Activity Array

Here you'll find an array of activities for elementary children that can be used in Children's Ministry, after-school programs, in the classroom and by homeschoolers.

Tag Archives: Jesus' death


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Jesus Gives His Life: His Death, Resurrection, Visits, and Ascension

Prophecies in the Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah. God had set a time for His ministry and sacrifice. Jesus ministry here on earth was drawing to close. After His baptism, he had led His disciples, preached and taught many lessons, healed many, and through His miracles showed that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God. Yet this was not the end of the mission.

Now He set his eyes on the cross. As written in John 10:18 Jesus said, “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” Jesus chose to pay the price for sin, He took our punishment, He died for us. Yet this was not the end of the mission.

Jesus rose again! He visited His disciples and they are witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. Because He lives and conquered death, He gives us eternal life! Yet this was not the end of the mission.

Jesus promised, as written in John 14:2-3, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” We look forward to the end of the mission!

Jesus Gives His Life Synopsis — Savior Souvenirs

In this PowerPoint presentation we take a quick look at many of the significant times during Jesus’ last week before He gave His life. For each of the stories, there is an object for the kids to collect. I call the collection Savior Souvenirs. It is very similar to Resurrection Eggs, however I felt I made enough changes to call it something different and I wanted to honor those who have decided to move away from the pagan portions of Easter. We place the souvenirs in a gift box (that I got from Dollar Tree) because Jesus gave the greatest gift of all — His life! Through him we have forgiveness and eternal life! Print out.

Savior Souvenirs Print Out

Also see below for the 2nd version that tells the prophesies of the Savior Souvenirs along with the story of the Walk to Emmaus.

Redemption Week:

Jesus Anointed — John 12

We can choose, like Mary, to honor God and share our love for Him. Sharing our love for Jesus is like a sweet smell wafting through the air.

Triumphal Entry — John 12

This Bible story can be found in all the gospels. We’ll have fun praising God in skit or with action figures made by us! God is worthy of our praise! Jesus is amazing! Let’s praise them for all they do. The action figures are not original.

Jesus Celebrates the Passover — Luke 22

This presentation correlates Luke’s account of the Lord’s Supper with the Passover celebration. The children get to participate in the Passover with the foods. We hear of Jesus’ love and are reminded that He indeed is our Redeemer and Savior. He is the Messiah and invites us to join in His kingdom, so we look forward to the final fulfillment of the Passover when Jesus comes again. It is His blood that is on the door to our hearts. He is the Passover Lamb that died for our sin. He is coming to take us to Heaven, our Promised Land. It is because of Jesus’ sacrifice that we are truly free! He has redeemed us and, as we find in Revelation 22, will eventually recreate and restore our home on earth where we will live eternally, when it is time.

The Lord’s Supper — Matthew 26 plus Mark and John

This presentation shows the Lord’s Supper and acknowledges the weakness in Judas and Peter. We will follow their stories along with Jesus’ Faithfulness in the next few presentations. We see how much Jesus loves us. He is our strength. He is Faithful!

Jesus Prepares His Disciples and Prays — Matthew 26 and John 13-17

Before Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, He took time to prepare His disciples for what was about to happen. He assured them of His love and that they Holy Spirit would come to comfort and guide them. He told them He would prepare a place for them and come back to take them to be with Him. He also prayed for them and for all future believers – that includes us! In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done, and for strength. The object lesson in about doing God’s will. The craft is a special one. We made praying hand cast molds and then I finished them during the week.

Object lesson: Thy will be done

Activity page: I will go prepare a place for you

Jesus Betrayed, Tried, Denied — Matthew 26, Luke 22, John 18

In this lesson, we reiterate the verse, “Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41. Oh how weak we are in times of difficulty! Yet Jesus is strong! He is faithful!

Jesus Dies for Us — Matthew 27, Luke 23, John 19

Jesus chose to come and take our punishment. The wages of sin is death. So Jesus died for us. It was His love for us, that held him to that cross. His death demonstrates how much He loves each one of us! In this presentation we focus on how Jesus thought of others throughout this hard day. He forgave the soldiers nailing him to the cross. He comforted John and His mom. He assured the thief who came to believe in Him that he too would have eternal life and be in heaven. We also see others who believed and helped Jesus: Simon, the Cyrene, the centurion soldier, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus.

Craft pages

Jesus’ Resurrection:

Jesus Rises Again. Matthew 28, Mark 16 — Jesus rises, Women see and tell, Jesus is alive!

This presentation focuses more on the event of Jesus’ resurrection. There was an earthquake, Jesus rose, an angel rolled away the stone, soldiers fell then ran, and women came. The angel and Jesus had good news for the ladies and a message for His disciples. Jesus is not dead. He is alive! He will meet you. We, too, have the assurance that we, too, will see Him! Because He lives, we too will live forever with Him! Praise God!

Jesus Visits Disciples for 40 days:

Jesus is Alive! Just as He said. Luke 24 — Walk to Emmaus, Visiting Disciples, Ascension

This presentation is based on Luke 24. It highlights the walk to Emmaus and Jesus visiting the disciples. We start out with a yummy snack that helps tell the story of Jesus’ burial and resurrection, Resurrection Rolls with croissant rolls and marshmallows. This is a fun story to act out the story, if you desire. We end with Jesus’ ascension.

Walk to Emmaus — Luke 24 — Savior Souvenirs in the context of Prophecy fulfilled

Cleopas and the other disciple were wondering about the events of Jesus’ death. Jesus came and explained the prophecies in scripture and how they were fulfilled in His life, death, and resurrection. We don’t know really what Jesus said, but we do know the prophecies that were fulfilled, so this lesson focuses on those prophesies as they looked back on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Jesus gave proof after proof that He was the Messiah and that He was Alive!

Savior Souvenirs with Prophesy

Jesus is Alive! Believe it! John 20 — Jesus visits Mary, the disciples, and Thomas

This presentation is based on John 20. It highlights Mary Magdalene seeing Jesus at the tomb and Jesus visiting the disciples again while Thomas is there. We are encouraged to believe it — Jesus is alive! He gave his witnesses proof. They believed and we can too! We start this presentation by making resurrection rolls with marshmallows and croissant bread. We also make some cute bag puppets to help tell the story.

Breakfast on the Beach — Peter declares His love for Jesus — John 21

We start the presentation with a Tic-Tac-Toe game to remember how Peter denied Jesus. Then we make a boat and, act out the story as it is read and presented. After breakfast, Jesus and Peter go for a walk. Jesus gives Peter the chance to declare his love. Jesus gives him a job and assures him that he will be strong and not deny Him again. We too can share our love for God and feed others. We prepare some snacks and promises in a net to give away.

Jesus Returns to Heaven

Jesus’ Great Commission and Ascension — Luke 24:36-51; Acts 1

Jesus ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God. He will come back some day soon in the same way. Praise God! Our Savior reigns!