Easter Egg Hunt Escape Room!

I find that it's easier for people to understand Escape rooms if they see some visuals and read a more specific description of the activities.  I try to do all of my ER's with my groups to test them out, but I don't always get a chance.  I finally got to do my Easter ER with my young elementary and 4th/5th graders this year so I thought I'd share some things that I did!

If you are interested in purchasing this ER, the plans are very simple, but a LOT of fun!  Both of my groups had a blast and were so excited when they escaped!  Here is the link to purchase.  It is my cheapest ER because I only provide the plans - and only one of the puzzles.  Normally, I provide you with multiple ready-made clues.  But the puzzles are pretty easy to make and you probably have the materials on hand.

Obviously, you will need Easter Eggs and candy!

Some letter tiles from any game (Scrabble, Bananagrams, etc.) or you could
just write them on paper and cut them up.

a puzzle with pieces that fit into the eggs

In my plan, I provide you with a description of 4 clues they need to figure out and I give you ways to make those clues harder or easier depending on the age of your group.  The idea is for the kids to figure out the 4 shapes needed to unlock the lock and their correct order.  In my case, I got my directional lock out to use and realized I lost the previous combination!  So, I quickly ordered a new one from Amazon.  Unfortunately, it arrived 3 hours too late (no joke!) so I had to improvise.  What I did was put 4 papers up on the wall for both groups and numbered them 1-4.  They had to draw the correct shape on the correct paper in order to "escape the hunt".  It worked fine and they didn't seem to care that I didn't have an actual lock :)  Kids are very flexible!

Without giving away my entire hunt, one of the clues was to write something inside ONE of the eggs.  For the youngest group, I simply wrote the clue.  For the older group, I hid blacklight flashlights in the room and gave them a clue on the puzzle for where to find them.  Using the blacklight, they had to find which egg held the clue.  They were running out of time, so I helped them by telling them which child had the "special" egg (I wrote down which egg held the clue so I knew immediately who had it).  
 

older group with the clue using black light.  it was way brighter than it looks
in the picture

younger group with a clue written out with marker

To make it really interesting, I did my older elementary group in the gym...in the DARK!  I put obstacles everywhere, put glow lights in some of the eggs and had them hunt in the dark!  When they thought they got all the eggs, I gave them flashlights :)  It made the hunt last a little longer and they enjoyed the challenge!  I wanted their hunt/escape room to last 1 hour so I needed to give them some challenges.  Turned out, I didn't really need to, because they got stuck on the puzzle clue and the black light clue! lol

obstacles set up for the older elementary in our gym

using flash lights to find any remaining eggs

A few pointers if you buy the hunt and decide to do it.  One, the puzzle can take 1 minute or it can take 20.  My younger kids knew right away that the clue was on the BACK side of the puzzle and put it together upside down.  The older kids NEVER figured it out - even when I gave them the clue to "look at it in a different way".  I had to finally tell them to turn it over.  I've done ER's with a LOT of different groups and it's funny how some of them always overlook the obvious answers :)  Monitor your time so you know how long to give them.  We ran out of time and I had to give them the black light clue so they could finish before their parents came.  Second pointer - I decided to just have a regular egg hunt and hide clues in just a few of the eggs (maybe 20 eggs had clues and the rest were candy/prizes).  In my lesson plan, I suggested figuring out how many eggs you needed and put a clue in each egg.  That was more thinking than I wanted to do ;) I just made sure to hide the clue eggs in obvious places, because inevitably there is at least one egg that isn't found until the next fall ;) lol

Lastly, the Scripture clue (the one I provide), needs to be printed out on cardstock.  I didn't think about this ahead of time and they had a hard time putting it together.  Once they actually got it together, it was impossible to read...which kind of defeats the purpose since we do the activity to teach them about Easter - and the Scripture was key!

I hope you enjoy doing the egg hunt.  I would definitely do this again with other groups.  We all really enjoyed it - and I loved that it made my egg hunt last longer than 5 minutes!! :) 

Caterpillar to butterfly - an interactive Easter Children's message

 

Explain at the beginning of the service, that while worship is going on - that they are to color at their tables (with markers), the coffee filters provided.  At least one person per table should color one - but everyone is invited to do so.  These will be used during the children's message illustration.  Each table, besides markers and coffee filters, needs a pre-decorated clothespin for each person (to look like a caterpillar shown below) and a toilet paper roll for each person.   This craft was found here if you want more detail!

When we see a caterpillar what do we think?  (have everyone pick up a clothespin that is dull brown and that was decorated beforehand)  What words come to mind when we see a caterpillar? (put pic on screen)  Ugly?  useless?  slimy?  creepy?  Are we ever like a caterpillar?  Do we ever feel like one on the inside?  Do we sometimes feel ugly?  useless?  Do other people ever hear our words or see our actions and think that we are ugly? or mean?  I'm sure, at some point in our lives, we have felt like a caterpillar.  And I'm sure, that at some point in our lives we have messed up, and people have seen us as a caterpillar.

But what about Jesus?  Was Jesus ever a caterpillar?  We certainly never think of Jesus as ugly or creepy.  But Jesus still died FOR us, even though he was perfect and we are not.  After Jesus died, he was wrapped in cloth and laid in a tomb.  This part of Jesus' life does reminds me of a caterpillar - as it makes its cocoon.  

Take your caterpillar and clip your coffee filter in it.  Wrap it up, just like Jesus was, and place it inside the tube...which is our tomb...or cocoon.  

For 3 days Jesus was in that tomb.  For 3 days his friends and disciples grieved and wondered and worried.  Do we ever do that?  Do we worry about what is going to happen?  What has happened?  Of course we do.  Although the Bible tells us clearly "do not worry", we still do.  

But on that 3rd day, when some ladies went to the tomb, what did they find?  It was empty!!  (pull out the caterpillar/butterfly and everyone will probably do the same).  

Jesus had risen!  He was alive!  He died and rose again for US - to give us NEW LIFE so that we could be changed - like the caterpillar to a butterfly.  

We were give new life in Jesus and we should never forget that.  When we are baptized into the church, water is put on our heads, right?  The water is a symbol of being cleaned and our sins and ugliness being wiped away.  So, to remember how we become new in Jesus and to help us remember our baptism and new life in Christ, someone at your table, bring up your butterfly to one of my helpers at the front with a spray bottle.  They will spray your butterfly (and you if you want to be sprayed ;)  Take it back to your seat and watch the water turn your butterfly into something amazing!  Watch the colors run together and brighten. Watch it have new life.

(continue speaking as they get sprayed) Yes, bad things happen.  God never promises that our lives will be perfect.  Yes, we mess up.  Yes, there will be times in our lives when we feel and look like a caterpillar.  But the GOOD NEWS is that that is NOT the end!  The story, OUR story, doesn't end there.  We have new life in Christ and with the resurrection, we are given the chance to be a butterfly.  So, soak in the resurrection this year and let your colors shine through!!  Show the world your brightness.  Be the person that God has created you to be!  In the name of the father, son and holy spirit, All God's people say - Amen!

HAPPY EASTER!

Lenten Goodie bags

 

We are hoping to be back in person on Easter, but our church is still holding virtual services right now.  So, I am working on Lenten bags to give to each of our families.  I thought I'd share items that I've found in case anyone else would like some ideas.  Please share yours in the comments for others to glean off of! :)  Thanks!

1.  Lenten devotional booklet.  Our 3rd-5th graders are meeting on zoom for Sunday school but we haven't had much success with our younger group - so I've been sending them stuff to do at home with their families.  I saw these online and thought they looked good for our prek-2nd grade group.  I was a little hesitant because I couldn't see exactly what was inside, but I'm very happy with them - the pics don't show the daily devos, just activity pages.  Fun little devos and activities for each day and some good holy week ideas for families.  They could actually be used with older children as well.

2.  Some fun activities from Oriental Trading.  Ever year I get some little sticker or scratch off activity from OT because I always find a use for them!  This year, I got some bracelets, scratch off lenten count down calendar, stickers, and a palm sunday sticker scene.  The calendars must be out of stock because they aren't coming up anymore.  But there are a LOT of other scratch off/sticker activities that kids love to do.  I also bought fake palm branches to use for Palm Sunday - but we will be in person or outside by then, so I am not including those in their goodie bags.

3. Alleluia Butterflies!  Illustrated ministries makes these and we did an activity with them years ago that was really fun!  I decided to include 3-4 in each bag this year, and include the idea of "burying" them and then "releasing them" on Easter! 

4.  Legos and a cross:  I found an idea at this site years ago and we did it in our prayer stations that year. I altered it for them to do it at home this year and bought the cheap legos from Target (dollar bins) and/or the Dollar tree.  For the younger kids, I went ahead and assembled a cross that they can build on.  I included instructions on the prayer in each bag.

5.  Egg decorating kit!  A few weeks after Easter, I always go to the store and buy egg decorating kits that are 75-90% off.  Usually they cost around $.25 :)  So, I had around 25 laying around that I could add to their goodie bag!

6.  Valentine's Day goodies:  Just for fun, since they'll be picking up their bags the beginning of February, I added in a little baggie of some Valentine's day silliness and candy :)  (I also go shopping after Valentine's day and get fun valentines that don't include candy, 75-90% for the next year - so I had tons!)

7.  Lastly, I threw in some personalized items for my older kids in the 4th/5th grade TNT group and a note to all the families talking about what I included and how they can use it.  Our TNT group made a 2021 Word cloud of words that we need to focus on this year.  I framed them and put them in the bag.  

If you are including anything else in your bag, let me know!!  As I mentioned, I am planning on being in person on Palm Sunday and Easter, so these bags are focused more on lent and not Holy week.  I'm praying I get to see my kids on Easter!!!  (even if it's socially distanced and with masks...I'll take it!)

Virtual egg hunt...or any other virtual hunt!

  

Virtual (Egg) Hunt!

After searching online for a while on how to do an egg hunt "virtually" during the coronavirus, I stumbled on this app called Xnote.  Think geocaching meets Pokemon Go :)  You plot out a point (or points) on a map and then add a graphic or message at that point which the "seeker" can find.  Once you finish your point(s), the app gives you a link which you send to the "seeker".  The seeker opens the link in Safari or an app like safari (you must have data and you must give permission for the app to use GPS) and then goes on their treasure hunt!  

I decided it was worth a try so I went ahead and bought it ($3).   I tried it out in my backyard and it worked!  So, I plotted 3 points for a friend and sent it to her - it also worked!  So, I decided what better way to give my church kids an egg hunt then to hide them in their neighborhoods myself!  If I can't do it at the church, I'll do it virtually :) 

A few things to note after working on it for a while...(I contacted the creator and he is working on updating the app, but for now, use the tips below until/if he does).

1.  you have to have an apple device to create the hunt. 

2.  You can not enter an address into the address field.  EDIT - The creator of the app got back to me and did, in fact, update the app.  So, now you CAN enter in an address!! The map hasn't been updated and won't work that way.  HOWEVER, I was still able to find the house/neighborhood that I was looking for by looking on googlemaps (on my laptop) for the house (and looking for landmarks like water/school/etc) and then zooming out on the xnote app, looking for the landmark, and then zooming back in.  It takes a little more time, but totally doable.  

3.  You can make as many "stops" or "points" as you want.  Once you finish your first clue, click "send message".  Then, at the bottom click on "link messages" (see above).  I'm not sure there is a limit as I created a joke scavenger hunt for my own kids and had 15 stops.  

I decided to create an Easter egg hunt that could be used twice - once as just a fun, egg hunt with jokes; and then a second time with Scripture and a journey through Holy Week.  As you see in the pic at the top of this blog, I included in the graphic which stop it was (one of 10) so they knew how many more they had left to find, a joke (without the answer so they could try and figure it out before arriving at the next stop) and a scripture/part of Holy week.  In addition, I decided that in the message, I would include a "talking point" so that the family could answer the question together or whatever it was I asked them to do, while walking to the next point.  Sometimes it was a question, sometime pray together, etc.  There's an example before for clue number 2.

I am putting this egg hunt up on my teachers pay teachers page if you would like to download all my graphics and my discussion questions.  It's free!  

Hopefully this helps you this Easter - and in the future!  There are so many things this could be used for!  Scavenger hunt, treasure hunts, riddles, educational walks, etc.  

Easter Alleluia Butterflies!!

This year I decided to jump on board with a tradition that has evidently been around for a long time...but that I just learned about!  It's called "burying alleluias".  You can click on it to learn more about it.  I thought it was a neat visual for the kids to remind them what Lent represents.  So, at the beginning of Lent, I gave them a piece of paper that had the word "Alleluia" written on it very lightly.  They were to trace the letters and decorate the paper.  I also gave them (and the adults in our contemporary service) the alleluia butterflies that illustrated ministries sold this year.  They were beautiful!    

Once they were all done with their words and their butterflies, we rolled them up and taped them shut.  Then, they put all of their papers on a small parachute that we had. 

I explained what we were doing and when we would open it back up, then I rolled up the parachute and put it away until Easter.  :)

Easter morning, during my children's message, I placed the parachute...or "cocoon" as I then called it, in the middle of our circle.  I reminded them what was inside and why we put it there.  (this pic is from the contemporary service - I also did it in the sanctuary for our traditional service...but it was a smaller space).

Next, I told them that we were going to make our Alleluia butterflies FLY! And as they were flying up in the air, they (and all of the congregation) were to shout Alleluia!  Because Jesus is risen, the tomb is empty and we can, and should, Praise the Lord!

 
We "made them fly" three times and then closed in prayer :)  I let them take a blank alleluia butterfly and crayons back to their seat (as well as an activity booklet they helped me make). 

I was a little nervous doing this because it isn't your normal children's message...but I had many adults come up to me afterwards and say how much they enjoyed it :)  I think adults need an excuse to shout Alleluia just as much as kids ;)

Happy Easter!!

How to run a tear-free, fun Easter Egg hunt!

When I was little - maybe 1st-2nd grade - my mom took me to a city-wide Easter egg hunt.  You know, one of those hunts with 100s of kids and the eggs are thrown on the ground (which, may I interject, is not a HUNT...that's just an Easter Egg Pick Up).  Well, I was extremely shy at that age and when someone yelled go and all the kids raced out to get the eggs, I naturally hung back with my mom.  She encouraged me to run out there and I picked up one egg.  One. Egg.  That had been stepped on.  It was awful!  I was scarred for life! lol  No more Easter Egg hunts for me :)  I left with nothing and we never went back.  I don't get these events.  They aren't designed for younger kids, for shy kids or special needs kids.  They are great for energetic, outgoing and confident kids who aren't afraid of running over someone to get an egg :)  So, needless to say, I've never taken my kids to one.  Instead, I've worked in a church since my oldest was born, so they've always participated in my Easter Egg hunts.  I've organized them for 8 years...this will be my 9th.  My first few hunts I had around 20 kids, at another church I had 100s of kids, and this year I'm expecting around 50.  I've never had a tear shed at one of my hunts and every child - from 1 to 5th grade - has gone home with a basket of eggs.  The secret?  Here are my surefire ways of running a religious, large, multi-age, successful and FUN Easter Egg hunt at your church or wherever...

1.  Prepping:
First you need to estimate how many kids you are going to have. Overestimate.  This year, I'm thinking we'll have around 50 so I'm estimating 75.  Plan on 10 filled eggs for each child.  Since you're over-estimating, they'll probably get more.  Estimate how many in each age group (see #4 below).  Get 3 big boxes/containers - one for each group.  Divide the eggs into grocery bags in groups of 25.  This makes counting verrrry easy.  As you'll read below, I divide the kids into 3 groups.  One reason I do this is because I don't want 2 year olds trampled by 4th graders, but also because I can put age appropriate candy/toys in the eggs.  For the older kids I've put neat little things like tiny fingernail polishes or squinkies (when they were a big deal) and you wouldn't want littles to get those.  And of course, that goes both ways :)

If someone is helping fill the eggs, this also helps with organization.  *one side note, if the youth at the church are helping you fill the eggs, give them a few extra bags of candy just for them to eat...otherwise you'll be short on candy ;) I learned this the hard way! lol  Once you have your eggs, put an extra 1-2 bags (or 25-50 eggs) in each box/container empty.  When you read/tell the story (see number 3) emphasize how the tomb was empty.  Tell them some of the eggs will also be empty!  If they get an empty egg, they get to bring it to the leader of the group (see #4) and they can get something from the "prize box".  This is awesome for 2 reasons - one, you get to use all the donations that were too big for the eggs! and two, your volunteers can do a quick count at the beginning and during the story (number 3) and see if you need any extra or less in a group.  It's easy to take out or add empty eggs!  For example, I'm planning on 75, but expecting 50.  I've put enough eggs for 20 in the youngest group, 30 in the middle group and 20 in the oldest group.  Let's say 30 show up in the prek group and only 15 in the oldest group.  Then, I take some of the empty eggs out of my bin for the oldest group and put them in the youngest group.  Problem solved!

2.  The day of, meet inside at a central location.  Have a few crafts sitting out (something simple, don't go crazy) for those that arrive on time.  Give the stragglers 5-10 minutes to get there.  Face it, these are parents with little kids and there are going to be diaper explosions, tantrums and things forgotten and some families will be a bit late.  Don't hold it against them :)  Give them a chance to get there.

3.  When you are ready to start, this is when you make it religious.  
I avoid Santa Claus in church at Christmas and I never speak of the Easter bunny.  The only reason I do egg hunts is because I can make it a community event and spread some Jesus love to kids that may never have heard of him :)  I do something quick and simple (because you have toddlers up to 5th grade waiting for a sugar high...so don't go nuts here).  I have a book I've used many times that goes through many questions of "what is Easter"? Is Easter about bunnies? NO! Is Easter about eggs? NO! Is Easter about decorating eggs? NO!  you get the point :) The kids enjoy shouting NO! on every page and at the end we finally hear about Jesus and how he died for us.  The whole thing takes maybe 5 minutes but it's very effective.  Another idea is to hide the resurrection eggs around the meeting room and tell everyone to go find one (you'll need enough eggs for everyone...luckily we have 7 sets are our church so we're good :).  Then, go through each egg - not quickly, but don't dawdle either.  Say, "Stand up if you got the YELLOW egg!  What's inside?  That's right!  And that's the part of the story when"...etc.  

telling the story - I scanned in the pages and projected them up on a screen so everyone could see the pics

4.  Give specific instructions.  This is the part where you need to be concise, specific and efficient.  This part will make or break your hunt!  No pressure :)  There are rules to be followed and the kids and parents need to know them.  Make it fun!  Usually, my first instruction is this, "Everyone count to 10" - count up slowly together.  Then tell them - that's how many eggs you will pick up! Once you have gotten 10, sit down wherever you are, and see what's in them!  (cause you know they're dying to anyway).  This gives the other children time to catch up.  Do you think any of the kids get upset by this?  Not. at. all.  In fact, it's wonderful to see the kids sitting down helping the kids still looking - "look under there!" "I saw one over there!"  It's very sweet.  Then instruct them that when everyone is sitting down - the leader will yell GO! again and they can finish the hunt.  Boom.  Everyone has at least 10.  Believe it or not, some kids stop there :) They'd rather see what's inside :)  Instruction number 2, let them all know that there will be 3 groups hunting: toddlers to prek, K-2nd grade and 3rd-5th.  (you could change the groups to fit your church, but I recommend three).  If a parent has a child in two different groups, tell them to just pick one.  Our three groups are in very close proximity to one another, so the older kids could actually go by themselves if they wanted to and the parents could still keep an eye on them. Call them to line up by groups.  Let the first group go, then call the next.  Have a leader (someone noticeable...with a sign or wearing bunny ears :) take them to their spot and yell GO!  Make sure they know their parameters.  Instruction number 3 deserves its own number...

the youngest group hunting in a nice, secure, closed in space :)

trading in their empty eggs for prizes!

Go!!

5.  The "Cry" or "No Tears" Bag - 
Whatever you want to call it, have each leader take one with them. Inside the bag, keep a few extras of all the main items you put in the eggs (maybe little bubbles, chalk, certain special candies, etc). When you are inside, let the parents (and kids) know, that if their child doesn't receive something and has a meltdown (and don't judge...all of our kids have had them...and to have them happen on what should be a happy occasion like this just ruins it) that they can ask their leader if there is an extra in the "no tears bag".  In 8 years I have had to use it once...most kids are happy with what they get.  But the fact that I made that one kid happy when he would've had a meltdown is reason enough for me to do it every year.


Last, but not least, a little tip for next year - put out an empty bin either in a central location or put out 2-3 with a big sign that says, "DON'T WANT YOUR EGGS? DONATE THEM FOR NEXT YEAR!"  You'll have a lot of parents thanking you because they don't want to take them home ;)