Easter Ideas

Oh, I saw these ideas and I just couldn't resist sharing them! Here are some ideas for Sunday school lessons, or at-home lessons.

How many of our kids know the real celebration of Easter? I know so many people that do the easter eggs, and bunnies, and candy etc. but spend less then 30 minutes teaching about the glory of Christ's ressurection! Wouldn't it be neat to set aside some special activities to teach about this story instead? Here are some creative ways I've run across in the past couple days, that I think would make a great lesson.

1. Empty Tombs
   (Here is a craft idea that would be a perfect time to dramatically tell the story of Jesus.)

Gather

• small clay pot
• Gray acrylic paint or black marker
• 3 long twigs and 3 short twigs
• Black thread
• Tray with a raised edge
• Small bucket of dirt
• Spanish moss
• 1-inch square white cloth
• Rock big enough to cover the pot's opening
• Gravel

Go

1. Paint the inside and rim of the clay pot.
2. Make three crosses from the twigs tied together with thread.
3. Place tray on newspaper. Evenly layer soil on your tray.
4. Lay the pot on its side in the dirt. Build a hillside tomb by putting more soil over the sides and bottom of the pot, but don't cover the opening.
5. Arrange moss on top of soil.
6. Put the three crosses on the hill over the tomb.
7. Lay the white cloth in the tomb.
8. Cover the tomb's opening with the large rock.
9. Add small rocks to make a path to the tomb.
10. Display your Easter tomb on a table or counter.
11. On Easter morning, roll away the stone and discover the empty tomb and white grave cloth.
12. Read John 20:3-8 together.

2. Resurrection Rolls

(Here is a recipie that again, would re-enforce the good news story)

Gather

• 1 package frozen rolls, thawed
• 1 bag large marshmallows
• 1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  

Go

1. Press the rolls into flat circles.
2. Place a marshmallow in the center of each roll and pinch the dough around it.
3. Roll the marshmallow-filled rolls into round balls.
4. Brush each ball with butter and sprinkle it with sugar and cinnamon.
5. Let the rolls rise for 30 to 45 minutes. Then bake them at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes until they're golden brown.
6. Cut one open. Just like the tomb on Easter Sunday, these buns are empty!

(These two ideas came from Clubhouse)

3. Play pin the tail on the Donkey.

Read the story about Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. Let the kids play pin the tail on the donkey.

4. Read "And the Angels Were Silent"

This book by Max Lucado, allows you to observe (perhaps) how the the final week of Jesus was, and how it was planned from the beginning.

5. Jelly Bean Poem

Check out this link to a neat poem/story using jelly bean colors. You could make a give-a-way project with these.

6. Sing

Here are some songs to sing (these are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head....)

1. Up From the Grave He Rose
2. Christ the Lord is Risen Today
3. He Lives