Dr. Pat's Orthodox Super Sunday School Curriculum

PASCHA

Objectives:

1. Children should know the Paschal greeting and response, in as many languages as possible.
2. Children should know that on Pascha we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead.
3. Children should recognize the icon and the figures in it.

Possible Lesson Plan:

1. Open with prayer: Teach and sing the hymn, “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”

2. Read the story of Palm Sunday in the Beginner’s Bible, pages 453-458, the Children’s Bible Reader, pages 257-258, or the Read with Me Bible, pages 398-399. Supplement with the Golden Children’s Bible, pages 356-358, if desired. Who came to the tomb?  Why are we so happy on Pascha?  Use the icon to retell the story, pointing out each character. Review the stories of Adam and Eve, of John the Baptist. You can also read one of the Arch books, either “Kiri and the first Easter” or “The Glory Story.”

3. True or False?

True                                         False

            Jesus rose from the dead on Pascha.   Jesus rose from the dead on Palm Sunday.   

            Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus.             Jesus was crucified on Pascha.

            Jesus was crucified on Holy Friday.    Caiphas, the high priest, loved Jesus.

            Two Marys went to the tomb.             Mary and Mary saw a snake in the tomb.

            The noble Joseph of Arimathea          Peter never denied he knew Jesus.

                        buried Jesus’s body.

4. Teach the Paschal greeting in several languages; the children can respond.

English: Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

Greek: Christos anesti! Alethos anesti!

Russian: Christos voskrese! Voistinue voskrese!

Arabic: Al-masi-kam! Haq an qaam!

5. Make Easter Banners. Take a piece of felt and staple over a coat hanger. Cut out letters to spell “Christ is Risen.” Let the children cut out other decorations – crosses, flowers, eggs, etc. – or bring in silk flowers or lilies. Glue these onto the banner.
6. A bit more involved, with the lesson “in the pot” to take home? Make a Resurrection Garden using a pie pan or shallow terra cotta bowl, dirt, quick-growing grass seed, an eggshell on its side or tiny pot for the tomb, one large rock, some small rocks, and 3 crosses made of toothpicks or pipe cleaners. Take home, water daily, and, by Pascha next week, the grass will fill in the lovely scene with new life.

6. Close again with the song and a prayer.