Spreading Hope
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
by Patricia Huey
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Do you ever wonder why April feels so appealing—so hopeful? Looking out my window at the snow-covered mountains, I notice that this morning’s fresh snow around our house has nearly melted. A robin perches on the porch railing, and while walking my dog earlier, I caught a whiff of something floral in the air. The winter air is transitioning into springtime. Winter’s dullness is transforming into new life as the days grow longer. Soon, April will be filled with color, freshness, and light for all of us to enjoy. Its vibrancy reignites our hope.
For homeschoolers, April offers endless opportunities. It’s an exciting month for historical studies, traditions like Easter and Passover, travel, and perhaps a live museum. I encourage you to explore the following ideas to incorporate into your homeschool for April.
Historical
While several April historical events are worth researching, I will list a few that continue to give hope.
George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789. His perseverance and determination inspired hope among the thirteen colonies as they achieved independence from England.
The Library of Congress, founded in April 1800, is our country’s oldest cultural institution. It houses vital documents that can be accessed and researched. Many of these documents shaped our country's future.
The Pony Express began in April 1860 and gave hope to Americans for rapid communication.
Paul Revere’s famous ride on April 18, 1775, from Charlestown to Lexington shows his desire for freedom, and his goal of freedom gave hope to the Patriots.
Activities:
Washington’s First Inaugural Speech
Download a high-resolution copy of George Washington’s First Inaugural Speech
Ask your kids to read Washington’s First Inaugural Speech or have them listen to the speech.
Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOmECtxjO7E to listen to the speech
Go to https://quizlet.com/152553800/questions-on-george-washingtons-first-inaugural-address-thanksgiving-proclamation-flash-cards/ for questions after reading or listening to the speech.
Library of Congress
If you visit the link below, your students will discover both a general and rare collection of classic books in the Library of Congress. Some of these books are still enjoyed by children today. Have your students visit the Library of Congress at https://archivesfoundation.org/documents/george-washington-first-inaugural-address-1789/
The Pony Express
This link will explain how kids and students of the past received mail. https://homeschoolgiveaways.com/free-printables-and-unit-studies-about-the-pony-express/
Ask your students to draw a Pony Express rider on a horse.
Ask them to draw a map showing Pony Express routes.
Paul Revere’s Ride
Watch this video with your kids about Paul Revere
Listen to Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Ask your students to draw a map of Paul Revere’s ride.
Traditions
Easter
Easter Sunday (Resurrection Day) falls on April 20, 2025. It is a wonderful day of hope, as Jesus’s resurrection gives us the opportunity to overcome sin and death through Him. We also embrace the promise that God, in His timing, will one day restore our broken world.
Activities:
Read The Easter Story at the links below.
For an animated story of Jesus’s Resurrection for children, view this video:
Resurrection Eggs:
Some people like using Resurrection Eggs to teach children about the Resurrection story. I purchase the eggs at the Dollar Store and include small items to symbolize the story. For ideas and free printables, visit https://biblegamescentral.com/resurrection-eggs/
Children enjoy opening the eggs and discussing what the items represent. And, of course, it’s always fun to hide the eggs for an Easter egg hunt!
For more options for Easter crafts, costumes, small figurines, plastic eggs, and stickers, visit https://www.orientaltrading.com/web/search/searchMain?keyword=empty tomb
Easter Story Stones:
I also like the idea of Easter Story Stones. The stones are a great way to help your children retell the Redemption story. They are fun to play with and are a tremendous witnessing tool!
For a how-to video explaining the Story Stone method as well as free printables, and a story stone mat, visit the following websites:
For the mat and label for story stones go here:
For instructions go here:
Drama:
Write a one-act play about a character from the Easter story, then act it out.
Here are some characters from the Easter story:
Soldier guarding the tomb
Disciple finding the tomb empty
Angel in the tomb talking to disciple
Mary crying outside the empty tomb
Roman soldier at the foot of the cross viewing events
Ask your students to include the following:
What were they thinking?
How did they feel?
What did they see?
How were they changed?
Passover
Passover Facts:
This year, Passover begins on April 12 and ends on April 20.
It honors the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Families gather for Seders, which feature symbolic foods and recount the incredible story of the Exodus.
The origins of the Passover Meal can be read in Exodus 12 in the Old Testament of the Bible.
For Christians, the Passover Meal is an important symbol of God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. It reminds us of our deliverance from sin and the start of a new covenant.
Activities:
Read Exodus 12 about the first Passover here.
Then view the story of Moses here.
The Bible Project gives additional information here.
You can print this free Passover Seder Plate color sheet and instruction guide here.
For more details on how to organize a Seder (Passover Meal) visit this website.
Both of the following videos can be found on Amazon and are family-friendly for you to enjoy with your homeschoolers:
The Ten Commandments
The Prince of Egypt
Travel
National Parks Week runs from April 20 to April 28. If you plan to travel during spring break, you might consider visiting the state and national parks in our region. Washington State has several parks to explore. The entrance fee for an entire family to national parks is only $80.00 per year.
To purchase a pass, visit the online store at https://home.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm?os=..&ref=app.
Some of the National and State Parks in our area are as follows:
Mt. Rainier National Park
North Cascades National Park
Olympic National Park
Cape Disappointment State Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park
For more information, visit https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-national-parks-washington-state
Note: While driving to and from your destinations, you and your children might enjoy listening to free classics available on LibriVox.
Living Wax Museum
My homeschoolers loved presenting a “living wax museum” in the spring. They researched a person of interest, wrote a short biography, and either memorized it or wrote it on notecards. Next, they dressed as their researched person would have done.
We invited parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors to visit our “wax museum.” We often used an inkwell and quill placed before each “wax” figure to prompt a “wax figure” to begin speaking. When the quill was placed into the inkwell, the wax figure would start to deliver his or her biography. When the quill was removed, the “wax figure” stopped speaking.
For more information on how to conduct a living wax museum, visit https://growingateachinghome.com/?p=702
In conclusion, April offers a wealth of opportunities for homeschoolers to explore by examining special events in our nation’s history, celebrating traditions such as Easter and Passover, and enjoying trips to various state and national parks.
I wish you all a productive April and a Happy Easter!
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