Use the power of movement to help participants to learn the events of the Easter Story while having fun and working together.
Materials needed
· Easter-themed object (such as a toy lamb, cross, or Easter egg)
· Printed cards with key events from the Easter story (eg, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection)
· Space for running (such as a gymnasium, outdoor field, or large indoor room)
· Stopwatch or timer
Instructions
1. Divide the children into teams of equal size and assign each team a different part of the Easter story to focus on.
2. Scatter the printed cards with key events from the Easter story around the designated course, ensuring each team has access to their assigned events.
3. Explain to the children that they will participate in a relay race where they will pass an Easter-themed object (eg, toy lamb or cross) while reciting key events from the Easter story.
4. Line up the teams at the starting line and provide each team with the Easter-themed object.
5. Start the race by saying, ‘Go!’ Each team member must run to find one of their assigned event cards, pick it up, and return to their team to recite the event.
6. Once the first team member recites their event, they pass the Easter-themed object to the next team member, who repeats the process until all team members have participated.
7. Encourage teams to work together to recite the events accurately and in order.
8. Time each team’s completion of the relay race using a stopwatch or timer.
9. The team that completes the relay race in the shortest amount of time, while accurately reciting the events, wins the game.
10. After the race, gather the children to review the key events of the Easter story and discuss their significance in the Christian faith.
11. Award small prizes or treats to all participants to celebrate their participation and learning.
Variations
· Add challenges or obstacles to the course to make the relay race more exciting.
· Include discussion questions about the Easter story at each event station for teams to answer before moving on.
· Use music or sound effects to enhance the atmosphere and excitement of the relay race.
· Allow older children to create their own event cards with key events from the Easter story for added engagement and learning.
The text for the cards
1. Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) – Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey while crowds wave palm branches and shout ‘Hosanna!’
2. Jesus Cleansing the Temple – Jesus overturns tables of the moneychangers and drives out those buying and selling in the Temple, declaring it a house of prayer.
3. The Last Supper and Institution of the Eucharist – Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, instituting the sacrament of the Eucharist and washing their feet as a symbol of humility.
4. Jesus Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane – Jesus prays fervently in the garden, asking God to let the cup of suffering pass from him, yet submitting to God’s will.
5. Judas’ Betrayal and Jesus’ Arrest – Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, leading to Jesus’ arrest by the authorities.
6. Jesus’ Trial Before the Sanhedrin – Jesus is brought before the Jewish High Council, where false witnesses accuse him of blasphemy.
7. Peter’s Denial of Jesus – Peter denies knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crows, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy.
8. Jesus’ Trial Before Pontius Pilate – Jesus is brought before the Roman governor Pilate, who finds no fault in him but bows to pressure from the crowd to crucify him.
9. Jesus’ Scourging and Crowning with Thorns – Jesus is scourged and mocked by Roman soldiers, who place a crown of thorns on his head.
10. Jesus Carrying the Cross (The Via Dolorosa) – Jesus carries his cross through the streets of Jerusalem to the place of his crucifixion.
11. Jesus’ Crucifixion on Golgotha – Jesus is crucified between two criminals, and he prays for forgiveness for his executioners.
12. Jesus’ Death on the Cross – Jesus breathes his last breath and dies, accompanied by darkness and an earthquake.
13. Jesus’ Burial in the Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea – Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb donated by Joseph of Arimathea.
14. The Women at the Tomb (Mary Magdalene and others) – Mary Magdalene and other women go to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body but find it empty, encountering angels who proclaim his resurrection.
15. Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead – Jesus rises from the dead on the third day, conquering sin and death.
16. Jesus’ Appearances to the Disciples (Emmaus Road, Upper Room) – Jesus appears to his disciples multiple times, including on the road to Emmaus and in the Upper Room.
17. Doubting Thomas’ Encounter with the Risen Jesus – Thomas doubts Jesus’ Resurrection until he sees and touches the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side.
18. Jesus’ Commission to His Disciples (Great Commission) – Jesus commissions his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
19. Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven – Forty days after his Resurrection, Jesus ascends into heaven in the presence of his disciples.
20. The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – The Holy Spirit descends on the disciples, empowering them to preach the Gospel boldly.
Post-race discussion questions
· What was your favourite part of the relay race and why?
· Did you learn anything new about the Easter story while participating in the relay? If so, what was it?
· How did it feel to recite the events of the Easter story while running the relay? Did it help you remember the sequence of events?
· Which event from the Easter story do you find the most significant, and why?
· How do you think the events of Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday demonstrate the theme of transformation from despair to joy?
· In what ways did the relay activity help you understand the importance of faith and community in the Easter story?
· What similarities did you notice between the events of Jesus’ death and Resurrection portrayed in the relay and what you’ve learned from scripture or teachings?
· How does the Easter story affect your own life and faith journey?
· Reflecting on the relay, what aspects of the Easter story do you find most challenging to comprehend or relate to?
· How can we apply the lessons and themes of the Easter story in our daily lives, particularly in how we interact with others and view the world around us?