RE – Why do Christians put a cross in an Easter garden?

The children in Reception have been learning about Christianity. The children thought about the question – Why do Christians put a cross in an Easter garden? Mrs Clark read the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff and the children discussed the need for the goats to cross the bridge to get safely to the other side for food. They talked about bridges and different reasons/situations when a bridge might be needed. The children used the bench as a bridge and re-enacted the story. The children then listened to a story called The Monkey King which is a story from the Buddhist religion. They discussed the story talking about whether it was a good or bad story, sad or happy and how the king was a bridge. They then all retold the story as a group. The children saw pictures of a cross and made the shape using their bodies. They heard a letter from Tom and Tessa who told them that crosses are important to Christians. The vicar told them that a cross is a bit like a bridge because Jesus is their friend who helps them to get to a better place. The children had the opportunity to colour in a cross. Together they looked at the Easter story, when Jesus died and when he came back to life; they learned about why the cross is so important to Christians and what it symbolises.
They tried some yummy hot cross buns, looking at the pattern of the cross on the top and why they thought these were eaten at Easter. they also made their own Easter garden, the children found their own resources in the garden to create it; the children wanted to add three crosses on the hill like in the story, as well as a cave, hill and people! Great work Kingfishers