Empty Tomb/ Resurrection Idea 

Here is a Science Workshop idea that I am working on for our Easter rotation. This is still in a rough state. But I’m interested in any and all feedback. Thanks.

Rotation: Empty Tomb/Resurrection of Jesus
Objectives:

• That the women found Jesus’ tomb empty. That the stone was moved away not to let Jesus out, but so people could see Jesus had risen from the dead.
• Jesus was alive! Jesus was raised from the dead to give us new life.
• The resurrected Jesus appeared to his followers; first to the women, then to disciples in a locked room.
• The empty tomb and resurrection appearances help us believe in Jesus.

Supplies needed:

• Make a “meter” – a visual device – Probably in shape of a half-circle? At base, attach with a paper brad, an arrow cut from card stock. Label meter with 3 words along arc of circle. “Trick”, “Scientific Fact”, “Miracle”. Arrow can thus move to point to any of these 3 words.
• Supplies for magic trick
• Supplies for science experiment

Science Fact vs. Trick vs. Miracle:
Start off by doing a short simple magic trick.
Show the kids the meter. Ask: Is what I just did a Trick, Scientific Fact, or Miracle? This is a “Trick”. Move the arrow to "Trick".
Say we are going to keep coming back to this meter – to help us see where we are.
Maybe show the magic trick again. Show how it was done. Explain that a magic trick uses “slight of hand”. So on the “meter” is this a Trick, Scientific Fact, Miracle? This is “Trick”.

Show a simple science experiment on optical illusions. What we see can be explained by science. Where is this on meter? “Scientific Fact”. (Move the arrow on your meter.)

Raisins in soda water “experiment” (see below). What’s happening? Is this a Trick, Scientific Fact, Miracle? This is explained by Scientific Fact.

Jesus’ resurrection: a Trick, Scientific Fact, or Miracle?

The tomb was empty on the first Easter morning—we know that the tomb was empty because Jesus had been raised from the dead. Stone was rolled away so first people on the scene could see that tomb was empty.
When Jesus came to them in locked room, disciples at first thought they were seeing a ghost. Even though they could see the resurrected Jesus it was still hard to believe. How did Jesus help them to believe? (Jesus let the disciples touch him and he ate food in their presence)
Jesus was alive! Jesus was raised from the dead to give us new life. The empty tomb and resurrection appearances help us believe in Jesus.

Possible optical illusions science experiments:
“Hole in your hand” http://www.exploratorium.edu/s...d_tube_syllabus.html
“Disappering glass rods” http://www.exploratorium.edu/s...ring_glass_rods.html
“Thread the needle” https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/thread-needle

Note: I’ll probably just use the first one because we will have a shortened workshop time for this rotation (we’re moving kids through both science and cooking).

The raisin thing:
Have some raisins on a plate. They are just laying there- lifeless. But when you add them to soda water, the raisins seem to have “new life”. For scientific explanation: http://reekoscience.com/?s=dancing+raisins

Sin = Food Coloring in Water, "wiped away" by adding bleach...

I used this several years ago with a LARGE clear glass bowl on the communion table, and let about 20 youth who were gathered around add drops of food coloring for anything they wanted to silently confess during Lent - the water was black!

I then began pouring in the bleach, at first it did not change (but I had tried it before and knew it took a LOT of bleach) gradually, in a matter of seconds the water was clear again(a little yellow tint left from the bleach but not enough to matter) I think it probably took a 1-3 cups of bleach. I know that sounds like a lot, but the kids were totally focused and in awe - not a typical occurrence for middle school kids. It was worth it.

Member JMK had shared this link to a resource which also describes this "cleaning" process using bleach to clear away food coloring added to water. JMK said...

I love this illustration of how Salvation from Jesus washes our sin.

From the link provided by JMK, it is noted that for an added demonstration...

you can also add more coloring to the water with bleach in it and it will be clear, because Jesus died for all of our sins

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to add additional info.

Storytelling Eggs

This storytelling idea come from member Heather and was moved here during forum renovation.

Egg # 1 The Donkey
Matthew 21:1-9
The donkey reminds us of Christ's entry into Jerusalem.

Egg # 2 The Cup
Matthew 26:17-19,26-28
The cup reminds us of Jesus' last supper with His disciples before His crucifixion. The reenactment of the Last Supper through the sharing of Communion is our reminder of the price Jesus paid for us – “This cup is my blood, shed for you. Take it in remembrance of me.”

Egg # 3 Praying Hands
Mark 14:32-42
The praying hands remind us of Jesus visiting the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.

Egg # 4 Three Coins
Matthew 26:14-16
The coins remind us of the 30 pieces of silver Judas received for betraying Jesus to the Jewish leaders.

Egg # 5 Soldier
John 19:1-15
The leather reminds us of the whip used to give Jesus 39 lashes after His trial by Pilate.

Egg # 6 Crown of Thorns
Matthew 27:29
The crown of thorns reminds us of the crown that the soldiers placed on Jesus' head while mocking Him, saying " Hail, King of the Jews!"

Egg # 7 Three Nails
John 19:16-22
The three nails remind us of the nails that were used to nail Him to the cross.

Egg # 8 One Die (dice)
John 19:23-25
This one die reminds us of the Roman soldiers gambling for Jesus' robe.

Egg # 9 Spear
John 19:31-37
This spear reminds us of the spear that the Roman soldiers used to cut Jesus' side when He was on the cross.

Egg # 10 Gauze
Matthew 27:57-61
The gauze reminds us of the linen cloth used by Joseph of Arimathea to wrap Jesus' body after He died.

Egg # 11 Stone
Matthew 28:1-2
The stone reminds us of the tomb with the stone rolled away.

Egg # 12 Empty Egg
Matthew 28:5-8
The empty egg reminds us of the empty tomb and Jesus' resurrection from the dead.