APR 20, 2025
Homeschool Resources Sunday Readings
Homeschool Resources Sunday Readings
- CLOW
- CATECHISTS
- Activities
- Messages
GOSPEL
This passage is about Mary Magdalene finding Jesus’ empty tomb on the first Easter morning and highlights key events and concepts that children can understand:
- Going to the Tomb (John 20:1): Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus had been laid to rest after his crucifixion. She went early in the morning, when it was still dark.
- Empty Tomb (John 20:1): When Mary got to the tomb, she saw that the big stone covering the entrance had been rolled away, and Jesus’ body wasn’t there!
- Running for Help (John 20:2): Mary was worried, so she ran to find Jesus’ friends, Peter and John, to tell them that someone had taken Jesus’ body.
- Peter and John at the Tomb (John 20:3-7): Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw that it was empty. They looked around and found only Jesus’ burial clothes left behind.
- Believing and Understanding (John 20:8-9): John believed what Mary had said about the empty tomb, but neither of them fully understood that Jesus had risen from the dead.
These concepts help children understand the discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb on Easter morning. It shows the confusion and uncertainty of Jesus’ followers at this moment and sets the stage for the rest of the story, where Jesus appears to his friends and proves that he has defeated death and returned to life.
Prayer Table
Symbols
GOSPEL
To create a prayer table with symbols that resonate with the themes in John 20:1-9, consider incorporating the following items:
- Empty Tomb: Create a simple representation of the empty tomb using a small cardboard box or container, leaving it open and empty to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus.
- Stone: A small rock or pebble can symbolize the stone that was rolled away from the tomb, representing Jesus’ triumph over death.
- Linen Cloth: Include a small piece of white fabric to represent the burial cloths left behind in the tomb, which remind us of the mystery and miracle of Jesus’ resurrection.
- Candle: Use a candle (battery-operated for safety) to symbolize the light of Christ, which overcomes darkness and shines in our lives.
- Dove: Include a dove as a symbol of peace, reminding children that Jesus’ resurrection brings peace and hope to our lives.
- Cross with a White Cloth: Drape a small white cloth over a simple wooden cross, representing the transition from Jesus’ crucifixion to his resurrection and the new life we have through him.
These symbols help children connect with the powerful message of Jesus’ resurrection and the transformative hope it brings to our lives. Encourage children to explore and discuss the symbols, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Easter story.
Jesus is Alive!
KID TALK—Hi friends! It’s Ana, and I’m so excited to talk to you about Easter, the most important holiday in the Catholic Church. Easter is all about Jesus and how much He loves us. This special day reminds us that Jesus is alive and wants to be our friend forever!
On Easter, we celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead after dying on the cross to save us from our sins. This means that Jesus is stronger than death, and because of Him, we can live with God in heaven someday. Isn't that amazing?
One of the best parts of Easter is all the fun traditions we share with our families and friends. Let me tell you about some of them!
Easter Eggs: Easter eggs are colorful eggs that we decorate and hide for others to find. But do you know why we have Easter eggs? Eggs are a symbol of new life. Just like a baby bird hatches from an egg, Jesus came out of the tomb to show us that we can have a new life with Him. Painting Easter eggs is so much fun, and finding them during egg hunts is even better!
The Empty Tomb: The Easter story is about Jesus dying on the cross to save us and then rising from the dead. His friends went to His tomb and found it empty! This is a big deal because it shows that Jesus is more powerful than death. When you see an empty tomb symbol at church or in Easter decorations, remember that it means Jesus is alive!
Jesus is Alive Today: We celebrate Easter because Jesus is still alive and loves us very much. He is always with us, even though we can't see Him. When we pray and talk to Jesus, He listens and helps us. Easter reminds us that Jesus is our friend who wants us to be happy and kind to everyone.
Going to Church: On Easter Sunday, we go to church with our family and friends to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. The church is decorated with beautiful flowers, and everyone wears their best clothes. We listen to the story of Jesus' resurrection, sing happy songs, and say prayers to thank God for His love.
Easter Basket: Easter baskets are filled with yummy treats and fun gifts. Some families bring their Easter baskets to church to have them blessed by the priest. This blessing reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God.
Easter Feast: After church, we usually have a big meal with our family and friends. This special meal is called an Easter feast. We eat delicious food and spend time together, remembering how much we love each other and thanking God for all the good things He gives us.
So, my friends, Easter is a wonderful day to celebrate Jesus' love and new life. I hope you have a fantastic time enjoying all the fun Easter traditions with your family and friends. Remember that Jesus is always with you and loves you very much. Happy Easter!
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
The Resurrection of the Lord
Little Liturgies
The Resurrection of the Lord
Mary Jo Cole
The Resurrection of the Lord
Father Glenn
The Resurrection of the Lord
Big Al & Father Joe
SOURCE: Most Sacred Heart Parish, Eureka, MO
Music and life’s challenges reflect the journey of faith, where hope and joy can emerge from hardship, much like the resurrection of Jesus after Good Friday.
- 00:00 Big Al humorously discusses how music used to come from old devices, engaging children in the spirit of Easter.
- 00:49 Life’s ups and downs resemble music, where even in sadness, hope and joy can be restored through faith, just as God revived Jesus after Good Friday.
- 02:23 God brings life from hardship, reminding us that love is eternal, even in tough times.
Catechist
Magazine
Jesus is Alive!
The Resurrection of the Lord
The Religion Teacher
SOURCE: The Religion Teacher
Easter Sunday
The Resurrection of the Lord
Animated Videos
Celebrate the joy of Jesus’ resurrection with this fun and uplifting Christian kids song, “Jesus Is Alive!” Perfect for Easter, Sunday School, homeschool, or everyday worship, this catchy song helps children learn about God’s love, the resurrection, and the power of Jesus’ victory over the grave. Kids will sing, dance, and praise as they learn the good news—Jesus is alive forevermore! This song is great for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged kids, and is designed to plant seeds of faith in little hearts.
Three days after Jesus died on the cross, there was an Earthquake and the stone was removed from the tomb. Jesus was alive! He has risen! Now, He was going to meet his friends.
This short video is aimed at primary school-age children and explains the story of Easter Sunday
Excerpt from “He is Risen” Animated New Testament movie
OSV Family
Activities
Choose one of the following OUR SUNDAY VISITOR activities as a way to further reflect on the Sunday readings:
Easter is a time to celebrate new life. Plan an Easter egg hunt for all ages of the family. Fill plastic eggs with candy and put slips of paper containing uplifting Bible verses in some of the eggs. Have anyone who finds an egg with a Bible verse open it up and share what is written on the slip of paper.
Decorate an Easter candle to reflect the resurrection of Jesus. Let everyone contribute in some way. Use the candle as a table centerpiece and light it every evening during the Easter Season.
Make Easter bread together as a family. Before placing the bread in the oven, thank God for sending Jesus and for all of the blessings bestowed on your family.
Color Easter eggs as a family and discuss their meaning. Point out that an egg is hard like a tomb but it also gives new life. As the activity is in process, discuss what is new in your life.
SOURCE: Our Sunday Visitor Life Long Catechesis
RELATED PAGES:
OSV Kids provides children’s books and an engaging monthly activity booklet, OSV Kids, to help little ones form a relationship with Jesus Christ that grows as they do.
OSV Podcasts is your place for conversation and connection. Discover a community of Catholic content producers committed to exploring Truth in a way that unites and invites.
Easter Surprises!
The Resurrection of the Lord
Bible Crafts for Easter
Download 8 1/2 x 10 (PDF)
SOURCE: Ministry to Children – – Permission granted for any non-profit use. Written by Kristin Schmidt. Scripture from ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001.
The Resurrection of the Lord
Gospel Worksheet
Download 8 1/2 x 10 (PDF)
S.D.C. is a Catholic Society that works in the field of Catechesis and the spreading of the Word of God in different ways. READ MORE
SOURCE: SDC Sunday Liturgy Resources
The Resurrection of the Lord
Catholic Kids Bulletin
Download 4-pages (PDF)
The Kids’ Bulletins are a resource for Catholic kids who would like to have some fun while learning about the readings from the Sunday Mass every week. (Ordinary Form) They are made by a mom in Canada who is happy to share them with anyone who can use them to help learn or teach about the truth and beauty of the Faith.
SOURCE: Catholic Kids Bulletin
The Resurrection of the Lord
Catholic Mom
COLORING ACTIVITY
Download Activity (PDF)
Enjoy Catholic coloring pages, lesson plans, Mass worksheets, puzzles, and more to help you prepare for Sunday Mass. These activities, prepared by the Catholic Mom Sunday Gospel Team, are free for you to print and share with your family, classroom, or parish.
SOURCE: Catholic Mom
Easter Sunday
Uncle Charlie uses this Easter Egg object lesson along with a live magic trick to talk about the greatest Easter surprise of all –that Jesus is alive! Jesus keeps His promises. He promised He’d rise again, and He did. He promises to be with us now, and He is. He promises his followers will rise again and be with Him forever in heaven, and we will!
The Resurrection of the Lord
The Faces of Easter
Sermons 4 Kids
OBJECTS: 5 craft sticks; paper; pen; tape
Cut out five circles, and draw the following faces on one of each of the circles: happy, sad, surprised, angry, and afraid. Tape one circle to the top of the craft sticks.
Easter is a very happy day, isn’t it? (Pause for responses.) It’s the day we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. It’s interesting to think about what Jesus’ friends might’ve been feeling on that day.
We all know our faces show the way we feel. Sometimes we try to hide it, but we’re not always so great at hiding how we feel. Today, I don’t want you to hide it. As I tell the story, I want you to show on your faces how the people in the story feel about what is happening. (Invite five kids to stand in front of the class, and have each child hold one of the signs. They’ll hold their signs up when they think the emotion would be present. Explain that more than one emotion could be present. The children in the audience will show on their own faces what emotion they might feel. If they want to show more than one emotion, they can alternate the emotions on their faces repeatedly.)
SOURCE: Sermon 4 Kids
The Resurrection of the Lord
The Promise of Easter
Sermon Writer
OBJECTS: Fresh tulips or daffodils, if available. Dried tulip or daffodil bulbs.
How lovely, this time of year, to see spring flowers blooming. Tulips and daffodils make a colorful bouquet for all of us to enjoy. The flowers look so fresh and beautiful.
Now let’s look at something quite different. (Display or pass around the bulbs.) Notice how dry and knobby the bulbs feel. See how brown and wrinkled they appear. Can you imagine that these bright red, purple, pink, and yellow flowers grew from such a lifeless looking bulb?
That’s exactly what happened. Tulip and daffodil bulbs are planted during the autumn months. Throughout the winter the bulbs stay in the soil and you may think nothing is going to happen until one day, when the season has more sunlight hours and the ground has had a chance to warm up, you see a tiny sprout of green peeping through the soil.
Then, before long, the bulb grows a firm stalk, a bud forms, and at last a beautiful flower opens up. What an exciting, hopeful event!
The Resurrection of the Lord
A Happy Surprise!
Sermon Writer
OBJECTS: A stone.
A surprise is when something happens that you don’t expect. Some surprises can be scary. Suppose you are blowing up a balloon and it suddenly pops. You don’t expect that to happen and when it does the loud noise may frighten you. That’s a scary surprise. The same thing can happen if your brother, sister, or a friend hops out from behind a door and says, “Boo!” You may scream and jump back.
Then there are happy surprises. We like those the best. Perhaps friends you haven’t seen for a long time come to visit, your family plans a surprise birthday party for you, or a new puppy arrives at your house. You may have received 100 percent on a test at school when you didn’t expect it, won a contest, or found a new friend. These are all pleasant surprises. Have any of you had happy surprises happen? (Ask this question, time permitting.)
Probably the biggest surprise in all of history occurred to Mary Magdalene. She is a woman who knew Jesus and she was very sad when he died. Here is what the Bible tells us about her story: “… Mary was standing outside at the tomb (of Jesus) weeping” (20:11).
As she wept she bent over to look into the tomb and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying…. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” (20:13).
Comments
Do you have any creative ideas or fun activities planned for the children in your parish this Sunday? We’d love to hear about them.