The 12 Days of Easter

I was asked to do an object lesson about Easter at a faith-based program run through my church.  Having taught Sunday school only twice in my life, I wasn't sure where to start.  Finally I thought of Resurrection Eggs.  You can buy them and they come with a book etc.  However, they are just as easy to make and ask your own comprehension questions and print out a free colouring page or two.  Or make play-doh and have them sculpt a tomb or any number of other things.

You need an egg carton, 12 of those hollow plastic eggs you can get at the dollerstore and everything else you probably have at home or can easily make.

One could make this the 12 days of Easter - like we have the 12 days of Christmas - and each day do an egg and a related activity or colour page 

Additionally, you can make a "tree" out of various branches and stick them in a flower pot with some dirt and either hang up or put at the foot of the "tree" the various objects form each egg.

BREAD.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” (Matt 26:26)
Activity: Bake bread or do a family communion


SILVER COINS
Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas-went to the chief priests and asked “what are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”  So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.  From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matt 26:14-15)
Activity: look at different kinds of silver coins and study their differences.  Maybe design your own coin face.
Or go to a store and see what you can get for 50 silver coins

PURPLE CLOTH
The soldiers put a purple robe on Him… (Mark 15:17)
Activity: Make a paper doll and purple robe for it.

THORNS
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head (Matt 27:29)
Activity: study different plants that have thorns.  Draw some pictures of them.

ROPE
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them.  He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified (Mark 15:15)
Activity: make rope by winding and weaving different strings together.

CROSS
Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull.  Here they crucified him… (John 19:17-18a)
Activity: find some sticks and make a cross

NAILS
This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross (Acts 2:23)
Activity: Nail some nails into wood to see how difficult that task can be

SIGN
“You are King then” said Pilate….So Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross.  It read : Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
Activity:  Have them make a sign and write out Pilate's message in Greek, Latin and Aramaic

SPONGE
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge.  He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink (Mark 27:48)
Activity:  Take several sponges and liquids and have the sponge absord them.  They try drinking from teh sponge.

RECEIPT
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from you forefathers.  (1 Peter 3:18)
Activity: study a grocery receipt and count at all that perishable items on it.

ROCK
Joseph took the body wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matt 27:59-60)
Activity: study various kinds of rocks

EMPTY
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come see the place where he lay. (Matt 28:6)
Activity: with play-doh, make an empty tomb