All About Easter
Easter traditions, treats and teachings
by Hannah Taylor
Suitable for Key Stage 2
Aims
To consider the Easter story and its meaning.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the YouTube clip ‘The Easter Story’ and the means to show it. This can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_E-3BqqeiU
- You will need the PowerPoint slides accompanying this assembly (All About Easter) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Easter is one the most important religious dates for Christians around the world. Today, we might celebrate the easter holiday with our friends and family, with lovely meals, easter eggs, gifts and church services; but there are many other traditions. Let’s find out more about them. - Show Slide 2.
The lead up to Easter is called Lent. This is a time when people might decide to give something up for a few weeks, as they move towards Easter Sunday. A long time ago people would give up things like eggs, meat, milk and sports. The purpose of giving these things up was to remember a time we read about in the Bible, when Jesus went without food for 40 days and nights in the desert.
Ask the children if they think it would be easy to give up all their treats until Easter Sunday. Ask if any of the children are doing anything special for Lent – some people decide to do something positive, such as carry out one special act of kindness every day of Lent – for 40 days!
Listen to a range of responses. - Show Slide 3.
The Easter egg is the most common Easter tradition, dating back to as early as 1873. Millions of easter eggs are sold every single year. The tradition originated with eggs from hens. These were decorated, dyed and given as gifts after lent as a symbol of new life and the rebirth of Jesus. - Show the YouTube clip ‘The Easter Story’ for a book by J John. This can be found at: The Easter Story. It is about 10 minutes long.
- Show Slide 4.
Did you know that Easter egg hunts were invented to teach lessons about the discovery of Jesus’s empty tomb? Queen Victoria loved Easter egg hunts, hiding them in baskets for her nine children. Easter hunts gradually evolved into using clues and chocolate eggs.
Ask the questions: Do you think you could make an Easter egg hunt for your friends or family with some fun clues or facts about Easter? What sort of clues can you think of? - Show Slide 5.
Here is another interesting fact. The hot cross bun was believed to have magical powers, if baked on Good Friday, with a cross symbol etched on top to symbolise Jesus. It was sometimes said that they could heal people of their illness and bring good luck. They would often be hung on string inside the home for continuous good fortune. Today we often eat hot cross buns because they are a delicious easter food – but the cross is still there to remind us of the Easter story.
Time for reflection
Show Slide 6.
Christians believe that the Easter story teaches us about how much Jesus loved us and forgives us. In spring we often feel joy and peace in our lives, as we watch the daffodils and baby animals appear. Christians believe that the easter story can bring people peace, joy and hope. It reminds us of the importance of love and how it is the most powerful thing in the world that we can give.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for loving us.
Thank you for always being willing to forgive us when we get things wrong.
Please help us to love one another.
Please help us to forgive.
Please help us to cherish our world.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Jesus is alive’. This can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxN0D3voo0
‘Happy Easter’ by Cheeky Pandas. This can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCEsdXSqbow
