Play and Grow: Homemade Resurrection Eggs

When I thought about how I was going to convey the Easter story to my young boy, I immediately thought of doing Resurrection Eggs.

Resurrection Eggs aren't a new concept if you've been around the church with young children, but even still, they are an effective tool in teaching about the significant parts in the story of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and then rising again in defeat over death.

And so I'm going to talk about them. If you are not familiar with them, they are a set of twelve eggs that you open up one a day (like an advent calendar) in the twelve days leading up to Easter. Each egg has an object and verse that talks about a part of the Easter story. Basically, it's just a tangible tool for teaching about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Sure, you can find them on other places on the web (like here) or even buy them in the store (like here), but these particular Resurrection Eggs are unique to me. I had some very specific goals when I set out to filling my eggs. These were my criteria:

1. I wanted the eggs to be chronological. I came across several lists that seemed out of order for the way things transpired over those few days.
2. I wanted the eggs to cover Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His crucifixion, His burial, and of course, His resurrection.
3. I didn't want to spend money to make these.

I mainly drew from two different lists. The one on this site, and one that I had gotten from my church mom's group (thanks, Joy!). And with Jacob's help, we came up with the following eggs. {Printable Copy}

One: Palm Branch

To recognize how Jesus was celebrated when he entered Jerusalem

Two: Bread

To signify the last supper

Three: Silver Coins

To show the bribe that Judas took to betray Jesus

Four: Purple Cloth and Thorns

To acknowledge Jesus' mocking at the hands of the soldiers

Five: Rope (Whip)

To signify the beating Jesus endured

Six: Cross

To show the physical burden Jesus had to carry

Seven: Nails

To show the pain Jesus went through when he was crucified

Eight: Sign

To recognize Pilate's admission that Jesus was indeed the long awaited King

Nine: Sponge and Spear

To signify the last moments of Jesus' life and proof of his death

Ten: Spices

To signify that burial procedures were carried forth on Jesus

Eleven: Stone

To show that the tomb had been opened

Twelve: Nothing

To signify that Jesus has risen

You can download the strips of paper to cut out here. The file includes the verses to be read each day and a sign you can put on the outside and inside of the top flap of the egg carton if you so choose. All of the verses are written in CEV simply because I think the language in that version is easy for a child to understand, but you can obviously use whatever version you prefer.

I was able to make these eggs in an afternoon with things that I had already around my house. I used an egg carton that I had saved from using eggs earlier in the week. I had some eggs from last year that I got for free from CVS (maybe they'll do it again this year, so keep your eyes peeled!). I used sticks and stones and leaves from my yard. I used other items rummaged from various places in my house, but none of it was unusual. All in all, I think this project cost my $0.30, and that was just because I put three dimes in egg number three. So I'd say this was a pretty cheap project.

I am really looking forward to how Sebastian is going to react to opening  the eggs. He loved getting to open the advent calendar at Christmas, so I think he's going to look forward to opening an egg a day when the time comes (which, incidentally, if you want to do it twelve days before Easter, is Wednesday!). 

This will be my first year trying to share with Sebastian the story of Easter. So, if you have used the Resurrection Eggs before, do you have any tips? And if you don't use the eggs, how do you teach (or plan to teach) your kids about Easter? This momma needs to know. :)

We linked up here!