This time of year holds so much sentiment to me. Easter. It reminds me of the gift I’ve been given, a fresh start; a new life because of what Jesus did on the cross. And its what I teach my kids–Grace. Instead of leaving it to the Sunday school teachers to teach my kids about what Jesus did, I try to find hands on examples that my kids will “get.”
Easter isn’t about some cute bunny but how do I hold my kids’ attention to teach this valuable lesson? An Easter Garden, something tangible, real and hands on! Of course my Easter Garden is simple and full of rocks, but some of you who are more creative can add things like angels, plants, and more like the blogger at The Butterfly Ball. Here’s a snapshot and a link to hers, mine is below! Easter Garden at The Butterfly Ball.
Easter Garden
Supplies needed:
- A wide and shallow container
- Soil
- Rocks
- Sticks
- Grass or Flower Seeds
- Flowers ready to pot **Optional**
- String
- Small pot or container for tomb
- Sharpies
- Extras: cut strips of cloth to place in the tomb, braid dandelions or thread into a crown and hang on the cross.
Steps
1. Fill your container with dirt. Leave at least two inches from the top.
2. Bury the small pot or container, this will be the tomb.
3. Have your children make a cross with two sticks and tie them together with string.
5. Add the plants or seeds.
6. Create the Rock Path. This is the most important part of the project for your children to assist. Take a rock and a sharpie and label that Easter represents. Words like Grace, Faith, Hope, Forgiveness, Mercy, Redemption.
7. Last, take the largest rock and talk about what the tomb means for sinners, then write the word Convenant on the stone before placing it in front of the tomb.
Rock Garden Conversations for You and Your Kids
***Now you and your kids have a tangible meaning of Easter and something to look at and remember as the seeds begin to grow. As they watch the garden grow, you can talk about how God’s work is sometimes hard to see, but he is making us beautiful just like our garden will be beautiful. And the best part is the conversations of how his work goes on long after we are done celebrating the holiday of Easter.
***Talk through the rocks. With each rock being labeled, lay it into the soil discussing the meaning of each word as it relates to the story and to your child’s life.
*** Discuss how Jesus felt when he laid down his life for us and the “work” it took. Then relate this to the work of taking care of the garden of tilling up the soil, planting the seeds, watering and maybe even weeding it.
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
