Elementary Easter Craft: Stones Cry Out for Jesus

In this elementary Easter craft, kids create keepsake rocks to remind them of what Jesus did for us.

Scripture: Luke 19:39-40; Luke 22:39-41; Matthew 27:50-51; Luke 23:53; Luke 24:2-3

You’ll need:

• Bible
• small rocks of various shapes (5 per child)
• fine-tipped permanent markers
• paper lunch bags
• stickers

Elementary Easter Craft: Stones Cry Out for Jesus

Ask kids to tell about interesting rocks or rock formations they’ve seen.

Say: Stones and rocks are mentioned more than 400 times in the Bible. People used them to build altars to remember what God has done. Jesus told stories about stones. Stones were part of the landscape at the end of Jesus’ life, too. Today we’re going to make a rock collection to help us remember the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Give each child five rocks and a permanent marker.

Learn and Draw

Say: On the Sunday before he died, Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The people waved palm branches and praised him. And Jesus said something about rocks. Let’s see what he said. Read Luke 19:39-40. Have kids draw a palm branch on a rock to represent the crowd’s praise.

Ask:

• What are some ways you praise Jesus?

Say: On the night before he died, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Bible uses a rock as a measurement of where Jesus went to pray. Read Luke 22:39-41. Invite kids to draw a flower to represent the garden on one of the rocks.

Ask:

• What do you need to pray about? (Let kids answer silently or to the group.)

Say: When Jesus was on the cross, something happened to the rocks nearby. Read Matthew 27:50-51. Have kids draw a lightning bolt on one rock to represent the stones splitting.

Ask:

• How have you seen God’s power in your life?

Say: After Jesus died, a man named Joseph took Jesus’ body from the cross and laid it in a tomb. Read Luke 23:53. Invite kids to draw a cross on one of the rocks.

Ask:

• Tell about something that makes you sad.

Say: The reason people realized Jesus was alive had to do with a rock. Read Luke 24:2-3. Have kids draw an arrow on one of the rocks to show that it rolled aside.

Let’s Celebrate!

Ask:

• Tell about a time you celebrated something.

Say: The events of Easter start out sad; but in the end we see God’s power, and we have reason to celebrate! Whenever you look at your rock collection, remember to praise Jesus for his power over death. Now let’s decorate a place where you can keep your rocks.

Let kids use the markers and stickers to decorate their paper bags and then place their rocks inside.

For more children’s messages, check out The Giant Book of Children’s Messages. For Easter ideas, check out these posts!