Creating a resurrection garden is a wonderful way to celebrate Easter with your kids. Not only is it a fun craft, but it also helps teach the true meaning of the holiday in a hands-on way. This little garden tells the story of Jesus rising from the dead through simple decorations like a tomb, crosses, and beautiful plants. Plus, it’s easy to make, inexpensive, and can be enjoyed all season long as a daily reminder of the hope and joy of Easter. Pick a special spot to display your completed garden, like the kitchen countertop, where everyone can see it.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful Easter gift, consider making a resurrection garden or putting together a DIY kit for friends and family for a simple, special gift.
1 of 5
Photographs courtesy of Kendall Kennedy
2 of 5
Photographs courtesy of Kendall Kennedy
3 of 5
Photographs courtesy of Kendall Kennedy
4 of 5
Photographs courtesy of Kendall Kennedy
5 of 5
Photographs courtesy of Kendall Kennedy
Below is a loose step-by-step guide to help you, but you can use whatever container, plants, flowers, and other decorations you like. Be creative—enlist your kids’ imaginations for ideas, and have fun!
Kendall notes a few of her other other favorite Easter traditions with kids are Resurrection Eggs—12 eggs each containing a symbol that represents another part of the Easter story as it progresses. “They come with a read-along that helps you explain it to your children,” she says. “For a book that beautifully explains the Gospel to children, I love The Garden, The Curtain, and the Cross by Carl Laferton.”
Supplies
- Shallow planter, bowl, tray, or dish
- Potting soil
- Small terra-cotta pot (for the tomb)
- 1-4 small plants (such as succulents or indoor grass)
- Sticks or twigs (for the crosses)
- Hot glue
- Large rock or stone (to cover the tomb entrance)
- Optional: Moss, grass seed, small pebbles, purple ribbon
- Think of your resurrection garden like a little landscape. The tomb and three crosses should be the focus. The rest of the space will be filled with plants to make it look like a garden. Decide where everything will go before you start planting.
- Fill your vessel planter tray with potting soil, leaving a little space at the top so it doesn’t overflow when watered. Place a small pot in the center of the tray to represent the tomb, then mound soil around it to create a “hill.”
- Add plants around the tomb. If using moss, gently press it into the soil, or scatter some grass seed.
- Make three crosses by hot-gluing small sticks or twigs together. Place them around the tomb to represent the crosses from the Easter story. You can drape a small piece of purple ribbon around Jesus’s cross, if desired. Place a large rock or stone at the entrance of the tomb to represent the stone that was rolled away when Jesus rose from the dead. Add pebbles to create a path to the tomb, if desired.
- To care for your garden, give it a light misting of water as needed. (Be careful not to overwater any succulents.) Enjoy!