Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Materials: large piece of paper, marker, yarn, tape, blindfold
Before the session, draw a donkey on a large piece of paper and tape the paper to the wall in your classroom. As the kids enter the room, give them a piece of yarn with a piece of tape attached to the end. Blindfold each child, one at a time, spin them around several times, and instruct them to place the “tail” on the donkey. Allow each child to participate and see who gets their tail closest to the appropriate spot! Explain that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey in today’s Bible story. Say the Life Point together.
Live It Out
Game – Palm Branch Parade
Materials: palm branches (or other artificial tree branches)
Give each child a palm branch. Take them outdoors or into a space where they will not disturb other classes. Tell the kids they to walk, wave their palm branches, and shout, “Praise God!” “Hosanna!” or “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Allow the kids to do this for several minutes. Ask them how it felt to be able to praise Jesus loudly. Give them time to answer. Remark that people knew Jesus was special because they had seen miracles and heard Him teach. Say the Life Point together.
Craft – Palm Branches of Praise
Materials: green construction paper, scissors, markers
Give each child a piece of construction paper, scissors, and markers. Show the kids a picture of a palm branch. Instruct the kids to draw and cut out their palm branches. Tell them to write the Life Point on one side of the palm branch. On the other side, instruct them to write reasons why they to praise Jesus. Allow several volunteers to share reasons they praise God. Say the Weekly Verse together.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Palm Branch Scavenger Hunt
Materials: green construction paper, scissors
Before the session, draw and cut out small palm branches from green construction paper. On seven of the branches, write the letters M, E, S, S, I, and, H. Hide the palm branches around your room. Inform the kids that you have hidden palm branches throughout the room and that it’s their job to find them all. Give the kids time to locate all of the palm branches. Tell kids to look at their branches. If they have letters, all the kids with letters should get in a group and make a word from the letters. Read the word together and tell the kids they will see how people praised Jesus. Tell the kids the Life Point and say it together.
Live It Out
Game – Cloak Relay
Materials: 2 chairs, two large shirts
Form two teams with the kids and line them up on one side of the room. Set a chair for each team on one side of the room. Give each team a shirt, which represents a cloak. Tell the teams that they will go to the chair one at a time, throw the cloak over it, sit on it, and then grab the cloak and bring it back to the next person in line. The team that has everyone successfully do this process first will win! Explain that the disciples threw their cloaks on top of a donkey before Jesus rode on it; also, people lay their cloaks on the road where Jesus rode.
Craft – Revelation Rocks
Materials: large flat stones, washable paint, paintbrushesGive each child a large flat stone, paint, and a paintbrush. Instruct the kids to paint HOSANNA on their stones. Direct them to decorate their stones in however they choose. Explain that Jesus revealed God’s plan of salvation for everyone on earth. Allow volunteers to show their rocks to the rest of the class. Say the Life Point together.
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