3. Craft:Â Praise Castanets
Supplies: 1½x8-inch strips of cardboard, 2 soda caps per child, glue, markers
Give each child a strip of cardboard. Encourage kids to decorate one side of the cardboard using markers. Help kids each fold the strip in half and then glue the soda caps inside (top side down), one inch from the ends of the cardboard strip. Allow a short drying time. Show children how to hold the folded cardboard between their thumb and forefinger to tap the caps together, then release it and repeat. As they play their castanets, have them sing this praise song to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”
Sing:
Jesus is the king.
Jesus is the king.
We praise him with our song today.
Jesus is the king!
Ask:
• How did the people in today’s lesson praise Jesus?
• Why do you think it’s important to sing praises to Jesus?
• How can we show Jesus that he is our king?
Say: The people in today’s story rejoiced when Jesus came to their town. They were happy to see him. We show other people that Jesus is king when we worship him, give him our love, and tell others about him.
4. Prayer:Â Praise You, Lord
Supplies:Â masking tape
Create a “road” with masking tape on the floor.
Have kids join you in singing this prayer to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” Encourage children to walk down the road as they sing a prayer of praise to their Lord Jesus.
Sing:
Praise, praise, praise you, Lord.
How wonderful you are!
And we want to give you praise.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
5. Snack:Â Crunchy Path
Supplies:Â graham crackers, green-colored vanilla icing, round chocolate candies, teddy bear crackers, plastic knives
Encourage kids to wash their hands before they prepare their snacks, and make sure the snack area is clean. Have them each use a graham cracker to make a section of the road that Jesus and the donkey traveled. Have them spread icing on graham crackers, then place the graham crackers in a row on the table, as bricks on the road. Have children make a crowd by lining both sides of the road with teddy-bear crackers. Then have them drop the round chocolate candies along the path as the donkey’s footsteps.
Invite someone to say a prayer thanking Jesus for being our king. Then let kids eat the goodies they’ve made!
6. Song:Â Â Royal Road
Supplies:Â masking tape, broom
Make a masking tape road on the floor. Provide a broom for the children to turn upside-down and take turns riding as if it were a donkey.
Teach children the song “Jesus Came” to the tune of “Yankee Doodle.” Then let kids take turns riding on the “donkey” up one side of the road and down the other. Encourage the other children to follow behind and sing the song while marching and clapping. When everyone has had a turn riding the donkey, have the group sit in a circle.
Sing:
Jesus came into the town
A-riding on a donkey.
Clap and sing and shout and praise
To Jesus who sure loves us!
Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
Jesus is our king!
Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
Jesus is our king!
Say:Â It’s fun to sing songs to Jesus. Jesus is the greatest king in the whole world, and we can give him our praises.
***
If you liked these activates and want more, check out The Humongous Book of Preschool Ideas for Children’s Ministry. Just pick a Bible passage, flip to that section of the book…and discover games, crafts, Scripture, and finger plays to create a lively lesson, or boost an existing lesson. And if you follow the link above, you can get a free sample chapter.
What do you have planned for Palm Sunday? Let us know using the comment section below!
