Easter: Resurrection Eggs

 

            Today's Snack: Naturally, today's snack is eggs! Hard-boil two for yourself, and more for a group.

Place eggs (careful! don't crack 'em!) in a saucepan that's about two-thirds full of water. Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water, to help keep the yellow yolk yellow, and not green. It's a chemistry "thing."

Bring the water to a boil on medium heat. Boil for a couple of minutes, then remove from heat and put the lid on the pot. Let the eggs "steam" in the hot water for 20 minutes.

To test for doneness, take one out (carefully! It'll be hot!) by fishing it onto a big spoon, and then see if you can make it twirl, like a top, on the counter. If it wobbles all around, it's not quite done, so replace it in the water with the pot lid over it for another 5 minutes and try again.

When they're ready, peel (throw eggshells in your compost pile!) and eat with just a touch of salt and a nice glass of milk.

 

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Supplies:

One 12-egg egg carton, empty

12 plastic break-apart eggs for each child

Thin-lined black permanent marker

Bible

For each child:

Tiny piece of bread or crouton | dimes and nickels | small feather |

Short strip of leather | thorns (cut a section of rose bush?) | nails

Small section of a sponge | dice | toothpick (representing a spear

Small square of white cloth | stone

 

 

            Here's a great, visual way to teach children about the events of Holy Week. This is best for faith-based after-school programs or home settings.

 

If you are in a taxpayer-funded after-school program, you might not be allowed to do this activity. But you can adapt the idea! Take any book about spring, read it to the students, and together come up with a list of 12 small things that could be hidden in 12 plastic eggs to "tell" the story. For example, if it's about a bunny, you could put grass in one egg to symbolize what the bunny eats, and little bits of cut-up carrot in another, and a cotton ball in another to represent the bunny's tail.

 

Whether you tell the Easter story, or any other, the colorful eggs and tangible objects are a fun way to tell a story!

 

 

           

Now here's Resurrection Eggs:

 

In a dozen little ways, your child can teach a younger child or the family the story of the Christian Holy Week, using these simple materials.

 

            First, distribute the egg cartons and 12 plastic eggs for each child. Let them take turns numbering their eggs from 1 to 12 on one end, and placing the eggs in order in the carton.

 

            Next, distribute the small items listed below and have the children take turns reading the Bible verse or verses listed. If the children don't have sufficient reading skills, have an adult read the verses.

 

            Last, but not least, print out one sheet for each child to take home and share with a younger sibling, a classmate, the family, etc., perhaps at an Easter gathering.

 

            It will be fun for the child to save the Resurrection Eggs in the carton and take them out next year, and the next, to review what they call "The Greatest Story Ever Told."

 

 

Resurrection Eggs

 

Egg 1:             A piece of bread (crouton)

                        Jesus broke the bread and said, "This is my body. . . ."

                        Luke 22:19

 

Egg 2              Silver (one or more dimes; could use play coins)

                        They paid Judas 30 pieces of silver to show where Jesus was.

                        Matthew 26:14-15

 

Egg 3:             Feather

                        Jesus' friend Peter said he didn't even know who Jesus was,

                        Then a rooster crowed, just as Jesus had predicted.

                        Mark 14:29, 30, 70-72

 

Egg 4:             Leather strip or bit of lacing

                        The soldiers gave Jesus 39 lashes with a whip after His trial

                        John 19:1

 

Egg 5              Thorns (from a rose bush?)

                        They put a crown of thorns on Jesus' head to ridicule Him

                        John 19:2

 

Egg 6              Nails

Nails were driven into Jesus' hands and feet to nail Him to the cross

John 19:16-22

 

Egg 7              Sponge (cut a corner off a kitchen sponge)

                        They offered Jesus a drink on a sponge

                        John 19:29

 

Egg 8              Dice

                        Soldiers played a dice game to see who would get Jesus' robe

                        John 19:23-25

 

Egg 9              Spear (break off a toothpick to fit)

                        The Roman soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear when He was on the Cross

 

Egg 10           White cloth (tissue will work)

                        A friend named Joseph took the body of Jesus. He wrapped it in clean linene and placed it in a tomb. Then the tomb was sealed with a gigantic stone.

                        Matthew 27:57-60

 

Egg 11:          Stone (from outside)

Early on the third day, Jesus' friends, both named Mary, came to  the tomb, but an angel appeared and rolled the stone away from the door and sat on it, and told them Jesus had been resurrected.

                        Matthew 28:1-6

 

Egg 12:          Empty (put nothing inside)

                        The tomb was empty! He has risen!

                        Luke 24:12