The 12 Days of Easter-Teaching the Easter Story

Today I got out the rest of our Easter Decorations. Namely, the Easter Eggs, the grass and the baskets.

As I was putting the Easter box back in storage I noticed a single piece of paper at the bottom.

It was The 12 Days of Easter

Every year I mean to do it, and don't remember until it is too late. Not this year. Plus, once I put it together, I can use it for years to come.

The best part, it will help us as we teach our children the REAL MEANING OF EASTER. 

So...now that the kids are in bed, I am getting to work.

I thought I would share with you. There is still time. You have all day to prepare. And after looking at the list, you should have everything you need already at home. If you want a shorter 7 day version, I will include it at the end of the post. 

Plus, even if you can get day one and two done, it buys you a few more days to put the rest together if you need it.

Remember the Easter Egg Garland we made two weeks ago? I think that is how I am going to display our eggs.
The kids are going to be so excited.

Here is how The 12 Days of Easter works....It shouldn't take more than about 20 minutes to put together.

Materials
12 Plastic Easter Eggs
Permanent Marker
12 Small Strips of Paper (12 more optional)
(Small items listed below)

What to do
1. With your permanent marker, write the numbers 1-12 on each of the plastic eggs. 

2. Prepare your strips of paper.
*12 of the strips will have scripture references on them, listed below.
*The other 12 will have a very short explanation of the scripture. You don't have to include this, but I am putting them in for our 6 year old who is all about reading right now.

3. Round up your small items (listed in parentheses). Refer to the list below.

The 12 Days of Easter.

Day 1
Matthew 26:26-27, 39
(A piece of bread or a sacrament cup)

Day 2
Matthew 26: 14-15
Zechariah 11:12-14
(3 Dimes to represent the 30 pieces of silver)

Day 3
Matthew 27:1-2
(Knotted Twine)

Day 4
Matthew 27:15, 17, 21, 24-26
(Chunk of Hand Soap)

Day 5
Matthew 27:28-30
Mark 15:16-17
(Square of red or purple fabric)

Day 6
Matthew 27:31-32
(Small Nail)

Day 7
Matthew 27:35
(Dice-representing casting lots)

Day 8
Matthew 27:50-51, 54
(Crushed Rocks)

Day 9
Matthew 27:57-60
(Strips of White Cloth)

Day 10
Matthew 27:60, 62-66
(Small Flat Stone)

Day 11
Mark 16:1, 2-6
(Bay Leaf or other Herb)

Day 12
Matthew 28:5-6
(Empty because HE IS RISEN!)

Arrange each day in its assigned egg and decide how you want them displayed. I am making ours into a garland. You could simply place them in a basket and display them. You could only bring out one a day, or even have your kids go on a hunt to find them each day.

Our family is going to...
Open one egg each night before we say family prayer. Our 2 year old will get to pick the egg off the garland because she is learning her numbers. Our 6 year old will read the short summary. Our 8 year old will read the scripture reference and the scripture. Then we will all discuss its meaning and what the small item represents.

After we open each egg I think we are going to clip the scriptures on the garland in between the eggs. I have some mini clothes pins that will work great. I got mine at Hobby Lobby, but you can get them at Michaels and Roberts.


7 Days of Easter
To simplify... Just prepare the following days.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 5
Day 6
Day 9
Day 10
Day 12

What do you think? Are you going to do this with your family?
How do you teach your children the Real Meaning of Easter?