One of the fun Easter ideas we have tried is creating empty tomb rolls. This cooking project helps children to experience the Easter story as they bake. I have found that story themed cooking lessons help my son understand stories and concepts. The story of the stone rolling away and Jesus’ tomb being found empty while wonderfully miraculous can be hard for some children to grasp.
Easter Ideas- Making Empty Tomb Rolls
Here is how I made the story the resurrection story more than just an Easter idea for JDaniel and the boy next door:
We started by talking about the events leading up to Jesus’ tomb being found empty. Both boys are very familiar with the Easter story and they were able to take turns filling me in on the events. If you have class or children at home that aren’t familiar with the story, you may want to take out a children’s bible or an Easter storybook and read it to them.
Then we took out a broiler pan. We could have used a cookie sheet, but I reached into my pan cabinet and pulled out the first thing I could grab.
I had purchased a package of five ready to bake rolls in a cylinder knowing that I wanted enough for both boys to get two rolls and have one left over for me. If you were doing this with a larger group, you may want to get a larger roll of rolls.
Each boy placed his rolls on his side of the broiler pan as I explained the next step. It was really hard to not want to squish and squash the rolls. One of the boys, in particular, lost this battle and ended up squishing his rolls.
It was more challenging to do the next step of the activity with squished rolls, but it was not impossible. I told the boys to pry open their rolls in the middle and place a marshmallow in the center. The rolls we had purchase advertised that they had many layers. That made it easier to place the marshmallow in them.
The rolls I explained to the boys represented the cave that was used for Jesus’ tomb. The marshmallow represented Jesus’ body wrapped or shrouded with burial cloths. By placing the marshmallow in the rolls we were replaying what had happened to Jesus when he was buried.
With the marshmallow in the rolls (tombs) we sealed the rolls closed just as Jesus’s burial place had been closed off. The closed rolls were then placed in the pan.
Talking About the Story the Rolls Tell
We talked about how the disciples and other followers of Jesus knew he was safely behind a rock that had been rolled in place. The marshmallows were just as safe in the rolls we all agreed.
After the rolls had been in the oven for the amount of time recommended on the package, we took them out. We immediately saw that something had happened to some of the rolls. I had hoped it would happen to all of them, but it didn’t. What had happened? The rolls and had a small opening in the front and we could see inside them. Much as the tomb had opened and those that came to visit it could look inside. What a great illustration of one the central Easter ideas!
There was also only a small amount of marshmallow ooze at their entrances. We talked about how the followers of Jesus’ had found the white wrappings that had been placed on him. They were all that was left in the tomb.
The boys bit into the rolls to see if they would find the marshmallows in the rolls that had stayed closed. There wasn’t even small marshmallow ooze.
We talked about how the marshmallows had probably melted into the rolls while it was cooking. That made sense to both of the boys. They were in awe of how the marshmallow melting had created enough steam to push a hole in the biscuit in an attempt to get out.
The boys were astonished by this Easter idea. They would have never guessed that the rolls would have become empty. I bet the disciples and Jesus’ followers were astonished too.
Here are three other Easter ideas that help children learn about the true meaning of Easter:
Legend of the Dogwood Hand Print Craft
If you are interested in more Easter related crafts, snacks, and learning activities, you may want to visit my Easter board on Pinterest.
Definitely a great way to show kids that story in a way they can understand! Love it!-Ashley
What a neat way to teach about the empty tomb.
i have heard of this before – but had never seen the instructions.
thanks 🙂