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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 4–7
  • 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 (Matthew 21:1–11). On Thursday He eats a Passover supper with His Apostles and gives them the first sacrament, then prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He suffers for our sins, sorrows and pains (Matthew 26). On Friday He is crucified and gives His life (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 is a great earthquake. An angel rolls back the stone and sits on it, and the guards shake with fear. The angel tells the women, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (Matthew 28:6). Mary Magdalene stays by the tomb, crying, until a man she thinks is the gardener says her name, “Mary.” She knows His voice. It is Jesus, alive! She runs to tell the disciples that she has seen the Lord (John 20:11–18). He later appears to His Apostles, to many others, and to the people in the Americas (3 Nephi 11).

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, and 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 (1 Corinthians 15:22).

For the 7-year-olds getting ready for baptism, tie it together: because Jesus suffered for us, we can repent and be made clean, and 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. Start with the Hosanna Parade, then open the Story Drama in Teach Mode: the stone rolls, the angel speaks, and you say, “Mary.” Teach “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” with the motions, play Forehead Guess and close with your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: two kids become body and spirit.

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. Put the sock or glove in your pocket.
  2. Pick a spot for the tomb, like under a table or in a corner, where two kids can curl up as the great stone in front of it.
  3. If you brought a picture of the resurrected Savior, keep it hidden until Mary’s scene.
  4. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out roles with one tap.

If your class is wild

  • Easter excitement is real. Channel it: the parade and the earthquake are loud, and Mary’s scene is whisper-quiet. Point out the difference.
  • Keep Friday brief and gentle. One sentence, a quiet moment, then move on to the sunrise.
  • Give readers the Angel’s line and Mary’s line. Little ones love being the stone, the guards and the sunrise.
  • Save three quiet minutes at the end for your testimony. Dim the lights if you can.

The 25-minute plan25 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

Hosanna Parade

2 min

A joyful parade starts Easter week the way the people of Jerusalem did, and gets everyone moving.

  1. SAY“One week before Easter, Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Crowds laid their coats and palm branches on the road and shouted, ‘Hosanna!’”
  2. Everyone stands and makes palm branches with their arms. March around the room waving and shouting “Hosanna!” (Tap the Sound Board fanfare.) Let a 6- or 7-year-old lead the parade.
  3. Everyone sits. Say: “That was a happy Sunday. But one week later was the happiest Sunday ever. Let’s find out why!”
🌪️ The parade walks in one line behind the leader. When the leader sits, everyone sits.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🌴 Hosanna! Hosanna! · Wave your palm branches! 🌴

2. Story

Story Drama: The First Easter Morning

7 min

Moving from a quiet tomb to a joyful “He is risen!” helps kids feel the happiest news in the world.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Everyone without a part is a Disciple.
  2. Read each scene and pause for the action. Let a reader read each caption out loud.
  3. The teacher reads all of Jesus’s words. Nobody plays Jesus: in scene 8, the teacher simply says “Mary” in a kind voice.
  4. Keep scenes 1 to 4 quiet and gentle. Let the earthquake and the angel be big and joyful.
  5. After scene 9, ask: “Where was Jesus?” (He is risen! He is alive!)
🌪️ The earthquake is feet only. Guards flop down gently, sitting first. If it gets wild, the sunrise “rises” and everyone freezes to watch.

Class screen: 🌅 The stone is rolled away! · He is risen! 🙌

3. Wiggle break

Roll Away the Stone

2 min

A stone-to-sunrise wiggle gets energy out and repeats the Easter morning order.

  1. Everyone curls up like a big round stone. Say: “Rumble!” and everyone shakes like an earthquake.
  2. SAY“Roll away!” and everyone scoots or rolls one careful turn to the side.
  3. SAY“Sunrise!” and everyone rises slowly with arms in a big circle.
  4. SAY“He is risen!” and everyone jumps up with arms high. Do it three times, faster each time.
🌪️ Roll only one turn, in your own space. Stones that bump become sleeping stones for five seconds.

Class screen: 🪨 Rumble! Roll! Sunrise! He is risen!

4. Object lesson

Body and Spirit

3 min

A sock and a hand show what resurrection means: body and spirit together again, forever.

  1. Hold up the empty sock (or glove). Say: “This is like a body. Can it move by itself?” (No!)
  2. Put your hand inside and wiggle it. Say: “My hand is like a spirit. When our spirit is in our body, we are alive and can move!”
  3. Pull your hand out and lay the sock down. Say: “When someone dies, their spirit leaves their body. The body lies still, but the spirit is still alive.”
  4. Put your hand back in and wiggle it happily. Say: “On Easter, Jesus’s spirit and body came back together, never to be apart again. That’s resurrection! And because of Jesus, everyone will be resurrected too.”

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

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A clean sock or a glove (for Body and Spirit)

Spirit Buddies

  1. Pick two kids: one is the Body, one is the Spirit. The Body stands frozen like a statue. Say: “Can a body move by itself?” (No!)
  2. The Spirit stands right behind the Body and taps its shoulder. Now the Body can wave and walk! Say: “When our spirit is in our body, we are alive!”
  3. The Spirit steps away and the Body freezes and sits down gently. Say: “When someone dies, their spirit leaves their body. The body is still, but the spirit is still alive.”
  4. The Spirit comes back, taps the shoulder, and the two link arms forever. Say: “On Easter, Jesus’s spirit and body came back together, never to be apart again. Because of Him, everyone will be resurrected too!” Let another pair try.

Class screen: 🤝 Body + spirit together forever!

5. Scripture

Easter Verse: Matthew 28:6

3 min

The angel’s words, with big motions, are the Easter message in one sentence.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a reader to read it slowly while little ones do the motions.
  2. Say it together three ways: whisper (like at the dark tomb), happy voice (like the angel), and shouting-with-joy voice (just once!).
  3. SAY“Jesus said He would rise again, and He did. He always keeps His promises.”
  4. Say it once more with motions, then sit down quietly.

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

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Easter Edition

3 min

A Heads Up–style game reviews Easter week with easy picture words.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. One child holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. Classmates give clues or act it out without saying the word. The picture helps pre-readers know what it is.
  3. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. About 30 seconds per guesser.
  4. Pair younger guessers with an older buddy who can whisper hints.
🌪️ Clue-givers raise a hand and wait to be called on. Earthquake clues are feet only!
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Act it out. Don’t say the word!

7. Talk it over

Easter Talk

2 min

Kids connect Easter to their own lives, the sacrament and people they love.

  1. Sit close together. Tap Name Spinner to pick who answers. Keep your voice soft.
  2. Little ones can show a face or point.
  3. Share your own answer to one question first.
💬 Ask the class
  • How do you think Mary felt when Jesus said her name?
  • Jesus knows your name too. How does that make you feel?
  • Who is someone you want to see again someday because of Jesus?
  • What can you think about during the sacrament?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

He Lives!

3 min

End quiet and reverent with the teacher’s witness that Jesus lives.

  1. Wait for quiet. Softly sing or hum “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” (Children’s Songbook, 64).
  2. SAY“Because Jesus suffered for us, we can repent and be clean. Our 7-year-olds will be baptized soon, and every week the sacrament helps us remember Him.”
  3. Share your testimony simply: “I know Jesus Christ died for us and rose again. I know He lives.” Add one sentence about why it matters to you.
  4. Invite any child who wants to say one sentence about Jesus. Show the challenge, and invite a child to say the closing prayer.

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

9. Game

Easter Freeze Frames

4 minBONUS

Frozen “photos” of Easter week help kids put the story in order.

  1. Put kids in small groups. Whisper a moment to each group: the Hosanna parade, the first sacrament, praying in the garden, the guards at the tomb, the angel on the stone, Mary hearing her name.
  2. Each group freezes like a photo. The class guesses the moment.
  3. Then everyone helps put the groups in order, from Hosanna to “He is risen!”
  4. Remember: nobody poses as Jesus. Groups show the people around Him.

Class screen: 📸 Freeze! What part of Easter is it?

10. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team quiz reviews the lesson if you have extra time.

  1. Split into two teams. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  2. Read each question and the choices out loud for the pre-readers.
  3. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer. Tap the team that got it right.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Story drama

The First Easter Morning

Matthew 28:1–8; John 20:11–18 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • AngelA reader who rolls away the stone, sits on it and reads the happy news from the screen.
  • Mary MagdaleneComes to the tomb, cries, turns with a big smile when she hears her name, then runs to tell the disciples.
  • The Other MaryWalks to the tomb with Mary Magdalene carrying pretend spices.
  • The Great StoneTwo kids curl up in front of the tomb and roll aside when the angel comes.
  • GuardsStand stiff and serious, then shake and flop down when the angel appears.
  • SunriseCrouch low, then rise slowly with arms in a big circle as the sun comes up.
  • DisciplesEveryone else! Sit sadly, then jump up with joy when Mary brings the news.

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, and He gave them a cup to drink. He asked them to always remember Him. That was the very first sacrament.

    🎬 Everyone folds their arms and sits very reverently, like during the 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, so He could help us and so we can be forgiven.

    🎬 Everyone kneels quietly for a moment with heads bowed.

  3. 🌑❤️ Jesus gives His life for us

    On Friday, Jesus was crucified. He could have stopped it, but He chose to give His life because He loves us. His friends gently laid His body in a tomb cut into a rock, and a great big stone was rolled in front of the door.

    🎬 Everyone is quiet and still for three slow breaths. The Great Stone kids roll into place in front of the tomb.

  4. 🪨💂 Soldiers guard the tomb

    Soldiers came to guard the tomb so nobody could move the stone. It was dark and quiet all night long.

    🎬 The Guards stand stiff and serious in front of the stone. Everyone else pretends to sleep.

  5. 🌍👼 An earthquake and an angel!

    Very early on Sunday morning, there was a great earthquake! An angel came down from heaven. His face was bright like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. He rolled back the stone and sat on it! The guards shook with fear and fell down.

    🎬 Everyone rumbles their feet. The Great Stone rolls aside, the Angel sits in its place, and the Guards shake and flop down.

  6. 🌅👩 The women come at sunrise

    As the sun came up, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb. The stone was rolled away! The tomb was open!

    🎬 The Sunrise rises slowly. The two Marys walk to the tomb and gasp: “The stone is gone!”

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

    The angel said, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus… He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” Then he told them to go quickly and tell the disciples.

    🎬 The Angel reads the words from the screen. Everyone throws their arms up high: “He is risen!”

  8. 🌷😢 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.”

    🎬 Mary covers her eyes and cries softly. The teacher says, “Mary,” in a kind voice. Mary turns with the biggest smile and says, “Master!” Show the picture of the resurrected Savior if you have one.

  9. 🏃🎉 Mary runs to tell the disciples!

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

    🎬 Mary runs to the Disciples and tells them. They jump up, and everyone says together, “He is risen!”

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 acted out the first Easter morning: the earthquake, the angel rolling away the stone, and Jesus saying Mary’s name (Matthew 28; John 20). We used a sock and a hand to learn that resurrection means body and spirit together forever. Ask your child: what did the angel say, and who is 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?

🥚 The Empty Egg · 2 min

  1. Hold up a closed plastic egg or small box. Ask: “What do you think is inside?”
  2. Open it slowly. It’s empty! Say: “When the women looked in the tomb, it was empty too. Jesus wasn’t there, because He is risen!”
  3. Let each child whisper, “He is risen!” as they peek inside.

🌴 Hosanna Branches · 4 min

  1. Trace each child’s hand on green paper and cut it out (or tear it) as a palm leaf. Tape it to a pencil or straw.
  2. Readers write “Hosanna!” on the leaf.
  3. Wave them in a second parade and say: “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 4–7 lessons