Good Friday Activity that Teaches the Meaning of Easter

A Meaningful Good Friday Activity for Kids

How we use Easter Baskets and a pile of rocks to teach our kids the real meaning of Easter.

Easter is my favorite holiday. There is no greater joy than knowing that our Lord and Savior is ALIVE forevermore! But the great joy of Easter comes only because of the price Jesus paid for us on Good Friday. Because “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

We use a simple Good Friday activity to teach our kids about the real meaning of Easter before all of the celebration begins on Sunday. It’s a chance to slow down and consider our hearts, confess our sin, and ready ourselves for the gift of the empty tomb.

We read scripture and discuss the ways of the Lord daily in our home, but there is something special about this Good Friday activity. It has prompted many questions, quiet one on one conversations and even a request for baptism one year. It’s good to slow down and reflect.

Now, after many, many years of Good Friday baskets, the kids still look forward to it. It’s a tradition that is dear to them.

So here it is.

Supplies:

Easter Baskets (or Buckets)

Sharpie Markers

Rocks

Red Felt or Cloth

Bible

Easter Hymn Book (Optional)

Our Good Friday Baskets

We begin by having the kids scavenge for rocks outside. Each child collects 3-6 rocks and a sharpie marker, then finds a quiet space to reflect on the sin that they want the Lord to remove from their hearts. They write one personal sin on each rock and put the rocks into their empty Easter basket. There is no need to share what is written on the rocks. This is for personal reflection.

Once everyone has had time to finish their rocks, we read various scripture passages together. I’ll list some good options here, but of course there are so many to choose from. Just don’t overdo it. My kids are older now, so we may have time and patience to discuss several passages. You may have little ones who would do well to just hear one or two shorter verses. The main point here is to show them that their own personal sins (those written on the rocks as well as all the rest) have been paid for by Christ’s death on the cross.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” ~ 1 John 1:8-9

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” ~ Psalm 103:8-12 (or all of Psalm 103)

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

And then we sing!

We choose a hymn or song that expresses the thankfulness we feel for Christ’s sacrifice. Some ideas might be:

The Lamb of God

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Jesus Paid it All

In Christ Alone

The Old Rugged Cross

Now to finish up, each child takes a red piece of felt and covers their rocks, which symbolizes the blood of Christ covering over their sin. They will leave their baskets there until Easter morning.

On Easter morning when they come downstairs, they will find that their rocks (sins) have been taken away and their baskets (hearts) are now full of good things! And we’ll sing again, “Alive, alive, alive forevermore!”

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

This is also a great time read or recite Matthew 28:1-8

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” ~ Matthew 28:1-8

We treasure our Good Friday Baskets. It’s a tradition that never gets old. I hope it might be a blessing for your family too, or that it might spark an idea that will be just right for your little ones.

P.S. ~ On this particular year, we had studied Giotto. Our Good Friday activity was a great place to tie in a couple of his Holy Week paintings. If you do an artist study as a part of your homeschooling, check to see if there are any crucifixion, or other Holy Week paintings that you might be able to add.

P.P.S. ~ Don’t forget to remove your child’s rocks AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST! Or in other words, don’t just throw them back outside where they will see them again!