We’re celebrating Easter by giving away free coloring pages featuring the story from The Empty Tomb. This little book is part of the Guiding Reading program from our sponsor, A Reason For. Using 95 leveled readers (including this one!), the A Reason For Guided Reading program employs an approach to reading instruction that is based both on Scripture and on research.

Why read about Dick and Jane, when you can learn God’s Word as your child becomes a confident, skilled reader?

The A Reason For curriculum covers phonics in our Spelling program, but opts for the Guiding Reaching approach for mastery, fluency, and comprehension for teaching reading. The Empty Tomb is a Level I book, so is part of the second year in this two-year reading program.  

For more about A Reason For Guiding Reading, please visit our sponsor’s website. 

Here are some ideas for enjoying The Empty Tomb with your loved ones during the Easter holiday season: 

• Print copies for each child.  
• Assemble crayons or markers. 
• Encourage them to color their own little book as you read the story. 
• Ask questions about both the story and the illustrations. (Refer to the questions below for discussion prompts. A printable copy is available at the bottom of this post.) 
• Assemble the book by folding and stapling.  
• Consider cutting and gluing each page to card stock or construction paper for durability (or simply print the book on card stock)
  
• Ask older ones to read the book (or “read the pictures”) to younger siblings. 
• Be sure each child signs their name and adds “2020” to note the year.  
• Store their book with your other Easter décor to enjoy in future years.  
• Share your photos on social media. Find us on Facebook or Instagram—we would love to see and hear how your family is using this gift to celebrate Easter! 

During this unprecedented time of uncertainty in our world, we pray that the sure and steady truth of the empty tomb brings peace and hope to you and your family.

Have a blessed Easter! 

PS  For an additional activity to celebrate the empty tomb, consider making Rolled-Away Rolls with your children. You can watch the video and get the recipe by visiting my Cross My Heart Ministry YouTube channel.

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The Empty Tomb Discussion Questions

 Read each page aloud and then ask these questions:

Page 2: 

• What is a tomb? 
• What time do you think Mary got up? 
• Why was she up so early? 
• Why was Jesus dead? 
• Why did Mary go to the tomb? 
• What do you notice about Mary’s eyes and her hands? 

Page 3: 

• Why was Mary surprised when she got to the tomb? 
• Why was a rock put in front of a tomb? 
• What did the rolled-away stone mean? 
• What did Mary assume it meant? 
• Who did Mary run to tell? 
• Who were Peter and John? 

Page 4: 

• Who won the race to the tomb? 
• Who went into the tomb first? 
• What was inside the tomb? 
• Who was not inside the tomb? 
• What does that mean for us? 

Page 5: 

• When Mary returned to the tomb, how did she feel? 
• What did she do? 
• Why was she sad and crying? 
• Who did she see? 
• What would you have done if you had seen what she saw? 

Page 6: 

• What did the angels say to Mary? 
• How did she answer them? 
• How does Mary’s face look? 
• Do you think Mary will stay sad? 

Page 7: 

• What question does the man ask Mary? 
• Who does she think He is? 
• What does He quietly whisper? 
• What does she say when she recognizes His voice? 
• Do you think Jesus enjoyed surprising Mary? 
• Do you enjoy surprising people you love? 
• How do you think Mary felt after seeing Jesus? 

Page 8: 

• What job did Jesus give Mary? 
• How can we do that same job? 
• Mary is still crying, but how are these tears different? 
• Did Mary obey Jesus? 
• Read Matthew 28:19-20 – did Jesus also have a similar job for us? 
• Who can you tell that Jesus is alive? 

Page 9: 

• How does Mary feel now? 
• What is in her heart? 
• What has made her so happy? 
• What happened to Jesus? 
• What does the empty tomb mean? 
• Look at Mary’s hands and face – what do you think she is doing? 
• Knowing Jesus is alive, how does it make you feel? 
• What does this good news make you want to do? 

Download a copy of the Discussion Questions here:
Printable Discussion Questions for 'The Empty Tomb'

(note:  if you are asked to enter your email address, please return to this page to download the file)

… and visit our sponsor’s site to  
download your copy of The Empty Tomb.

 

For more Easter activities, visit our previous blog posts HERE, HERE, or HERE.