The seed
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Plant seeds. Chances are you will want to
plant them in small pots. Plant them and then bring the sprouted
plants on Easter Sunday as a vivid illustration of God's bringing
life from death. Before placing the seeds in the soil, note how
they look "dead" and lifeless. But, through the miracle of
nature, they are planted in the dark earth and take root, grow
and produce even more seed. (Make sure the plants are cared for:
watered, exposed to the proper amount of light, and so forth.
Perhaps one of the children could be responsible.)
* The end of winter is another example of deadness coming back to life. Note how the apparently "dead" branches of the trees are now starting to bud (or soon will be) and that the lawns are growing greener with the spring rains. Winter is like death and spring is like the resurrection because it brings newness of life.
* Explain how we shall see loved ones who have died. Hope can be important in grief work that children sometimes have to do. Occasionally children are denied the very help needed to grieve a lost loved one. Some, for example, may not be allowed at the funeral home or the funeral itself. They may not be allowed to see the dead body. Death is a mystery to us all, but even more so to children. You just may have children who could do some grief work through the discussion of the hope we have in the resurrection.
* If time permits, learn at least one verse of the Easter hymn, "Now The Green Blade Rises." Ask your organist to accompany the children or have the hymn recorded prior to class. Take a good look at the words.
* The end of winter is another example of deadness coming back to life. Note how the apparently "dead" branches of the trees are now starting to bud (or soon will be) and that the lawns are growing greener with the spring rains. Winter is like death and spring is like the resurrection because it brings newness of life.
* Explain how we shall see loved ones who have died. Hope can be important in grief work that children sometimes have to do. Occasionally children are denied the very help needed to grieve a lost loved one. Some, for example, may not be allowed at the funeral home or the funeral itself. They may not be allowed to see the dead body. Death is a mystery to us all, but even more so to children. You just may have children who could do some grief work through the discussion of the hope we have in the resurrection.
* If time permits, learn at least one verse of the Easter hymn, "Now The Green Blade Rises." Ask your organist to accompany the children or have the hymn recorded prior to class. Take a good look at the words.
