This year I would like to start a new Christ-centered tradition for Easter. We really really enjoyed the 25 Days of Christ that we did for Christmas, so I compiled a bunch of ideas I found online to follow a similar format.

 

Day 1: Triumphal Entry (Sunday)

Song: Easter Hosanna

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Video: The Lord’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Activity: Make a Hosanna Palm – write ways you will welcome Jesus into your life on your palm leaf

Day 2: Cleansing of the Temple (Monday)

Song: I Love to See the Temple

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-22

Video: Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Activity: Clean a part of the house together as a family

Day 3: Teaching the People (Tuesday)

Song: When He Comes Again

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13 (Ten Virgins)

Video: The Ten Virgins

Activity: Oil in My Lamp Relay, Living Scriptures Animated Video, or Make Clay Lamps

Day 4: Unknown (Focus on additional teachings of Christ) (Wednesday)

Song: Love One Another

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46 (Sheep and Goats)

Video: Ye Have Done it Unto Me

Activity: Have every family member draw a picture of a sheep and cut it out/color it. Write down each family member’s name on a piece of paper and exchange names. Have each family member do secret acts of service for the family member’s name they drew and leave their paper sheep as a clue.

Day 5: Passover/Last Supper/Gethsemane (Thursday)

Song: While of These Emblems We Partake

Scripture: Luke 22:11-20

Video: The Last Supper, The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane

Activity: Make something to help family members remember the Savior during the sacrament at church. One example: SACRAMENT bookmark where children think of a word that reminds them of something Jesus has done for them for each letter.

Day 6: Trial/Crucifixion/Burial (Friday)

Song: Behold the Great Redeemer Die

Scripture: Luke 22:63-23:56

Video: Jesus is Scourged and Crucified

Activity: Easter Cream Puffs

Easter Cream Puffs

1⁄4 tsp. vinegar

1⁄4 tsp. salt
1 cup flour

1 cup water
1⁄2 cup margarine

4 eggs

any flavor filling

Let children smell vinegar. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink. (John 19:28-30)

Add 1⁄4 teaspoon vinegar to a 2-quart sauce- pan. Mix together 1 cup water and 1⁄4 tea- spoon salt. This represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Add to saucepan.

Add 1 cube margarine and heat mixture until it boils. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup our all at once and stir vigorously. The color white represents the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed through the atonement of Christ. (Isaiah 1:18)

Preheat oven to 375°. Add 4 eggs to our mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition, until smooth. The eggs represent life. Jesus gave his life so that we might live. (John 10:10-11)

Drop the dough by heaping tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2” apart. Bake until light golden brown and firm, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool thoroughly.

Cut the puffs in half horizontally and fill the bottoms with about 1 tablespoon vanilla custard, whipped cream or chocolate, vanilla, or lemon pudding each. Replace the tops.

Day 7: Night of Darkness (Saturday)

Song: He Died! The Great Redeemer Died

Scripture: 3 Nephi 8:20-23, 3 Nephi 9:12-18

Video: Jesus is Laid in a Tomb

Activity: Overturn furniture, make things messy and turn the lights off to symbolize the destruction and darkness that took place after the Savior was crucified. Have family members come in and try to navigate in the darkness (crawling is probably safest) and try to find the highest place (the temple) to sit to read scriptures. OR Have a candlelight dinner and read the account while eating.

Day 8: Easter Sunday

Song: I Know That My Redeemer Lives, He Is Risen, Did Jesus Really Live Again?, I Believe in Christ, My Redeemer Lives, He Sent His Son

Scripture: John 20 or Matt. 28

Video: Jesus is Resurrected, He Lives

Activity: Sunrise Devotional/Breakfast, Easter Egg Lesson at dinner, Testimony Meeting

Definitely need to show this new video too:

Easter-themed FHEs:

Real Easter Bunnies

That Our Sins Might Be Washed Away

I am excited to make Easter less about the Easter Bunny and more about Christ and His Resurrection. If any of you have any other ideas, please share!

Here Comes the Sun

Today we went to the park and it was 70 degrees. Seriously so amazing. I sure hope this means spring is coming. It better be, especially since I just switched out my wreaths.

Goodbye February (and all the snow you bring)...

Old picture, but same one!

Hello, March!

I have a mild obsession with yarn wreaths - can you tell? I really want to make an Easter wreath but can't think of any ideas.

Maybe something like this darling wreath:

That wreath is seriously so cute. I'm dead.

 X X
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Valentine's Day Invitations

We had a little Valentine's Day breakfast for our primary children a couple weeks ago and it turned out great! We ate food (crepes, pancakes and a couple of sides), had a visit from the sister missionaries, and ended with Valentine's Bingo. We had a good turn out and I think the kids had a fun time! I especially loved the message the sister missionaries shared with the children, that God loves each and every one of them! It tied in perfectly with our Valentine's theme.

I figured I could share the invitations we used since I am always looking for free resources when planning parties and other events. I made these on Word and would be happy to send the file to any who would like to use them for their own Valentine's party. Just comment or send me an email!

Toddler-Friendly Scripture Study: Chapter 12

Chapters 12: King Benjamin

If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Song: Love One Another, p. 136 (ASL adapted from Children's Songbook)

As I have loved you,

Love one another.

This new commandment:

Love one another.

By this shall men know

Ye are my disciples,

If ye have love

One to another.

Activities:

1. Summary: (goes with pictures)

1. King Benjamin was a righteous Nephite king. He became old and wanted to talk to the Nephites.

2. The Nephites came from far away to listen. They set up tents near the temple. King Benjamin spoke from a tall tower so the people could hear him.

3. He taught the people many important things. He told them to serve one another and to keep the commandments. He also taught them about Jesus.  

4. The people were sorry for their sins. They said a prayer and repented. They were happy because they knew Heavenly Father forgave them.   

5. King Benjamin taught them to pray every day and told them that children should not to fight. He said children should love and serve one another.

6. The Nephites believed King Benjamin’s teachings. They promised to keep the commandments. King Benjamin was happy.

2. Rebus Story, “King Benjamin Teaches the Nephites” – A simple story that uses pictures for some of the words

Art/Craft: Super cute coloring page found here (I love all her coloring pages!)

"Ponderize" Scripture: Mosiah 2:17

UPDATE: Super cute Book of Mormon coloring book available on LDS.org - found HERE. For this lesson, I would use this page:

For older kids, there is a King Benjamin hidden picture page found here.

For all you super moms out there, you could also build “King Benjamin’s tower” out of toothpicks and marshmallows!

Scripture Study Outline

Again, if you haven't read my initial post, read it here. This outline is very brief. The link will lead to an explanation of the scripture study and gives more information for how to teach it. 

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.) Introduce the song by listening to it a couple times and humming to the tune.

2. (It would be fun to make a little “tent” out of blankets and have that be your special reading place for this chapter.) Read through the story in the manual. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter. End by listening to/singing the song.

3.  Have your child color one of the coloring pages OR the figures quietly while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. (Use the scriptural references found under the pictures in the manual as a guide.) Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End each day by singing the song.

           

4. Read the summary to your child and hold up the pictures as you read. Read the summary again and ask your child to point to the appropriate figures as you read (i.e. where is King Benjamin? Where is the tower?) End by singing the song.

5. Read the Rebus story with your child. Watch the scripture story video. End by reading your favorite verse from the story.

 6. Choose one of the activities to do again (Rebus story or summary with figures). Read your favorite verse and then have your child read part or all of it by repeating after you. Share your testimony. End by singing the song.