Hands-on ways to teach about Easter

[Awaken]

Cross posted in spirituality- not sure exactly where this fits!

I'm in need of some fun, creative ways to teach about Easter with my 4 and 7 yr olds. We've been doing a lot of reading of different books about Passover, and the Exodus, and have been doing that chapter with Story of the World. My 7 yo is really interested in spiritual things, so we've had several good conversations and I feel like he has an age-appropriate grasp of the meaning of Easter from a Christian perspective. but mainly we've just been reading and talking about it.

However, my 4 yr old thinks Easter is all about getting candy, because what sticks out to him is the easter-egg hunt we do every year This makes me really sad. At his age, he has no interest in reading Bible stories or joining in our history studies. And because I have a newborn also and am very sleep deprived, we haven't made it to church in a while so he isn't getting to do activities surrounding the holiday in Sunday school, either. I want to do some hands-on fun projects where we can talk about Easter, that will stand out to him as the easter-egg hunt does.

I need simple ideas that don't require a lot of prep, or buying of materials. Thanks for any thoughts or ideas!

[StormySar]

Resurrection Eggs! Google them you can make them easily. We made a set last year and the kids had a lot of fun, so we're reviewing them again this year. Might not hurt to make a new set, using the same materials but doing the whole hullabaloo (sp?) again this year.

[ValerieNJ]

I was also going to suggest resurrection eggs. I am going to make them with my kids, 9 & 3 sometime this week.

[Awaken]

I just looked it up, what a cute idea! Thanks for the suggestion! I know DS2 will be upset that they don't have candy in them, LOL. I think DS1 will be really into it, though, and the younger one will probably get something out of it.

I thought of something else, maybe making hot cross buns. They love cooking, and eating, and we could do it on Good Friday and talk about the significance of the cross.

[Mrs-Mama]

Resurrection buns. I made these with the kids the other day.

[sbgrace]

We love Resurection eggs here. I wanted to mention that there is a youtube video to make them yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YZZKe73_-8

She also has videos (complete with puppet) that goes through each of the eggs. My kids loved her videos. Here is day 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u30j-WGMjJc

[elizawill]

we made resurrectin eggs too. i used this site: http://www.rainbowcastle.org/resurrectioneggs.html

we've been doing one egg a day to count down easter. i put a few pix of the eggs at my blog: http://mytwomonkeys.webs.com/homeschoolblog.htm - just scroll down until you see the egg carton.

it's such a great idea. have fun!

[ValerieNJ]

Originally Posted by Mrs-Mama

Resurrection buns. I made these with the kids the other day.

Cool idea! My kids are going to love these!

[Tjej]

I am planning to do ressurection cookies with the kids. It sounds easy and memorable and fun for little kids to do.

Tjej

[LuxPerpetua]

We do a lot of prep work during Lent leading up to Easter but here a few things we do that may make Easter come "alive": Print out pictures of Jesus for Maundy Thursday--like of the Last Supper, washing the disciples' feet, praying in the garden--and laminate them with packing tape. Have your child hold these while you tell the stories. On Wednesday, we're putting perfume on our feet (in honor of Mary annointing Jesus' feet with perfume), and on Thursday we are doing our own seder and making unleavened bread and grape juice. We also have a foot washing ceremony we do at home with some good smelling soap. On Friday, we cover our cross with black lace and go to a Good Friday service at our church. We put red circles in our palms and read Isaiah 53, and then wash off the washable red marker with water on the part where it says "And by His wounds, we are healed." On Saturday, we do prep for Easter Sunday--prepare the food, make cherry and white chocolate bread, make resurrection cookies, etc.