Making a Resurrection Garden

One of our favorite activities we do the week of Easter is making a Resurrection Garden.  The kids love to get their hands dirty and this is the perfect way to do just that while talking about the reason for Easter.

First, we take some rocks (I bought some at the craft store just so they were smooth and easy to write on) and talk about our sin.

The kids and I talked about the meaning of “sin.”  Sin is anything we do that “misses the mark” of God’s perfection…His holiness.  “

All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”  Isaiah 64:6

We wrote our sins on the rocks.

We grabbed a garden potter (from dollar store) and began filling up with potting soil.

We placed our “sin” rocks in the bottom of our bowl.  

This was a powerful visual for the kids and I to see that our sins were buried with Christ when He died on the cross.   

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:13

Once we filled the bowl up with soil, I let the kids go explore around the yard to find things to create their garden scene.

We used some grass, moss, flowers, and rocks.  The kids so enjoyed making this their own.

I had previously cut in half a russet potato and cut a door to make the tomb.

The kiddos also found two sticks and I helped them make a cross with a rubber band.  The end result was this!

Last year we made resurrection gardens as the craft for my son’s preschool Easter party.

These turned out really cute and would be perfect for little bitties.

We usually make our gardens on Good Friday as we remember the greatest act of love given to each of us. 

We use a Lego figure and wrap him in medicine bandages to resemble Jesus.  We lay Him in the tomb (potato) until Easter Sunday.

Then on Easter morning, the kids wake up to find the tomb empty and beautiful flowers adorning the garden! 

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”  Matthew   28:6

We also added a rock at the entrance to the tomb that says “Grace” because it is by “grace we have been saved…(Ephesians 2:8-9)”

This will be our sixth year making a resurrection garden, and we never get tired of it.

Last year, we added grass seed to the soil, and watched the grass sprout and keep growing beyond Easter Sunday.

I think that is why we love repeating this tradition because it is never the same.  Your family too can create something new each year in the garden!

Have you ever made a resurrection garden before or will this be your first time?  What ideas do you have?

{Thanks for joining us here, and don’t forget–we have Easter devotionals for you to do with your family.  It’s not too late to begin!  Easter Project Devotionals}