Older Primary Lesson Plan: Easter

Week 14 (March 30–April 5): Easter — “He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory”

Opening Connection (Attention Getter + Simple Object Lesson)
Bring a small bandage (or a box labeled “Band-Aids”). Ask: “When you get hurt, what do you hope will happen?” Let children answer (heal, feel better, stop hurting). Explain: Easter is about the greatest healing and help Heavenly Father gave us through Jesus Christ—help for pain, sin, and even death. Share this promise from the Easter lesson: Jesus Christ “has borne ‘the iniquity of us all’ (Isaiah 53:6; emphasis added), and ‘in Christ shall all be made alive’ (1 Corinthians 15:22; emphasis added).”

Scripture Discovery (Partner Reading + Word Hunt)
Give each pair of children one of these references from the lesson and ask them to hunt for “help words” (like borne, carried, peace, joy, made alive). Then they report one phrase that teaches what Jesus does for us.

1. Isaiah 53:6 — Read aloud together: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
   Ask: What does it mean that Jesus took “the iniquity of us all”?

2. 1 Corinthians 15:22 — Read aloud together: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
   Ask: What does “made alive” make you think of at Easter?

Optional quick class question: “How do these two verses help us remember Jesus at Easter?”

Core Gospel Principles (Build 3 Truths)

1. Jesus Christ suffered for me. The lesson teaches that Easter is a time to remember what the Savior did “in Gethsemane and on the cross” (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “March 30–April 5: ‘He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory’”).
2. Jesus Christ was resurrected for me. Because of Him, “in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
3. Jesus Christ offers peace and joy. The lesson invites us to find messages in scriptures about “the peace and joy Jesus Christ offers” (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Jesus Christ offers me peace and joy.”).

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Interactive Learning Activities

Activity 1: “Picture Point-Out” (Interactive Discussion)
Materials: Printed (or device) pictures of Christ in Gethsemane and The Crucifixion (as referenced in the lesson).
Steps:

1. Show the Gethsemane picture. Ask: “What do you see? What do you think Jesus might be feeling?”
2. Read a short set of verses about these events from the lesson’s suggested passages: “Matthew 26:36–46; 27:35–50; Luke 22:39–46; John 19:16–30” (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Jesus Christ suffered and died for me.”).
3. Invite children to point to picture details they heard in the verses.
   Connection to scripture: Helps children “look for words and phrases” that show what the Savior did (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Jesus Christ suffered and died for me.”).
   Discussion questions:

• What did Jesus choose to do for us?
• How does it help you to know He understands pain and sadness?

Activity 2: “Sorting the Savior’s Help” (Game)
Materials: Four paper signs on the wall: Sin, Death, Trials, Weaknesses. Scripture slips with these references from the lesson: “Isaiah 61:1–3; Ezekiel 36:26–28; Matthew 11:28–30; Romans 8:35–39; Alma 7:10–13; Alma 11:42–45; Moroni 10:32–33; Doctrine and Covenants 19:15–19; Moses 5:9–12” (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Because of His Atonement…”).
Steps:

1. Give each child (or pair) one scripture reference slip.
2. They choose which category it best fits and tape it under that sign. (Some can go in more than one—let them explain.)
3. After all are placed, read aloud just the category headings and ask: “Which one do you most want Jesus to help you with this week?”
   Connection to scripture: Directly follows the lesson’s suggested sorting activity about what Jesus helps us overcome.
   Discussion questions:

• Why do you think Jesus can help with all four?
• How does Easter give hope to someone who feels stuck or sad?

Activity 3: “Easter Peace Card” (Hands-On Craft)
Materials: Half-sheets of paper, crayons/colored pencils, optional stickers.
Steps:

1. Explain: The lesson suggests sharing “messages… about the peace and joy Jesus Christ offers” and even making “Easter cards to share, based on these messages” (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Jesus Christ offers me peace and joy.”).
2. Each child makes a simple card for someone who might need peace or joy.
3. On the inside, they write one scripture reference from today (Isaiah 53:6 or 1 Corinthians 15:22) and one sentence like: “Because of Jesus, we can have hope.”
   Connection to scripture: Children practice giving what they are learning—peace and joy through Christ.
   Discussion questions:

• Who might need a message of hope this week?
• How can we help someone feel remembered and loved at Easter?

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Life Application Bridge (School + Home + Friends)
Invite children to think of one real-life moment when they can “spread the Savior’s peace and joy this Easter” (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “Jesus Christ offers me peace and joy.”): sitting with someone alone at lunch, being kinder to a sibling, or forgiving a friend. Remind them that Easter means Jesus helps with real hurts—not just Bible-time hurts.

Testimony Time (Recognizing the Spirit)
Ask: “When we read about Jesus and His Resurrection, what feelings do you notice in your heart?” Use the lesson’s guidance: “Children can feel the Spirit but may need help recognizing His influence… Help them recognize His voice as He speaks to them” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 32, as quoted in the lesson).
Invite a few children to share one sentence about what they feel or believe about Jesus Christ. Share your simple witness that Jesus Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection are real, and that because of Him, the promise is sure: “in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Take-Home Challenge (One Specific Action)
Choose one:

• Deliver (or mail) the Easter peace card to the person they chose.
• At home, read Isaiah 53:6 and 1 Corinthians 15:22 with a family member and tell them one “help word” they found.

Teacher Tips (Practical + Flexible)

1. If attention is wiggly, shorten the reading and do more “point-out” prompts with the pictures—children stay engaged when they’re searching for details.
2. For different reading levels, pair strong readers with developing readers during Scripture Discovery, and let children share a single word or phrase instead of a full explanation.