Easter weekend was very busy in our home with thirteen people (only eleven sleeping) here.  We enjoyed the visit from my husband's family, especially seeing the young cousins play together so nicely.  I had fully intended to make resurrection rolls on Saturday after rest time.

It didn't happen.  Nor did it happen on Easter Sunday.  Let me tell you, this was a great thing!

Big Sis does not have preschool on Mondays, so we finally had time to make the resurrection rolls!  It was unrushed.  Honestly, I am glad that we did it as a "wrap up" to Easter.  While Brother and Big Sis were eating lunch, I read to them from the "real" Bible.  There was much to read, and Brother is only three; it worked well reading it while the children were eating.
Resurrection Rolls
1 can refrigerated crecsent rolls* 
8 marshmallows 
4 tablespoons melted butter
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Read John 19 aloud while oven is preheating.  Then prepare crescent rolls by placing them flat on cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper for easy clean up).  Place melted butter and cinnamon and sugar mixture nearby.

Explain to the children that the marshmallow represents Jesus' body.  Dip it in butter and then the cinnamon (all over), and tell the children that his body needed to be prepared for burial.  The people did this with oils (butter) and spices (cinnamon and sugar).  Then the body would be wrapped in linens so that the body was no longer exposed.  (Wrap in the crescent roll.  It will not look like a crescent shape.)  Be sure all seams are very tight.  Place on cookie sheet.

Then bake as directed on the roll's packaging.  The oven can be the tomb of Jesus.  My daughter liked me standing guard by it.

* Update: Generic crescent rolls tend to be smaller than Pillsbury brand.  The size does make a difference.  I recommend using Pillsbury so you can tightly seal the roll around the marshmallow.

 Do not allow the children to watch them bake if you want the results to be a surprise.   Remove from oven and allow to cool out of the children's sight.  As the rolls cool, the marshmallow will shrink and dry a bit like  a hard candy.  It will no longer "look" like a marshmallow.

Give the children their roll, and allow them to open it.  (The above photographed roll had a large hole, but I broke the resurrection roll into two pieces to really show what it looked like within.)  They will immediately want to know where the marshmallow is, if they are like my children.

Discuss (and/or read from the Bible) what happened to the body of Jesus on the third day and enjoy a good snack!

This is my first year making resurrection rolls!  I was finally motivated when I understood just how easy they are.  If you are interested in the science behind resurrection rolls, visit Almost Homeschoolers.  I can't wait to do them again next year (unless I made resurrection cookies).

Just a personal note:  I was rather shocked when we were making our resurrection rolls.  I had been talking and then was interrupted.  My five year old asked, "Mom, what were you going to say?"  It showed me how much interested she had in this project AND how important it is for me to find other object lessons to help her understand our faith.  Then I saw that Adventures in Mommydom had a post about Easter and science and linked to Mad about Jesus which has lots of faith-based science lessons.  I have only glanced at this site, but look forward to checking it out more and thought I would share it with you, too.  If you have any other resources (links, sites, books) that you would like to recommend, please let me know!

Of course I am not the first to share about resurrection rolls, but I wanted to record these thoughts for myself and hopefully motivate you that it is not too late to make resurrection rolls, even if Easter has passed!

If you like these resurrection rolls, you might also be interested in making homemade resurrection eggs with free printable.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}