Heart of the Matter Article - Easter Unit Study for Littles

(I must give credit where credit is due -- the BEAUTIFUL girls in the picture below are not mine :-) They are Candace's beautiful girls! She was kind to let me use pictures from when they "rowed" this book last year for their Easter study! Thanks Candace!)

I LOVE Unit Studies! Discovering literature based unit studies has made all the difference in our homeschool . . . in my belief that I can “do” this homeschooling thing, in the fun and memories I am creating with my girls, and in being able to learn right alongside them!

We began our unit study journey with Before Five in a Row, and over the last year have added in an amazing resource, Homeschool Share! As their website states, HSS is an “on-line cooperative effort of several homeschooling moms to provide free but quality literature-based unit studies and resources.”

You may be saying to yourself, “That’s great, Rachel, but why are you telling us all of this?” Well, it is because Easter is approaching, and it is through this site that I found a unit study that I am SO excited about that I just had to share it with all of you!! It is based on The Parable of the Lily by Liz Curtis Higgs, and was written by Candace Crabtree. It is listed under the Level A Unit studies, which means it should be perfect for ages 2-6!

If you have not read this book before, I URGE you to go out and get this book to share with your children! It is one of those books that you can get out every year and your children will just learn more and more about the true love and meaning behind the Easter story. Liz uses scripture verses throughout the book, pulling from both the Old and New Testament, to really paint the picture and point towards the Cross. The Bible verses alone in this story make it an excellent choice for inclusion in your Easter studies, but adding in the rest of the Biblical application lessons listed will really bless your socks off!

Both Candace and Ami Brainerd, the genius behind HSS, have consented to allow us to post some of the lessons from this unit for you to use, and to get a glimpse of what you can find (FOR FREE!) at the site! This story has so many “bunny trails” you can go on and the lessons included at the site include dealing with your emotions, learning about farming, flowers (in particular the lily and its many varieties), seeds and planting. The lessons cover all the major subjects including Social Studies, Language Arts, Math, Science and Art/Music, as well as some “Just for Fun” activities and of course, Biblical Application. This is the area I will focus on for our glimpse into this wonderful unit!

Bible Verses in Story
There are so many wonderful Scriptures that are throughout this book to help tell the story. Perhaps choose one to really focus on with your child this week. For handwriting, you can practice writing the verse. And, this could be your verse to memorize as well!

James 1:17 – “Every perfect gift is from God.”
Matthew 24:44 – “So you also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at a time you don’t expect Him.” Isaiah 53:2d – “There was nothing in his appearance to make us desire him.”
Isaiah 53:2a, b – “HE grew up like a small plant before the Lord. He was like a root growing in a dry land.”
John 3:16 – “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son.”
Isaiah 53:2c – “He had no special beauty or form to make us notice him.”
1 Corinthians 4:5 – “Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light things that are now hidden in darkness.”
Isaiah 61:11 -- "In the same way the Lord God will make grow what is right.”
John 12:24 – “I tell you the truth, a seed must fall to the ground and die. Then it makes many seeds.”
Isaiah 53:3 – “He was hated and rejected by people. People would not even look at him.”
Luke 24:1 – “Very early on the first day of the week, the women came.”
2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful to explain.”
Matthew 6:29 – “But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.”
Matthew 28:8 – “They were afraid, but they were also very happy. They ran to tell…what had happened.” Isaiah 33:17 – “Your eyes will see the king in his beauty.”
Isaiah 53:4 - “But he took our suffering on him and felt our pain for us.”
1 John 4:9 – “This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him.”

Forgiveness
At the end of the story Maggie asks her father for forgiveness. Why does she do this? Can you recall a time you’ve had to ask for forgiveness? What about our heavenly Father…when should we go to Him and say we are sorry? Maggie’s father says that forgiveness is what Easter is all about…discuss this with your child.

Word Study: Lily
Look up verses in the Bible that have the word “lily” in it. Discuss these verses. 1. Luke 12:27 – “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field…how much more will he clothe you?” (oh how our wonderful Father in heaven provides for us!) 2. Song of Solomon 2:1 – “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.” (the lily is used to describe something or someone beautiful!)

Parable of the SowerRead the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 and discuss with your child.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look into The Parable of the Lily, and even if you decide not to do this unit, I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration to find a story that will fit your needs and homeschool! If you are looking for further ideas, HSS also has The Legend of the Easter Egg by Lori Walburg listed under Level B (ages 4-8) Unit Studies!

May your family be blessed this Easter season and be filled with His love, grace and forgiveness, for as the farmer in the story says, it truly “is what Easter is all about!”