Easter Week: Palm Sunday

Easter week is upon us!  Each day we are going to celebrate Jesus by reading what happened on that day in the Bible, memorizing a key verse, and doing an activity that reinforces the story.  I invite you to join us in our celebration!  Each morning I plan to post what we will be doing that day.  None of the activities take much preparation, just grabbing a few things you most likely have around the house.  Some of the readings are long, and the verses too, so scale it to what you think is appropriate for your child (but I would always encourage you to give them a little more than you think they can handle and let them surprise you at how much they can learn!) So grab your Bible, your preschooler, and let's celebrate Easter!

Friday (Or Saturday or Sunday, I just wanted to keep it in the school week) in preparation for Palm Sunday

Reading: Matthew 21:1-11 (ESV)

¹ Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ²saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once." ⁴This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
    ⁵ "Say to the daughter of Zion,'Behold, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
   and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"

    ⁶The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. ⁷They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. ⁸Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" ¹⁰And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?" ¹¹And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."

Memory Verse: Matthew 21:9 (ESV)


"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

Activity: Making Palm Branches

           

Take a green piece of construction paper or cardstock (or many pieces!) and fold in half, long wise.  Cut out sections to make it look like a palm branch (here is a template if you’d like).  Read verses 6-11 again, this time reenacting the story.  Have your child lay down some palm branches and maybe a couple pieces of clothing.  If you have multiple children, have one “ride” over the branches/clothing and have the other children recite their memory verse.

Happy Easter!