Of all the holidays that we have on the calendar, Easter has got to be the most symbolic and meaningful, event of the year.  Here in Quebec, we have the choice of providing instruction for religion or morals, although, I think that both walk hand-in-hand!  Holy week is celebrated by most Catholics, whether you are a practicing Catholic, or not!

I started looking for crafts and activities for Easter, which then took me on a trip to other related curriculum ideas like art and calligraphy! Check out these lessons for calligraphy! And flowers! Easter means the arrival of spring flowers especially Lillies! Which easily can become a unit study on the types of flowers, the parts of flowers and their environment...This [pdf] will be great to use when you decide to plant your Fall bulbs!

Have you ever heard of Chalk Sunday? This day is celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent. Unmarried people are marked with chalk as they enter the church. Traditionally, Catholics were not allowed to marry during Lent, so they had to wait until after Easter. Marking them with chalk is a way of teasing them for not being married. Which makes you wonder... how's chalk made? Make your own sidewalk chalk with this recipe! Have you ever heard of the story about the Atheist and the dropped chalk?

I really enjoyed reading this next [pdf] simply called, 'Easter Egg', describing the history of the egg and its symbolic meaning! And why we decorate eggs! If you are looking for great book titles, songs, math activities, arts and crafts, check out this site! Every culture has a different tradition when it comes to the reasons they decorate eggs. Did you know that the Japanese decorate the eggs like children? The Ukrainian's pysanka and Russian eggs like jewels! A great site for decorating eggs is 'Decorate Easter Eggs with Nana'!

Speaking of eggs?! There are so many things we can learn from eggs! Check out these fabulous resources and experiments...Iowa Egg Council, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Golden Egg Farms, Food Timeline and Education World's 'Why all the Eggs-citement about Eggs?'

Just some quick links for those of you who are opting out of religion, and teaching morals instead:

• Elementary Sexual Health Manual
• Morality Links
• Inventing the Future
• Morals Education Lessons and Links @ LearnQuebec (insert 'morals' in search bar!)
• The Mascot Dilemma - Pride or Prejudice?
• The Coin and the Fable
• Stories to Grow By with Whootie the Owl
• Aesop's Fables
• Everything Old is New Again!
• For the Greater Good
• Where Monsters Can Grow