Religious Easter Crafts & Activities
Easter 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.
Instructions:
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 where 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
(special note) Great to use for a Sunday School Class or Vacation Bible School too… Cookies can be left on a very very low temp..like 250 degrees. and be ready in a couple of hours…when surface of cookie looks dry and cracked….they are ready to eat!!!!!
Jesus Jelly Bean Bags
Place jelly beans in a snack size ziplock bag and attach the following prayer:
Red is for the blood He gave,
Green is for the grass He made,
Yellow is for the sun so bright,
Orange is for the edge of night.
Black is for the sins that were made,
White is for the grace He gave.
Purple is for the hour of sorrow,
Pink is for the new tomorrow.
A bag full of jelly beans,
Colorful and sweet,
Is a Prayer…is a Promise… Is an Easter treat!
The Resurrection of Jesus
The story of Jesus tells us of Jesus’ greatest miracle. He rose form the dead. Read the story to the children and have them follow along with the actions.
Some men in power hated Jesus (Children shake fists in anger.)
He was arrested. They placed a crown, made from thorns, on his head. (Children place hands on top of head, cupped like a crown.)
They placed Him on a cross to die. Friends took His body and placed it in a tomb. (Children stretch out arms and look towards sky.)
A large stone was placed over the opening ot the tomb. (Children sit on floor quietly.)
On Easter morning some women went to the tomb. The heavy stone was gone. An angel was there and said, “Jesus has gone! He is alive! Go and tell His disciples He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.” (Children jump up smiling, filled with joy.)
Jesus stayed on Earth for several days so His disciples could see Him and know God was really His Father. Then one day while He was talking to the disciples, He disappeared into the clouds. God took Him back to heaven.
That is how we know Jesus was God’s Son. That is why we love and worship Jesus on Easter morning and on every day of our lives. Jesus lived on Earth to tell people about His Father in heaven.
Countdown To Easter:
Using 12 plastic eggs that can be opened and filled, either you give a basket with all 12 eggs (label each with the number of the day, i.e. Day 12, Day 11) , or give one egg each day to be opened. (Day 1 is “Easter Day”, so start 11 days before Easter with “Day 12”)
Day 12 = Place a cracker or small piece of cracker inside the first egg with a slip of paper explaining how this symbolizes the bread & wine of the Last Supper. (Putting in the appropriate Bible verse/verses for the contents of each egg would REALLY be neat and SUCH a “reinforcing learning tool”, too!)
Day 11 = Place 3 dimes to symbolize the “30 pieces of silver” that Judus received to betray Jesus.
Day 10 = Place a toy soldier or picture of a soldier to symbolize the soldier who arrested Jesus.
Day 9 = Place a “feather” to symbolize the cock rooster that crowed 3 times.
Day 8 = Place a die or a couple of dice to symbolize the “lots that were cast” for Jesus’s clothing.
Day 7 = Place a “thorn” in to symbolize the “crown of thorns” that Jesus wore.
Day 6 = Place a “sponge” in to symbolize the sponge that was dipped in vinegar when Jesus said, “I thirst”.
Day 5 = Place a “piece of cloth” in to symbolize the cloth that Joseph wrapped the body of Jesus in.
Day 4 = Place a “piece of black paper or black cloth” into the egg to symbolize the “shadow of darkness” that covered the Earth.
Day 3 = Place a “cross” inside to symbolize the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Day 2 = Place a “rock” inside the egg to symbolize the stone that was rolled away.
Day 1 = EASTER MORNING! This egg will be “empty” to symbolize the tomb that was empty, that Jesus was “risen” !!
… Be sure to write the symbolization description and appropriate Bible verses on slips of paper to go into each of the eggs.
Finger play: Jesus is Alive!
Pretty flowers blooming, see how they grow. (Children crouch low, stretching arms up. Rise slowly.)
Pretty flowers coming up. Jesus is alive we know. (Children point toward heaven.)
Hear the church bells ringing Jesus is alive we know. (Hands locked together, swing arms as a clapper.)
Let’s shout the good news Everywhere we go. (Cup hands around mouth and children join leader in calling out.)
