The Thinking Garden

The great thing about making this miniature Easter garden is that it can be done with just one child at home or with groups in church or school, and adjusted to appeal to a wide age range.

The idea is to create the garden of Gethsemane on a plate or tray, or growing in a plant pot. You could also include the tomb in which Jesus lay  after crucifixion, though for very young children it might be clearer to concentrate on just one element of the story.

The template for the garden is open to interpretation, but here are the basics:

You will need:

An old dinner plate or tea tray
If you use a shallow planter you will also need compost and growing plants.
Moss for the grass
Small stones for rocks
Twigs for trees (red/deep pink and white blossom would be ideal to signify bloodshed and new life)
Wooden lollipop sticks for Crosses
A small plant pot for the tomb and bottle top or stone to roll away from the entrance.
Flower heads - taken with permission!
Coloured paper petals or flowers
Pipe cleaners to make people
Oasis or plasticine to secure twigs etc

Remember. for growing gardens choose plants suitable for confined spaces.

How to use your garden resource:

Creating the garden together provides wonderful opportunities to bring to life the Easter story, and to open up chances for discussion about Jesus' last days; about his feelings towards his friends and his Father; about his knowledge and emotions of what was ahead of him; and about his obedience and faith in God's will.

You could also explore the actions, motives and lives of Jesus' disciples, the soldiers, and the public who called for his crucifixion.

And you can reflect on the stark contrast between the harmony of nature in the garden, and the turmoil of the human dramas played out within it.

Ask your group to write words on the petals or flowers that reflect the discussions you have had, to write the names of friends who they would like Jesus to meet with, then add them to the garden.

Check out website www.oxford.anglican.org/children or www.oxford.anglican.org/easter for more Easter resource ideas and links to other useful websites.