Countdown to Easter

Use page 24-25 of the April 2011 Friend "Easter week" and additional ideas to discuss the events that took place during the week before Jesus Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection.  Start eight days before Easter and read the events and scripture verses listed for each day.  (Many of these events have pictures in the Gospel Art Kit that provide visuals and simple summaries for younger children.)  Hide a few eggs each day that have something representing the events to be discussed (and extra eggs with small candy to share so that each child can find an egg).  Once the eggs are found, talk about the events and read or choose parts of the scripture references.
http://lds.org/friend/2011/04/easter-week?lang=eng

Here is a link to a map of Jerusalem.  It is labeled with the places where the major events of this week took place.
http://lds.org/friend/1991/03/the-atonement-and-resurrection?lang=eng

Saturday: Passover, Mary annoints His feet with oil
John 12:1-3

Sunday: Palm Sunday
Egg #1--a small leaf to represent the palm leaves
Discuss how we can welcome the Savior into our lives.
Watch the movie "Finding Faith in Christ"
Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11

Monday: Cleansed the Temple, Healed lame and blind
Egg #2--penny to represent the moneychangers
In the scriptures we learn that our bodies are a temple.  Do we keep our thoughts and actions clean and pure?  How can we invite the Spirit into our lives through reverence and righteousness?
Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19

For Family Home Evening, read this picture story from the April 2000 Friend and discuss why we celebrate Easter.
http://lds.org/friend/2000/04/for-little-friends/the-first-easter?lang=eng

Tuesday:  Taught Parables, Judas agreed to betray Jesus
Egg #3--three dimes to represent the 30 pieces of silver Judas received for the betrayal
Discuss some of the things that Jesus taught (beatitudes from the sermon on the mount, favorite parables or miracles, etc.).
Matthew 25:31-46; 26:14-16

Wednesday:  Parable of the 10 Virgins
Egg #4--a marble to represent a drop of oil for the lamps of the 10 virgins

Discuss the parable of the ten virgins and how it applies to us (that we need to be prepared for the second coming by living righteously).  Read this quote by President Spencer W. Kimball that explains why it was impossible for the foolish virgins to borrow oil at the last minute:

"The foolish asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant... This was not selfishness or unkindness.  The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable.  How can one share obedience to the principles of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living, an accumulation of knowledge?  How can one share faith or testimony?  How can one share attitudes or chastity, or the experience of a mission?  How can one share temple privileges?  Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself...  The oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living.  attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years.  Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures--each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store." (Faith Precedes the Miracle, pp.255-56)

Using a small glass jar and some marbles, talk about the things we can do on an every day basis to fill our lives with righteousness (put a marble in the jar for each thing mentioned and "fill" your lamp with oil).
Matthew 25:1-13

Thursday:  Last Supper, Wash disciples' feet, Gethsemane, Betrayal
Egg #5--small piece of saltine cracker to represent broken bread
Egg #6--small red beads to represent the Savior's blood that was shed for us
Discuss the love that the Savior has for us and how He suffered not only for our sins, but also experienced our trials and pains (Alma 7:11-12) and knows how to comfort and help us in times of need.  Through the power of the Atonment, we can overcome the effects of sin and we can change our nature to become better people.  The Sacrament reminds us of what our Savior did for us and helps us to apply the Atonement in our lives.
Matthew 26:17-29, 36-56

Friday:  Trials, Crucifixion, Laid in the tomb
Egg #7--a small piece of purple cloth to represent the robe the soldiers placed on Jesus
Egg #8--a clipping of thorns from a rosebush to represent the crown of thorns
Egg #9--a nail to represent the crucifixion
Discuss the trials and crucifixion and that Christ chose to suffer and die for us. Turn out the lights and talk about the darkness that fell upon the earth at His death.  Shine a flashlight on a picture of the Savior and discuss how He is the light of the world and will always be there to help us when things are difficult or uncertain.
Matthew 26:57-72; 27:1-2, 27-37; Luke 23:44-46, 50-56

Saturday:  Burial/Tomb, Guards
Egg #10--a rock to represent the stone rolled in front of the tomb
Egg #11--a small piece of white cloth to represent the burial clothes
Egg #12--bay leaf to represent the spices used in burial
Discuss how Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb over Saturday, while His spirit was in the Spirit World.  This day was the Jewish Sabbath, so they were unable to finish the burial preparations.  Guards were placed outside the tomb to make sure no one tried to take the body and say He had been resurrected.
Matthew 27:57-66

Sunday:  Resurrection
Egg #13--empty to represent the empty tomb
Egg #14--a small picture of the Savior
On Sunday morning, the tomb was empty!  Jesus Christ was resurrected: His body and Spirit were reunited.  Because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, all who have lived on the earth will be resurrected.  Discuss the blessings and importance of the gift of the Atonement and the Resurrection.
Matthew 28

Read this summary of events to focus on why we celebrate Easter
http://classic.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=742855faa5cab010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=21bc9fbee98db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Easter tomb dot-to-dot
http://lds.org/friend/2011/04/jesus-christ-is-my-savior-and-redeemer?lang=eng

Easter crossword
http://lds.org/friend/1990/04/funstuf/easter?lang=eng&query=Easter