Celebrating Easter means celebrating Christ's death and resurrection. I'm always looking for ideas on how to make it meaningful to my children, so I asked you to share with me what you do. If you have anything to share please email me at sheri@denimjumpers.com. Here are suggestions from fellow homescool moms. I will post some more tomorrow!
-From T.Par. We are reading the book of Matthew. We sing praise songs that include "Hosanna"
or remind us of the cross.
We will be attending a Passion Play at a local church. Sometimes we do a seder supper or communion with family on Thursday. We've acted out the crucifixion at coop. We hide eggs with scripture segments. The children bring them back and we put the scripture together.
I thought of having a sunrise service with outdoor worship, amid the dawn, a crackling fire, a powerfully short message on the resurrection, a time of declaration, testimony and prayer, followed by an already prepared breakfast feast. I know a homeschool dad that plays, "He is Risen," on his trumpet every Easter at 5:30 a.m.
From A. R.-We're going to try dying eggs with vegetable peelings this year.
The eggs represent new life. The vegetable/plants were used a long time
ago to dye things (history/social studies). This was mentioned in a
science book.
You can peel beets, onions, potatoes, oranges and radishes. Place 3-4
eggs and the peelings of your choice (or combination of peelings) in a
cheesecloth bag). Cook the eggs-mixed until hard boiled. After they are
cooked, carefully remove the bags from the water.
We are also going to use the Resurrection Eggs with our daughter.
These sounds like a great activity to do the night before Easter with your children. I haven’t tried them yet.
EASTER STORY COOKIES
To be made the evening before Easter. You need:
1c whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 (this is important-don't wait till you're half done with
the recipe)
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden
spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He
was beaten by the roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to
drink. Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His
life to give us life. Read John 10:10 -11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush
the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by
Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c.sugar. Explain that
the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He
wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are
formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of
those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb here Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus'
tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven
overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read
John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the
cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter
Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt.
28:1-9
What a wonderful way to teach children and grandchildren the true meaning of
Easter!
Posted by sheri at April 7, 2004 07:37 PM