during this event, which is why we put a lot of attention into this particular area.

Here are a few pictures:

 

 

 

 

Our Empty Tomb, which served as our Photo Booth
Our Empty Tomb, which served as our Photo Booth

 

PALM SUNDAY

On Palm Sunday, our preschoolers and elementary children learned about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.  We marked the celebration with our very own palm parade – our very first palm parade!  Our elementary children and preteens created a human pathway for our preschoolers to parade through while everyone waved palm leaves.  The children paraded through our elementary area to Israel Houghton’s “You are Good”.  It was such a fun time!

Here are a few pics:

Our elementary exit ramp  welcomed our preschoolers to the parade!
Our elementary exit ramp welcomed our preschoolers to the parade!

 

The right side of our elementary stage
The right side of our elementary stage

 

The left side of our elementary stage
The left side of our elementary stage

 

EASTER SUNDAY

On Easter Sunday, I decided to change things up a bit in our elementary area.  Because some of our leaders were going to be away, we designed the morning’s schedule to look a little different.  We had 4 activity stations for the children to choose from when they arrived: a coloring page area (for younger ones); a craft area; and 2 game areas (we used one game from our printed material and one Easter Minute-to-Win-It game – that was a BIG hit!).

We then had our large group worship time but we set up chairs for the children – they usually sit on the floor.  Having the chairs changed the atmosphere and allowed the children to focus a lot better, so we might continue to set up chairs each week.

After worship, we had our large group teaching time, followed by a game and then a snack.  The snack was a real treat because we don’t serve snack every week.  We had the children construct edible tomb snacks (you can find the directions here).

It was a great morning and a sweet way to end Holy Week.

How was your Easter? Did you try anything new this year? I’d love to hear about it!

 

Last-Minute Ideas for Easter

Palm Sunday is this Sunday and Easter is right around the corner!

Here is a list of just a few of the many resources available to help you get ready:

Children’s Ministry Deals: Games, curriculum, countdown videos and printables.

Kidology: Games, lessons, devotionals, printables, and discussion forums filled with tons of helpful ideas.

What’s in the Bible: Videos, Holy Week devotional, articles, and printables.

Worship House Kids: Videos, song tracks, countdowns and motion & still backgrounds.

Guildcraft: Printables galore and craft kits

If you’re looking for even more Easter ideas for church, home or school, be sure to visit my Lent & Easter board on my Pinterest page.  You can access the board here: http://pinterest.com/kathierphillips/kidmin-lent-easter/

What do you have planned to make the Easter season come alive this year?  I’d love to hear all about and pictures are also welcomed!  

{Easter Resource & Giveaway}: Resurrection Clue Hunt

I love to research ideas to make familiar Bible stories come to life in new, fresh ways, especially around holidays.  Today I’ll share a resource that might be a great activity to have children in your elementary ministry do this Easter.

Overview

Kidology’s Resurrection Clue Hunt is an adaptation of the classic deduction game, Clue. Designed for children ages 7-13, it is a lesson-based game that helps to uncover the many aspects of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

During the game, players (in groups of 4-6) must discover which PEOPLE clue is missing, what LOCATION clue is unknown, and which OBJECT clue is needed to complete the set.  As the children hunt for clues, biblical investigation and devotionals illustrate how the clues fit together to shape the resurrection story.

My Thoughts 

Initially I thought the game was more like an actual scavenger hunt than a game played in a small group or family setting.  (Now ideas are running through my head as to how we might adapt it that way!)  I love that the game is interactive while also helping children understand the crucifixion and resurrection in a new way.  I also love how the game is not only designed for fun but also incorporates learning through scripture and discussion.  The game is also a great family night activity!

I think that children, teachers and families would enjoy playing Resurrection Clue Hunt this Easter. The PDF game download includes:

  • Detailed Instruction Guide
  • Original, eye-catching artwork
  • Printable set of 20 cards (color and b/w versions)
  • Printable “Explorer Notebooks”
  • 20 “Fact Sheet” devotionals
  • Additional access to fact sheets via QR code

Kidology has graciously offered a complimentary game download (regularly priced at $18.99, Kidology Premium Members $13.99) to one of our readers.  You can enter to win by leaving a comment below, telling me how you’d use this resource in your home or ministry. The deadline to enter is 11:59pm on Sunday, March 30th.  I will randomly select and announce one winner and on Monday, March 31st.

So…how would you use this resource in your home or ministry?  Leave me a comment below and you’ll be entered to win!

Kidology provided me a free download in exchange for an honest review.