Preparing for Easter Part 2

The week before Easter, I spent our school time working on a lapbook with the kids based on the story The Legend of the Easter Egg by Lori Walburg.

  Our lapbook incorporated math, reading, writing, vocabulary, geography, science, poetry and social studies into one nice neat package.  We will definitely be doing more lapbooks.  The kids were so sad to finish because it was so much fun.

Here they are with their finished products.

We read the book the morning of the first day.

They worked on memorising Luke 24:5-6 as their scripture for the week.

We estimated, sorted, grouped, and counted candy eggs.  Then we made a bar graph to show how many eggs we had of each color.

We learned about Faberge Eggs and where they were made.

We read the story of the Last Supper and discussed what the elements at the supper stand for.

We worked on a poem about Easter Eggs and then what we celebrate on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

One of the science elements was to study the inside of an egg and label the different parts.

Such a great learning experience. 



Preparing for Easter Part 1

We have had such a wonderful time this week just quieting our days and focusing on the celebration of our Risen Saviour, Jesus. 

For the past two weeks we have been using the Resurrection Eggs as a daily devotional so that our focus can be on what it is that Jesus did for us that day on the cross.  I have been so thankful for this precious time together with the kids.  So exciting to read with them from the Bible and retrace the steps that Jesus took, the pain and suffering He went through for us, and then His ultimate victory over the tomb, death, sin.  He is Alive!!!!!  And in His victory, we are free!!!

Our memory verse this week came from Luke 24: 5-6

"Then the men asked, 'Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive?  He isn't here!  He has risen from the dead!'"

The Resurrection Eggs take you through the story of that very first Easter, starting with Palm Sunday.

Each egg has a symbol from the story.  The set comes with a devotion book that ties in the Scripture and an explantion for each of the eggs.

Day 1

The donkey that Jesus rode into Jerursalem.

Day 6

The crown of thorns that the soliders put on Jesus' head to mock him and harm him.

Day 12

The empty egg that represents the empty tomb!

I found a great recipe for Resurrection Rolls that were so easy and so effective in showing a concrete example of Jesus' resurrection.

The dough represents the linen cloth that Jesus was wrapped in and then placed in the tomb

We used marshmallows as Jesus' body and wrapped them in the dough.

We then dipped the rolls in butter to represent the oils used and sprinkled cinnamon and sugar as the spices.

We placed the rolls in the "tomb" or oven and after 3 days (or 13 minutes)  we took them out of the tomb.  Once we broke apart the roll, we found NOTHING.  Just as Jesus was no longer in the tomb, the marshmallows were gone.  Love it!

I love Luke's face in this picture.  Maybe that is the face that Mary made when the angel appeared and told her the good news.

Such a great illustration and they were also very yummy. 

Part 2 will go over our Easter Lapbook based on the story "The Legend of the Easter Egg".

Stay tuned.....

Spring at our Nation's Capital



So we finally found out that the Steeles are going west this summer.  Everyone is so excited about such a fun opportunity to explore another part of the country.  The kids talk incessantly about going to Disneyland, Legoland, the beach, the zoo, Sea World, and any other spot in the great state of CA they can think of.  I am starting to think about our adventure across country as we move to our new home.  So many places and friends to see along the way.  It will be an adventure for sure.

Mimi and Papa came to visit us about a week ago for a little spring fun.  We headed to the Cherry Blossom Festival, back to our favorite little town, Occoquan, and had a great time. 

The weather was absolutely beautiful.  A little breezy, but not a cloud in the sky.  The cherry blossoms bloomed early this year so we missed the full blooms by a few days.  I have to say, the trees were still so gorgeous.  I am so glad that we were able to go and see the beauty by the tidal basin in the Nation's capital.

I could have sat under this tree all afternoon.

The Jefferson Memorial



Eating lunch at our favorite cafe, The Blue Arbor.

Practicing some fine motor skills.