The King Is Coming
Group Activities

Sermon Title: "The King Is Coming"

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:1-11

PALM PARADE

- Have children march around a large area with their noise blowers, ribbons, palm branches, etc. The excitement will build and then let the children know that they will be doing some excited shouting and waving of palm branches today for our story lesson.

TRIUMPHAL ENTRY RELAY RACE

- Divide into 2 teams or more (unless class is very small and then just have children take turns). Have a cape and a palm branch at the other side of the room. Children will run to put on the cape and grab the palm branch and wave it as they come back to give it to the next team player. THAT player will put on the cape and wave the palm branch to the other side of the room. The next player on the team will run down and do the same as the first player did until everyone on the team has taken a turn.

PALM LEAF NAME BRANCHES

- Give each child a palm branch to cut out and cut "into" the lines to make it look like a green palm branch. With a bright colored marker or a wide black marker, have child write or trace their name in large letters, to take home as a reminder of today's lesson.

PAPER BAG DONKEY

- Give each child a brown paper lunch bag. Children can glue on 2 ears and 2 arms to extend from their bag. A little brown felt or fur could be glued to the top of the bag puppet, as well as cut out or drawn eyes and mouth. Teacher could have a simplified summary of today's story for the children to glue onto the back of their puppet so they can tell others today's story. After class as children are leaving, the teacher could give the children a couple of mini candy treats IN their Donkey bag! (Click here to see a sample.)

HOSANNA GAME

- Divide class into 3 teams. Each team will be given one of the following 3 recitations: "Hosanna to the Son of David"; "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" and "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Each team will say their own 'verse' and then the next will say their's in order. If teacher chooses to allow the children to try to get louder and louder, the children will enjoy saying THEIR 'part' the loudest and the excitement will build! Each team must extend arms over head when they say THEIR part!!!!!

HEARTS or PALM BRANCHES ART

- Give each child 3 hearts or 3 palm branches (teacher's choice) and a large poster to glue these on. Children can then write or glue on typed words to each one of their hearts or palm branches using these three phrases: 1) HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID; 2) BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; 3) HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST HEAVEN. Encourage children to take this home to tell someone the story!

PALM BRANCH SKIT

- Let children play act out the story with one person being a donkey, one can be Jesus and many can put down cloth for capes, palm branches, etc. If the group is larger, children can be one who goes to get the donkey, or pulls the donkey, and another can be the narrator. ALL the children can say the 3 phrases - HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST HEAVEN!!!

HOSANNA PUZZLE

- Give each child a green palm branch picture that has "HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST or BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD" written on the puzzle and CUT into several pieces. Let each child put their puzzle pieces together and when they have completed putting the pieces together they will SHOUT OUT what their puzzle says!

Song: "Hallelu, Hallelu"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Piano accompaniment Track (right click to save to your computer)

This song is in the public domain and may be freely downloaded and reproduced for religious or educational use by churches, schools, home schoolers, and other non-profit organizations.

Song: "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Piano accompaniment Track (right click to save to your computer)

This song is in the public domain and may be freely downloaded and reproduced for religious or educational use by churches, schools, home schoolers, and other non-profit organizations.