Easter Themes for the Classroom
Whether you are celebrating chocolate bunnies and egg hunts, the first days of spring, or the Resurrection of Jesus; the Easter season is a time of hope and new beginnings. Here are some ways that you can incorporate Easter themes into your classroom.
1. Make your own Easter baskets
This can be a fun way to recycle and make a basket in which to keep Easter goodies. Have each student bring in an empty bleach or milk gallon jug. Cut away the top, and then cut a one inch piece from the top of the base to be the handle. Using a hole punch and brads, attach the handle to jug. Allow students to decorate the outside with rabbits, eggs, and chicks, while filling the inside with Easter grass or shredded paper. Now they are all ready for the egg hunt!
2. Onions and Eggs
This makes for an interesting science experiment. Have students write down what they think will happen before getting started. You will need a raw egg, raw red onion skin, and a nylon for each child, as well as a boiling pot of water to cook the eggs in. Students should wrap their egg in onion skin, placing it into the nylon. Securely knot the nylon as close to the egg as possible, and boil the egg until hard boiled. Allow the egg to cool, unwrap, and compare eggs.
3. Easter basket soccer
This is a good way to help students perfect their coordination and teamwork. Each team needs a balloon as their egg, and a hula hoop for the basket. Place the hula hoop in the middle of the floor, and have students stand back on either side of it. The goal is to get the "egg" into the "basket" without popping it by passing it back and forth. Teachers can make up variations, such as saying no hands or bouncing on the floor.
4. Easter egg math hunt
You can use the traditional Easter egg hunt as a way to review math skills. You will need several sets of plastic eggs in different colors. Label eggs with group numbers, or designate one color for each group (allowing students to complete the same number of problems). In each set of eggs, put a math problem (one math problem for each egg, but repeated for each set so that all students do the same problem). Hide the eggs throughout the classroom or schoolyard. Divide students into group, have them find all the eggs, and solve the problems found inside. The first team to find all the eggs and answer the problems correctly wins.
5. Egg hunting by the map
Hide eggs around the classroom or schoolyard, giving each student a map and directions to follow (walk 3 steps north, 2 steps east, etc.) to find their eggs. For an additional challenge, older students can hide the eggs and draw up maps and directions for other teams to follow.
6. Egg shell mosaics
Older students can learn the history behind mosaics before starting this project, while younger students will just get messy. You will need multiple egg shells that have been washed, broken into large pieces, and dyed. Give students a picture to fill in by gluing pieces of egg shell to the paper.
7. What came first, people or the egg?
You can use egg shells to create your own village. Have students decorate empty egg shells with faces to represent people. Fill the eggshells with potting soil and grass seeds. Eggs can be placed back into cartons while growing. Students can do things like measure the amount of water their grass gets, or how much "hair" their people grow.
8. Easter around the world
While many cultures celebrate an Easter or spring holiday, the actual customs can vary greatly. Assign students a different culture or country to research to see what their version of Easter is, and have them create presentations to share with the class.
9. What is in an egg?
Eggs are used in so many items and served countless ways. Have students take a look at the history of an egg and its different uses. How many recipes could not be made without eggs? Compare and contrast egg types and sizes - for instance, the ostrich egg and the hummingbird egg. Older students can take a look at the growth of chickens from fertilization to hatching.
10. White House Egg Roll
The White House egg roll has been a long standing tradition. Student can watch live footage of the current year's egg roll, and research how this wacky tradition got started.
With the arrival of spring and Easter, there are numerous themes that you can apply to the classroom. Use a little creativity and fun, and students can learn more!
Source: http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/easter.html
Remember you matter, educators make the world go around!
Cynthia Hughes & Carol Bailus (Newsletter Editors)
Worksheet Library Week of March 30, 2011
More Easter Theme Resources: http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/easter.htm
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