Easter Story Cookies

I'm so encouraged by those who visited my blog and actually told me they made the dioramas with their own kids! I'm not used to anyone reading my blog besides my family. So here's another project I do every year to illustrate Christ's amazing sacrifice for us. The kids love this!

This is to be done the night before Easter.

You need:
1 cup pecans or walnuts
1 teaspoon white vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar

Bible
ziploc
wooden spoon
tape

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (*this is important-don't wait til halfway done with the recipe!!)

Place the nuts in a ziploc and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3

Let the kids smell the vinegar. Put vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our sins. Read Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us and died for our sins. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20-22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! ON the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9

He is Risen!

Diorama Mania!

Over spring break we started this craft and just got around to finishing it yesterday. It was a several stage project. The idea was to create an Easter scene inside the egg, and use this as another opportunity to teach my kids about the true meaning and significance of Easter.

In case your interested, here's how to make a diorama:

First you do paper mache over a balloon. This was a messy, but really fun step. We cut up a ton of different colored tissue papers and made a mixture of flour and water. Then, you dip the tissue in the mixture and slap it on your balloon. It's important to do several layers to make it more thick and sturdy.

Let the balloon dry overnight. Then cut the balloon at the tie and pull it out through the hole in the top.

Next cut out the opening for your scene.

First we painted wooden crosses to be placed at the back of each scene.

Then, we used Modeling clay and had fun creating different scenes from the Bible out of the clay. Modeling clay is really lightweight and easy to work with. It comes in a ton of different colors too.

Then place your scene inside your hollowed-out balloon. Tie a ribbon on top, and viola your done!

Caitlyn added a figurine of Jesus, a tree with a serpent and an apple hanging from it, and a rainbow and flowers. Cole added a zebra, rainbow, flowers and tree.

It was a great time to talk about the significance of the cross and what Easter really means. It isn't about cute little chicks and candy and new clothes, although those are all a fun part of Easter. It's about the perfect, sinless lamb of God, Jesus, laying down his life for ours. Substituting his perfect spotless righteousness for our sin-stained lives. What a wonderful season this is, and what a wonderful Savior we have!