The Easter Story: Easter Egg Activity

I feel like this year has been kind of a weird year when it comes to holidays.  First, we had two holidays in a row in February, with Valentine's Day and then President's Day the day after that.  This month, we have St. Patrick's Day and then 10 days later is Easter.  It doesn't leave much time to enjoy the holidays when they are all smooshed together like that.

BUT...I really like to at least try and enjoy each holiday for what it is before moving on to the next one.  That's why I was so excited to find an Easter activity that was given to me by a friend in college.  I've kept it for the last 10 years or so because I really wanted to do it with my kids, but the oldest is just getting old enough to understand that holidays generally have more meaning than just getting little gifts and candy.

Easter is easily one of my favorite holidays.  I love what and who it celebrates and I love that it comes in the springtime.  My hope is that through this activity, my daughter (and eventually my son) will be able to learn the reason we celebrate this holiday, especially since it is so central to our faith.

If you'd like to make this activity for yourself and your family, you will need to gather the following items:

• 12 plastic Easter eggs (Mine are mini, but you could also use the regular size)
• a sacrament cup
• 3 dimes
• knotted piece of twine
• piece of soap
• red piece of fabric or ribbon
• toothpick (& a small dab of glue to make a cross)
• nail
• pair of dice (only 1 fits in the mini eggs)
• small bag of dirt/soil
• white strip of fabric
• small rock
• bay leaf or herb

Print off this document.  It has the scriptures that tell the story of Easter.  Cut each scripture out into strips and set aside.  (Each scripture is numbered so you know which one goes with what object.)

In each egg, you will put one strip of paper and the accompanying object:

1. sacrament cup
2. 3 dimes
3. knotted twine
4. piece of hand soap
5. red piece of fabric/ribbon
6. toothpick cross and nail
7. pair of dice
8. bag of dirt/soil
9. strip of white cloth
10. rock
11. bay leaf or herb
12. empty

As you fill the eggs with the paper and correct object, write the number on the bottom of the egg (using a permanent marker) so you know which is which when you do the activity.

And that's it!

This particular Easter activity could be done a couple of different ways: as a countdown to the day of (similar to the 25 Days of Christ activity done at Christmas), or as a family night activity where all eggs are opened the same day.  This year, we're going to do it as a single family night activity since St. Patrick's Day and Easter are so close.

I think this would make a great gift for family and friends and not very expensive at all to put together!

I hope you like the simplicity and beauty of this activity as much as I do.

Do you have traditions specific to the Easter story?  Please share!