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Jesus Is Alive!

A Hosanna parade, a garden prayer, a rolled-away stone, an angel, and Jesus saying Mary’s name

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • Week 13
  • 📅 Sunday, March 28, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus Christ died for us and came back to life on Easter morning, so because He lives, I can repent and everyone will live again.

I can remember Jesus and tell others the happy news: He is risen!

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Easter Week)
Know the chapters

Easter week begins with crowds waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna” as Jesus rides into Jerusalem. That’s Matthew 21:1–11. On Thursday, He eats a Passover supper with His Apostles and gives them the first sacrament. Then He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He suffers for our sins, sorrows and pains. That’s Matthew 26. On Friday He’s crucified and gives His life, in Matthew 27. His body is laid in a tomb cut out of rock. A great stone is rolled over the door, and soldiers guard it.

Early Sunday morning there’s a great earthquake. An angel rolls back the stone and sits on it, and the guards shake with fear. In Matthew 28:6, the angel tells the women, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” Mary Magdalene stays by the tomb, crying. A man she thinks is the gardener says her name: “Mary.” She knows His voice. It’s Jesus, alive! She runs to tell the disciples she’s seen the Lord, in John 20:11–18. Later He appears to His Apostles and many others. In 3 Nephi 11, He visits the people in the Americas.

For four- to seven-year-olds, keep Thursday and Friday short and gentle. Jesus gave us the sacrament. He prayed and felt our hurts so He could help us. He chose to give His life because He loves us. Spend most of your energy on Sunday morning’s joy. Some children have lost a grandparent or pet. The Resurrection is the happiest, most hopeful news you can give them. Because of Jesus, everyone will live again, as 1 Corinthians 15:22 promises.

For the 7-year-olds getting ready for baptism, tie it together. Because Jesus suffered for us, we can repent and be made clean. The sacrament each week helps us remember Him. Say it plainly and often. Jesus is alive, and He lives today.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Matthew 28:1–8 and John 20:11–18. Grab an empty plastic egg and a glove. Open the Happiest Empty Egg, then tell the story in Teach Mode. Do Rumble and Rise and say Matthew 28:6 with motions. Show The Glove and the Hand, then close with your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing,” and your sleeve becomes the glove.

What to bring3 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Read Matthew 28:1–8 and John 20:11–18.
  2. Close the empty egg and put the glove in your pocket. If you brought a picture of the resurrected Savior, keep it hidden until scene 6.

If your class is wild

  • Easter excitement is real, so channel it. The earthquake and “He is risen!” are big. Mary’s scene is whisper-quiet. Point out the difference.
  • Keep Friday brief and gentle. Say one sentence, pause for a quiet moment, then move on to Sunday morning.
  • Give your most excited kid the Sound Helper job. Tapping the earthquake sound is a big deal.
  • Some children have lost a grandparent or a pet. The glove is the moment to say gently that because of Jesus, we’ll see them again.
  • Save three quiet minutes at the end for your testimony. Dim the lights if you can.

The 25-minute plan24 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

The Happiest Empty Egg

3 min

An empty egg makes “empty” the happiest word of Easter.

  1. SAY“What do you think is inside this egg?”
  2. Hold up the closed egg and take three guesses. Then open it slowly. It’s empty!
  3. SAY“Empty is the happiest word of Easter. Let’s find out why.”
  4. SAY“Some parts of this story are quiet. Some parts are very happy.”

Class screen: 🥚 What’s inside? Nothing! Why is that happy? · 🥚 What’s inside?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small plastic egg or box with nothing inside

Empty Hands

  1. SAY“I’m holding something special in my hands. What could it be?”
  2. Cup your hands closed and take three guesses. Then open your hands slowly. They’re empty!
  3. SAY“Empty is the happiest word of Easter. Let’s find out why.”
  4. SAY“Some parts of this story are quiet. Some parts are very happy.”

Class screen: 🤲 Empty hands! Why is that happy? · 🤲 What’s inside?

2. Story

Story: The First Easter Morning

7 min

The true story of Easter shows that Jesus died for us and rose again, and He knows each of us by name.

  1. SAY“This is a true story. It starts quiet. Then you get to make the happy sounds!”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. A big kid can read each caption. When a sound shows, everyone makes it.
  3. Slow down and read scenes 1 to 3 softly. Read Jesus’s words yourself. Nobody plays Jesus.
  4. At scene 6, pause after “Mary.” Ask, “How do you think she felt when He said her name?”
  5. SAY“Jesus knows your name too.”
🌪️ Keep scenes 1 to 3 quiet and gentle. Then let the earthquake and “He is risen!” be big and joyful. Kids love the contrast.

Class screen: 🌅 The First Easter Morning · 🌍 Rumble! · 🙌 He is risen!

3. Wiggle break

Rumble and Rise

2 min

A quick earthquake-and-sunrise wiggle gets the Easter excitement out before the key verse.

  1. SAY“Crouch by your chair like a big round stone.”
  2. Call “Rumble!” and everyone shakes like an earthquake. Call “Sunrise!” and rise slowly with arms in a big circle. Call “He is risen!” and reach high.
  3. Do it three times, faster each time. End slowly. Fold your arms and sit down.

Class screen: 🌅 Rumble! Sunrise! He is risen!

4. Scripture

Key Verse: Matthew 28:6

3 min

The angel’s words with motions let every child say the Easter message.

  1. SAY“Here are the happiest words the angel ever said.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. A big kid reads it slowly.
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it three ways: a whisper at the dark tomb, a happy voice, then one joyful shout!
  4. Ask, “What did Jesus promise that came true?” He said He’d rise again, and He did!
  5. SAY“Jesus always keeps His promises.”

Class screen: ✨ He is not here: for he is risen… · …as he said. · Matthew 28:6

5. Object lesson

The Glove and the Hand

6 min

A glove and a hand show what resurrection means: body and spirit together forever, for everyone.

  1. SAY“This glove is like your body. My hand is like your spirit. Together, they can run and laugh and hug!”
  2. Put the glove on and wave. Pull your hand out, and the glove lies still. Wiggle your hand as you talk, then slip the glove back on.
  3. SAY“When someone dies, the spirit leaves the body. But the spirit is still alive! On Easter, Jesus’s spirit and body came back together, forever. That’s resurrection!”
  4. Let two or three calm kids try the glove. Each time the hand goes back in, everyone says, “He is risen!”
  5. SAY“Because Jesus lives, everyone will live again. Who is someone you want to see again someday?”

Class screen: 🧤 Body + spirit together forever! · 1 Corinthians 15:22

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A glove (winter, work or garden glove) or a clean sock

The Sleeve and the Hand

  1. SAY“My sleeve is like a body. My hand is like a spirit. Together, they can wave and hug!”
  2. Wave your hand out of a sleeve. Pull it up inside, and the sleeve hangs still. As you talk, push it back out and wave it high.
  3. SAY“When someone dies, the spirit leaves the body. But the spirit is still alive! On Easter, Jesus’s spirit and body came back together, forever. That’s resurrection!”
  4. Kids with sleeves copy you. Each time the hands come out, everyone says, “He is risen!”
  5. SAY“Because Jesus lives, everyone will live again. Who is someone you want to see again someday?”

Class screen: 👋 Body + spirit together forever! · 1 Corinthians 15:22

6. Testimony

He Lives!

3 min

End with a quiet, simple testimony that Jesus lives.

  1. SAY“Mary was the first to tell others that Jesus lives. I want to tell you too.”
  2. Softly hum “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” while kids fold arms.
  3. SAY“I know Jesus Christ died for us and rose again. I know He lives. Because He suffered for us, we can repent.”
  4. Add one sentence about why it matters to you. Remind older kids that baptism is coming soon, and the sacrament helps us remember Him.
  5. Invite any child to say one sentence about Jesus. Share the Easter Messenger challenge. Then invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🌅 Jesus lives! · Tell someone: He is risen! 🙌

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Easter Edition

4 minBONUS

A picture guessing game reviews the Easter story, and the pictures let non-readers give clues too.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class. Everyone else gives clues from their seats.
  3. Little ones can do a motion or a sound for the picture. Pair each little guesser with a big-kid buddy.
  4. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass. After about 30 seconds, your phone or tablet moves to the next kid.
🌪️ Go around the room with one clue each, so nobody shouts over anybody.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

8. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team picture quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. SAY“It’s Team Sunrise versus Team Empty Tomb!”
  2. Split the class in two, mixing big and little kids. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. Read each question out loud. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer.
  4. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point. Cheer for both teams.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

The First Easter Morning

Matthew 26–28; John 20:11–18 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 🍞🙏 Jesus gives the first sacrament

    On Thursday night, Jesus ate a special supper with His Apostles. He blessed bread and gave it to them. He gave them a cup to drink. He asked them to always remember Him. That was the first sacrament.

    🙌

  2. 🌳🙏 Jesus prays in a garden

    Then Jesus went to a garden called Gethsemane to pray. There He felt the pain of every sin and every sadness. He did it so He could help us, and so we can be forgiven.

    🙌

  3. 🌑❤️ Jesus gives His life for us

    On Friday, Jesus was crucified. He chose to give His life, because He loves us. His friends laid His body in a tomb. They rolled a great stone in front of the door. Soldiers guarded it.

    🙌

  4. 🌍👼 An earthquake and an angel!

    Very early on Sunday morning, there was a great earthquake! An angel came down from heaven, bright as lightning. He rolled back the stone and sat on it! The guards shook with fear.

    🙌 Shake like an earthquake: “Rumble, rumble!”

  5. 👼✨ “He is not here: for he is risen!”

    At sunrise, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb. The angel said, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus… He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.”

    🙌 Push the big stone: “Unnnh!” Then arms up: “He is risen!”

  6. 🌷😢 Mary hears her name

    Mary Magdalene stayed by the tomb, crying. She saw a man she thought was the gardener. Then He said just one word: “Mary.” She knew that voice! It was Jesus, alive! She said, “Rabboni,” which means “Master.”

    🙌

  7. 🏃🎉 Mary runs to tell the disciples!

    Mary ran to tell the disciples that she had seen the Lord! Jesus was resurrected. He was alive, with a body that will never die again. He lives today!

    🙌 Run your fingers fast on your knees. Then cheer: “He lives!”

Key verse

Matthew 28:6 ↗
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said”
In kid words: The angel said, “Jesus isn’t in the tomb. He is alive again, just like He promised!”
🙌 “He is not here” = shake your head and hold out empty hands · “for he is risen” = raise both arms slowly all the way up · “as he said” = touch your lips, then give a big thumbs-up.

More verses

John 20:16 ↗
“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
In kid words: Jesus said her name, “Mary,” and she knew Him. She said, “Master!”
John 20:18 ↗
“Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord”
In kid words: Mary ran and told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”
1 Corinthians 15:22 ↗
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
In kid words: Everyone will die someday, but because of Jesus, everyone will live again!

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 👼 Angel
  • 🪨 Stone
  • ⛰️ Tomb
  • 🌅 Sunrise
  • 🌍 Earthquake
  • 💂 Guard
  • 🌷 Garden
  • 🧑‍🌾 Gardener
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🫏 Donkey
  • 🌴 Palm Branch
  • 🏃 Run
  • 😢 Cry
  • 😄 Happy
  • 🙏 Pray
  • 🫙 Empty
Clues for each word
  • Angel: A messenger from heaven, clothes white as snow
  • Stone: Big and round, rolled in front of the tomb
  • Tomb: A room cut into rock. It was empty!
  • Sunrise: When the sun comes up in the morning
  • Earthquake: Rumble! The ground shakes
  • Guard: A soldier who stands and watches
  • Garden: Flowers and trees grow there
  • Gardener: Mary thought Jesus was one at first
  • Bread: We eat it at the sacrament
  • Donkey: Jesus rode one into Jerusalem
  • Palm Branch: People waved them and shouted Hosanna
  • Run: Mary did this to tell the good news
  • Cry: Mary did this before she saw Jesus
  • Happy: How everyone felt when they knew He was alive
  • Pray: Jesus did this in Gethsemane
  • Empty: Nothing inside, like the tomb
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. What did people shout when Jesus rode into Jerusalem?
    • A. “Goodbye!” 👋
    • B. “Hosanna!” 🌴
    • C. “Happy birthday!” 🎂
    Show answer

    ✅ B. “Hosanna!” 🌴 They waved palm branches and praised Him.

  2. What did Jesus give His Apostles at the Last Supper?
    • A. The first sacrament 🍞
    • B. New shoes 👟
    • C. A pet 🐕
    Show answer

    ✅ A. The first sacrament 🍞 He asked them to always remember Him, like we do each Sunday.

  3. What was rolled in front of the tomb?
    • A. A ball ⚽
    • B. A wagon 🛒
    • C. A great big stone 🪨
    Show answer

    ✅ C. A great big stone 🪨 And soldiers guarded it!

  4. Who rolled the stone away?
    • A. The guards 💂
    • B. An angel 👼
    • C. A bear 🐻
    Show answer

    ✅ B. An angel 👼 An angel came down from heaven during an earthquake.

  5. What did the angel say about Jesus?
    • A. “He is risen!” 🌅
    • B. “He is sleeping.” 😴
    • C. “He went fishing.” 🎣
    Show answer

    ✅ A. “He is risen!” 🌅 Matthew 28:6. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said!

  6. Who did Mary think Jesus was at first?
    • A. A king 👑
    • B. A fisherman 🐟
    • C. The gardener 🧑‍🌾
    Show answer

    ✅ C. The gardener 🧑‍🌾 Then He said her name, and she knew Him!

  7. What does it mean that Jesus was resurrected?
    • A. He went on a trip ✈️
    • B. His body and spirit came together forever 🙌
    • C. He was hiding 🙈
    Show answer

    ✅ B. His body and spirit came together forever 🙌 He is alive with a body that will never die again.

  8. Because Jesus was resurrected, who will live again?
    • A. Everyone! 🌍
    • B. Only grown-ups 🧑
    • C. Nobody 🚫
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Everyone! 🌍 1 Corinthians 15:22. In Christ shall all be made alive!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Did Jesus Really Live Again? Children’s Songbook, p. 64

    A tender Easter song for the testimony. Find it ↗

  • He Died That We Might Live Again Children’s Songbook, p. 65

    It tells why Easter matters to each of us. Find it ↗

  • On a Golden Springtime Children’s Songbook, p. 88

    A joyful springtime Easter song little ones love. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Easter Messenger

Like Mary, run and tell the good news! Tell someone in your family or a friend, “Jesus is alive! He is risen!” During the sacrament next Sunday, think about Jesus the whole time.

Text the parents

Happy Easter! Today in Primary we heard the story of the first Easter morning, from Matthew 28 and John 20. There was an earthquake, an angel rolled away the stone, and Jesus said Mary’s name. We opened an empty egg. Then we used a glove and a hand to learn that resurrection means body and spirit together forever. Ask your child, “What did the angel say? Who’s someone you’re happy to see again someday because Jesus lives?”

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🌴 Hosanna Branches · 4 min

  1. Show Matthew 21:8–9 and John 12:13 on your phone or tablet.
  2. SAY“One week before Easter, Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Crowds waved palm branches and shouted, ‘Hosanna!’”
  3. Trace each child’s hand on green paper. Cut or tear it out like a palm leaf and tape it to a pencil or straw. Readers write “Hosanna!” on it.
  4. Wave the branches from your seats and say together: “Hosanna! Jesus is our King!”

💖 Jesus Knows My Name · 2 min

  1. Remind the class that Jesus said Mary’s name, and she knew Him right away.
  2. Go around the circle and say each child’s name softly. Each child answers, “Jesus knows me!”
  3. SAY“Jesus knows you by name. And He loves you.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

All CTR 4–6 lessons