This is a an activity that is inspired by the tradition of ‘burying the Alelluia’ at the start of Lent. This activity works best outside but could also be used inside with plenty of newspaper laid down etc.
Activity designed by Rev R. E. Hill.
Equipment
1 Corner type yoghurt pot per person, Wild flower seeds Compost, 2 lollipop sticks per person, 1 pebble small enough to fit in the corner section but big enough to decorate per person, Sharpie pens or paint, Recycled craft items to make a small lamb and decorate the lollipop sticks.
Lesson Plan
- Introduce the concept of Lent. You may like to use colours, pictures or small props to help students wonder and infer the meaning of Lent.
- Explain that in the church there is a tradition of decorating an Easter garden to celebrate Easter Sunday. Explain that the garden tells the story of the ressurection. Ask the students/participants to tell you/each other what they understand about the Easter Story.
- Decorate One side of each lollipop stick and then glue or tie together to create a cross. Make sure that one side of the cross is completely plain.
- Decorate one side of the little pebble using the pens or paint. This stone will represent the Alelluia and so must be plain on one side like the cross you have just made.
- Make a little lamb. You can do this with pipe cleaners, cotton wool etc etc. Remember that the seeds will be watered so you might like to attach the lamb to a lollipop stick so that it is raised slightly or make a little lollipop stick mat for it to stand on so it doesn’t get soaked when the seeds are watered.
- Fill the yoghurt pop with compost.
- Into the bigger section add your cross and lamb. Make sure the cross is showing the plain side.
- Place the pebble in the corner part and make sure that it’s colourful side down.
- Sprinkle/plant seeds in the compost and water.
- Place on a window sil or in a warm, bright place.
- Talk about how like the flowers will sprout and grow in Lent, so we do too. Ask students/participants to talk about the ways in which they can grow like the flowers in Lent. E.g. 40 helpful acts, reading, praying, etc.
- On Easter sunday, turn the cross and the pebble round to show the colourful sides to represent the empty cross and the resurrection. (If in a school setting students can take their gardens home for the Easter Holidays) Students/participants might like to take a picture of their flowering gardens to share with group/class.