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Session 13: Easter New Life

Overview

Grade: Kindergarten | Duration: 25 minutes | Session: 13 of 17

Students explore the miracle of transformation—caterpillars to butterflies—as a sign of Easter's message of new life and resurrection.

Session 13: Easter New Life

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand the butterfly life cycle as transformation

  • Connect metamorphosis to Easter's message

  • Create a butterfly life cycle craft

  • Celebrate new life in spring and in Jesus

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Butterfly life cycle pictures or models

  • 🐛 Pasta shapes (for life cycle craft): orzo=egg, rotini=caterpillar, shell=chrysalis, bow tie=butterfly

  • 🎨 Paper plates or cardstock

  • 🖍️ Crayons and markers

  • 📖 Book about butterflies or life cycle

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

The Risen Jesus — Just as a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly, Jesus rose to new life at Easter!

Scripture

"I am the resurrection and the life." — John 11:25

Opening Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank you for Easter! Thank you for showing us that there is always new life after endings. Help us see your new life all around us in spring. Alleluia! Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Easter Joy — "What are we celebrating? EASTER!"
  2. New Life Signs — "What's new in spring?"
  3. Flowers blooming
  4. Baby animals
  5. Trees with leaves
  6. Butterflies!
  7. Transformation Wonder — "Did you know a caterpillar becomes a butterfly?"
  8. Easter Connection — "Just like Jesus died and rose to NEW life!"

Main Activity: Butterfly Life Cycle (14 minutes)

Part 1: Learn the Cycle (4 minutes)

  • Show pictures/models of butterfly life cycle:
  • 🥚 Egg — tiny beginning
  • 🐛 Caterpillar — eating, growing
  • 🛖 Chrysalis — transformation, waiting

  • 🦋 Butterfly — new, beautiful life!

  • "The caterpillar doesn't stay a caterpillar forever!"

Part 2: Life Cycle Craft (8 minutes)

  • Give each student a paper plate divided into 4 sections

  • Glue pasta to show each stage:

  • Orzo = tiny egg
  • Rotini = caterpillar
  • Shell = chrysalis

  • Bow tie = butterfly

  • Color and decorate each section

  • Draw arrows showing the cycle

Part 3: Easter Connection (2 minutes)

  • "Jesus was like the butterfly!"

  • Good Friday = like the chrysalis (sad, dark, waiting)

  • Easter = like the butterfly (new life, joy, beauty!)

Wonder Journal (3 minutes)

  1. Draw a butterfly
  2. Add: "New life! Alleluia!"

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Share Crafts — Show life cycle plates
  2. Alleluia — Sing or say together: "Alleluia! Jesus is risen!"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Jesus, thank you for new life! Help us share your Easter joy with everyone. Alleluia! Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Identified stages of butterfly life cycle

  • Connected transformation to Easter

  • Completed life cycle craft

  • Expressed Easter joy

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Pre-glued sections with one pasta type ready

  • Focus on caterpillar → butterfly transformation

  • Simplified craft with drawing instead of pasta

For Advanced Students

  • Add details and labels to each stage

  • Retell the life cycle to a friend

  • Draw what they would look like as a butterfly

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Look for signs of new life in spring! Watch butterflies in your garden. Talk about how Easter is about new life. Read a book about butterflies together.

Teacher Notes

  • Perfect lesson for Easter week

  • Consider raising real caterpillars (butterfly kit)

  • Display life cycle crafts on "New Life" bulletin board

  • Coordinate with religion class Easter lessons

Previous: Session 12 — Animal Homes
Next: Session 14 — Sound & Music