Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Easter Hill


This is another great activity! I love that there are so many activities we can sit and do with our kids to teach them the true meaning of Easter. These are fun activities that the kids and you can do together and they will not even realize they are learning.

This activity is from "Treasuring God in our Traditions" by Noel Piper
To purchase go here http://www.amazon.com/Treasuring-God-Traditions-euml-Piper/dp/1581348339

Instructions:

- Make a hill out of Salt dough (recipe to follow)

-The hill includes a spot for the cross, the tomb, and places to place other people.

- Let the kids make a hill and the people (out of pipe cleaner).

- On Friday morning , talk about when Jesus dies on the cross (wrap a red piece of tinsel or pipe cleaner around Jesus to show he has died) and the the kids place 'Jesus' in the tomb with the rock covering the opening.

- On Sunday morning (Easter Sunday) before they wake up you can roll away the stone and place Jesus on top of the hill (red blood tinsel removed) to show He is alive.

- Help the kids understand the waiting between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. And why Easter is such an important celebration.

Recipe

- 4 cups of flour

-1 1/2 cups salt

- 1 1/2 cups water

- 1 tablespoon oil

1. Shape dough into a hill
2.Form a hole/cave at the base.
3.Press a rock into the cave opening to make a more exact fit between the two
4.Create a cross using small sticks and twine
5.Stick the cross into the top of the hill to make a hole
6.The dough will shrink a bit when baking so make sure the hole is just a bit bigger and deep enough to hold the cross (or Jesus if you made him)
7.Use the toothpicks to make small holes all over the hill. These will hold the 'people' made out of pipe cleaners.
8.Cook at 250 for 4-5 hrs. It is okay if the dough gets a bit brown.
9.Once fully cooked let cool completely
10. Once cool you can paint.


If you do not want to go through the baking part you can use things you have at home. The picture at the top is my husband and brother when they were young creating their Easter Hill. Making the tomb out of an oatmeal box. Crosses out of twigs and Jesus out of a coloring book picture wrapped in tissue. They just used what they had around the house to recreate the scene. Having fun all while making memories and learning the Easter story. Be creative! Have Fun! Most of all teach the Easter story to your children!

No comments: