An empty tomb
Children's Activity
Object:
This is a great way to share the Easter story with children. Since the Easter season lasts for several weeks, do this any time you want to share what happened on Easter morning. You'll need: 1 cup whole pecans, zipper baggie, wooden spoon, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 3 egg whites, pinch of salt, 1 cup sugar, tape, and a Bible.
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (this is important -- don't wait until you're half done with the recipe). Place pecans in the baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces (Jesus was beaten -- John 19:1-3). Smell the vinegar and put 1 teaspoon into the mixing bowl (Jesus was given vinegar to drink -- John 19:28-30). Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life (Jesus gave his life to give us life -- John 10:10, 11). Taste the salt and add a pinch to the bowl. Add 1 cup sugar (The sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us -- Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16).
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop teaspoons of batter onto a waxed paper-covered cookie sheet (Each mound represents the tomb -- Matthew 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 (Jesus' tomb was sealed -- Matthew 27:65, 66). Now leave the oven alone and go to bed. The children may not want to leave the cookies overnight. Explain that Jesus' followers were also sad when the tomb was sealed (John 16:20, 22).
The next 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 empty (Matthew 28:1-9).
Happy Easter!
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (this is important -- don't wait until you're half done with the recipe). Place pecans in the baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces (Jesus was beaten -- John 19:1-3). Smell the vinegar and put 1 teaspoon into the mixing bowl (Jesus was given vinegar to drink -- John 19:28-30). Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life (Jesus gave his life to give us life -- John 10:10, 11). Taste the salt and add a pinch to the bowl. Add 1 cup sugar (The sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us -- Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16).
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop teaspoons of batter onto a waxed paper-covered cookie sheet (Each mound represents the tomb -- Matthew 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 (Jesus' tomb was sealed -- Matthew 27:65, 66). Now leave the oven alone and go to bed. The children may not want to leave the cookies overnight. Explain that Jesus' followers were also sad when the tomb was sealed (John 16:20, 22).
The next 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 empty (Matthew 28:1-9).
Happy Easter!
