Happy Easter Poem

I learn best by teaching. For about 10 years now I have volunteered to teach Preschoolers in the Christian faith. This year I was asked to offer the Easter Message on Easter morning for Preschoolers in large group (Preschool Worship Service).

This was really tough. The Easter message, though it has a glorious ending, can be lost to Preschoolers as they are distracted by the sadness and fear of someone dying particularly since the death is quite painful. So how to teach the message and help the kids see the glory. Music. I love music. Can't sing a lick but boy howdy, do I try.

I searched and searched for a good Easter song for preschoolers. I really didn't find one, but I did notice that most of the songs I came across were poems written to the beat of familiar preschool songs like "Pop Goes the Weasel" and "London Bridges."

A gift from God, I had a revelation and wrote my own Easter Poem set to the same beat, cadence, as "Pop Goes the Weasel."

So that was the journey and here is the result. An Easter Poem/Song to the tune of "Pop! Goes the Weasel!).

The Tomb is Empty
by Danika LaBrant (copywright 2009)

Into Jerusalem, came the king
Riding on a donkey
Palm leaves they laid to welcome him in
Joy! Yelled the children.

Angry leaders showed they were scared
When they arrested Jesus
A crown of thorns they placed on his head
The King! Jesus was.

On the cross, Jesus did die
In the tomb they hid him
On the third day they heard a loud
Crack! Now the tomb is empty

The way to heaven is open to us
Jesus showed the way
Rejoice my friends and join in the fun
Hooray! The King is risen!

It is also an action song so it really gets the preschoolers engaged and happy. Here it is again with some suggested actions.

The Tomb is Empty
by Danika LaBrant (copywright 2009)

Into Jerusalem, came the king (walk fingers across your arm)
Riding on a donkey (fists in front, fingers to the floor, and bounce up and down at the knee)
Palm leaves they laid to welcome him in (bend forward and motion like you are laying something down)
Joy! Yelled the children. (swing arms up until both hands are in the in the air)

Angry leaders showed they were scared (hands on your hips for angry and then cover your mouth like you are surprised for scared)
When they arrested Jesus (touch wrists together)
A crown of thorns they placed on his head ( make a circle with your hands and lay the circle on your head)
The King! Jesus was. (swing arms up until both hands are in the in the air)

On the cross, Jesus did die (fingers in a cross)
In the tomb they hid him (one hand in a fist, the other hand flat and perpandicular to the floor, hide the fist behind the flat hand)
On the third day they heard a loud (three fingers up and then bring hands together and motion like you are tearing a sheet)
Crack! Now the tomb is empty (swing arms up until both hands are in the in the air)

The way to heaven is open to us (arms stretched out on either side)
Jesus showed the way (wave one hand from your shoulder and back out until it is stretched out like you are showing the way)
Rejoice my friends and join in the fun (bend arms and swing them like you are dancing)
Hooray! The King is risen! (swing arms up until both hands are in the in the air)

Hope you enjoy this little ditty as much as we did.