Session 35: Easter Part of Chalice Children In This Section Introduction From Chalice Children Lo, the Eastertide is here, Alleluia! — from "Lo, the Day of Days Is Here," Hymn 269 in Singing the Living Tradition Celebrate Easter and spring with eggs and baskets! The significance of Easter for our young children is its joy and hope, the returning of new life in the springtime.... Session-at-a-Glance From Chalice Children Activity Minutes Activity 1. Free Play 15 Activity 2. Circle Rhymes Transition 5 Activity 3: Circle Time 5 Activity 4: Story 5 Activity 5: Baskets 15 Activity 6: Circle Games 10 Closing 5... Spiritual Preparation From Chalice Children Take time before the session and find a quiet place for reflection. Has spring arrived in your area? What signs of rebirth have you or will you see? Is this rebirth important in your celebration of Easter? Do you include the story of Jesus? What are your feelings surrounding the traditional... Opening From Chalice Children Description of Activity In the Chalice Children program, sessions begin with Activity 1, Free Play rather than a formal Opening. The chalice is lit in Activity 3, Circle Time. Activity 1: Free Play From Chalice Children Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Name tags Variety of free play options, such as toys, a puzzle, a storybook, manipulatives, dramatic play props, and markers and paper Preparation for Activity Make name tags for the children you are expecting and set these out with a few extra bla... Activity 2: Circle Rhymes Transition From Chalice Children Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Circle Rhymes posters Preparation for Activity Display the Circle Rhymes posters from Session 1.... Activity 3: Circle Time From Chalice Children Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice-lighting words, written on newsprint Chalice with tea light flame or other preschool chalice option Feelings Chart or Feelings Flashcards by Todd Parr Preparation for Activity Post the chalice-lighting words on the wall near the Circle Time... Activity 4: Story From Chalice Children Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Story book Preparation for Activity Choose a story from the following suggestions: The Easter Egg by Jan Brett, 2010. If Hoppi can make the best Easter egg, he will get to help the Easter Rabbit deliver the eggs on Easter morning. But it is not so... Activity 5: Baskets From Chalice Children Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Baskets, one for each child Basket decorations such as ribbon, pipe cleaners, strips of foam, markers, fake flowers Artificial grass ("Easter grass") Masking tape, adult scissors, and a black marker Paper towels, moistened; a trash bag with liner; ... Activity 6: Circle Games From Chalice Children Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Children's baskets (Activity 5, Baskets) Colorful, plastic Easter eggs, at least 3 per child Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the games and songs, with the addition of eggs and baskets. Find the melody for "A Tisket, A Tasket"... Closing From Chalice Children Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home handout Markers or crayons Preschool chalice Optional: Envelopes, hole punch, and yarn or ribbon Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and make a copy for each child.... Leader Reflection and Planning From Chalice Children Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leaders: How do we feel about what went on during this session? Why? What was the best part of this session? Why? What preparations do we need to make for the next session? Taking It Home From Chalice Children Lo, the Eastertide is here, Alleluia! — from "Lo, the Day of Days Is Here," Hymn 269 in Singing the Living Tradition IN TODAY'S SESSION... we celebrated Easter and spring with eggs and baskets. Easter's significance for our young children is its joy and hope, the arrival of new life in the... Find Out More From Chalice Children Meet Jesus: The Life and Lessons of a Beloved Teacher by Lynn Tuttle Gunney, illustrated by Jane Conteh-Morgan (Skinner House, 2007). Roberta and Christopher Nelson, authors of Unitarian Universalist parenting curricula including Parents as Resident Theologians, commented: This story opens a door... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Chalice Children NEXT: Introduction Download all of Chalice Children (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.