Praise Parade Group
Group Activities

Sermon Title: "Praise Parade"

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40

OPENING CLASS CHALKBOARD FILL IN: "BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD". Luke 19:38 Before class, the teacher will write some of the letters of the Bible verse on the board leaving blanks for children to fill in. The children will try to guess the letters that will complete the Bible verse.

PRAISE PARADE ACROSTIC: The children will complete an acrostic on the word PARADE with a word representing something that we should praise God for. (For example: P=parents; A=adults; R=rain; A=animals; D=doctors; E=electricity.

DONKEY PUPPET: Give each child a brown paper lunch bag to decorate as a donkey. (Click here for a template) Let the donkey puppet tell parts of our Palm Sunday story - or the puppet could answer questions about today's story as others ask questions.

EASTER PALM TREE: Each child will need a strip of brown construction paper which will form the trunk of the tree and one piece of green construction paper. The children will trace their hands on the piece of green construction paper, cut it out, and glue it with the fingers point downward to the tree trunk to form the branches of the palm tree.

TISSUE PAPER CROSS: Tape a piece of contact paper to the table for each child. Provide tissue paper for child to scrunch into tiny wads of paper and stick to the contact paper in the shape of a cross. When finished, the teacher will place another piece of contact paper over the top and then cut the tissue paper into the form of a cross and hang with a string from the top of the cross.

5 W'S: Poster board with the 5 W's for class discussion and filling in the answers during the discussion: Who - (Jesus and followers, etc); What - (Celebration - Passover); Where - (Jerusalem.... on the streets); Why - (Jesus was coming, or to get a donkey, or to celebrate the King); and When - (Shouted Hosanna just before they shouted Crucify Him days later because he wasn't the King they wanted, etc).

"HOSANNA/SAVE NOW" Craft: Have children decorate a small colored bag (purchased very inexpensively in craft sections) with HOSANNA.... SAVE NOW, stickers, etc and place a couple of small musical instruments that were used at the beginning of the lesson (found in birthday sections of the stores - such as the "horn blower/noise makers" or harmonica's, etc). The Bible verse can be printed on the back of the paper bag for children to memorize during the week!

MUSIC IN ACTION: Sing "Hallelu, Hallelu" with hands waving over heads during the "Hallelu" and the music instruments shaking during the "Praise ye the Lord". Another activity that children like on this song is to divide into two groups and when you get to the refrain, have one group stand and sing, "Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah". They sit down as the other group stands and sings "Praise ye the Lord." Continue alternating in this manner until the last "Praise ye the Lord" which all stand and sing together. (Song sheet and mp3 accompaniment is provided below.)

PALM BRANCHES SKIT: Dress a child up as Jesus (towel over head and sandals, etc)while walking on towels etc or something to represent their cloaks. Other children can wave palm branches (found in craft sections, or homemade ones, etc) while "Jesus" walks by and everyone shouting -- HOSANNA! BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. If there is time, others could play the part of Jesus -- this will be a good way for children to learn their Bible verse as well. This might also be a little skit to be used at the beginning of the church worship service!

SNACK IDEAS: Lollipops, cotton candy, ice cream cones, cookies, etc

Song:  "Hallelu, Hallelu " arr. by Charles Kirkpatrick

Words and Music (pdf)

Piano Accompaniment (MP3)