My Easter Post

The Legend of the Easter Egg by Lori Walburg is one Easter book we have read this year. Amidst the time of being worried about his sick sister and also wondering about the meaning of Easter eggs, a young boy learns the true story of Easter. He realizes that an egg looks like a small version of the stone that was rolled away from the tomb. And that "just as a chick breaks out of an egg, so had Jesus broken free of the tomb of death." He is told that "Easter eggs remind us that Jesus conquered death and gives us eternal life."

There is a unit with lapbook on this book available at Homeschool Share, that I would like to do, if we have time.

Here are some of our other Easter books:

What is Easter?, Bunny's Noisy Book, The Very Best Easter Bunny, Just An Easter Egg, The Bunny Who Found Easter

Sunrise Hill, The Story of Easter, The Toddlers Bible Easter Book, Looking for Easter, Word Bird's Easter Words, Happy Easter Dear Dragon, Today is Easter!

Easter Bunny Saves the Day, Peter Cottontail's Busy Day,

Barney's Easter Party!, Peter Cottontail's Easter Egg Hunt

And most importantly, two of our Christ-centered Easter books:

The First Easter by Carol Heyer

This book has vivid illustrations, and my 5 year old especially likes it. He has asked more than once "where that book is that has the pictures of Jesus with his friends."

The Tale of Three Trees retold by Angela Elwell Hunt

I'm very fond of this book; it's one that makes me teary-eyed, much like this one. I have said I have a fondness for books in which characters (for some reason, mostly inanimate objects used as characters) realize their potential or what matters in life.

The three trees on the hill wish to be a treasure box, a mighty ship, and a giant tree that makes people think about the greatness of God. They are disappointed, at first, to become a feed box, small boat, and lumber...until they realize the importance of that feed box being used as a manger, that small boat used to hold Jesus during a miracle, and the lumber being turned into the cross that bears the crucified Jesus. At first, the third tree feels ugly being used in this way...but then learns that God's love changed everything. And now when people looked at "the third tree," they would "think of God."

My kids are actually extremely curious about the Easter books which include the crucifixion account. I brought out my photo album from my (and Ryan's) trip to Israel during college.

1st pic: This spot is believed by many historians to be the tomb of Jesus. (We also visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, another possible location of his tomb. Regardless of the actual location, the experience of visiting the entire area is AMAZING; I lack the words to describe it. I hope I can take the kids one day.)

2nd picture: the empty tomb visitors can walk into

3rd picture: "the place of the skull" (Golgotha) in the side of the rocky hill, one possible clue to the authenticity of the location

The kids loved looking at these pictures. I think it makes it seem much more real to them. It's one thing to look at a picture book and consider the printed illustrations. I think it's a good idea to google pictures of Jesus' garden tomb and the entire region to help clarify to kids that this is not just a good story; it is a real piece of history.

Easter Sensory Tub

split peas & Great Northern beans, plastic eggs (which are good for filling & scooping), bunny rabbit & Happy Easter picks, miniature baskets & 3 ceramic crosses from Hobby Lobby

little gems hidden throughout as "Easter eggs"

We also have the gardening tub out right now, which is good because usually they're all 3 crowding each other out at one tub. I'm such a fan of these sensory tubs because even though I usually spend around $10 to make them (but will reuse items for next year), they play with these much more than they would a toy I'd spend the same amount on.

The Craft

So this is my little plug for the chickens. We always use a non-chicken egg alternative for decorating eggs. With wooden, ceramic, paper-mache, plastic, etc., there is plenty to choose from, and you don't have to worry about how the chickens were treated (if you didn't raise them yourself)! :) This carton of ceramic eggs (plus paint) from Hobby Lobby cost $2.50 for 6. The paper-mache (plastic covered in a thin layer of cardboard are 3/$1, and this bag of mini-eggs were $1 (50% off).

Here are some of the eggs the kids have painted over the years as our table centerpiece. I try to remember to put the kids' names and the year on the bottom of the eggs.

The kids made these simple Easter baskets at MOPS. If your child is like my youngest (who loves to carry around bags of any kind filled with stuff), this is a good one. Simply cut out the top portion of a paper bag, leaving the middle, then tape the two sides together.

Easter Treat

I make Easter bunny shaped fruit trays for the kids. I think I will also make a cross-shaped fruit tray this year, as well.

Egg-celent links:

stART

Read, Explore, Learn

Kids Get Crafty

Preschool Corner

Geography/History

The Homeschool Village