Aim

To explore the Palm Sunday narrative.

Lesson

Begin by reviewing what was taught in the previous lesson about the start of Lent. Remind the children that on the first day of Lent, many Christians have the sign of the cross made on their forehead with ashes. Do the children remember how these ashes are made?

Show the children a palm leaf. Inform them that on the Sunday before Easter, palm leaves are given out at church. The leaves remind Christians of the last time Jesus visited the city of Jerusalem before his death.

Share the story with the children. (Mark 11:1-11)

Activity

Following discussion, groups of children could:

• make palm crosses
• write an imaginative piece as one of the crowd
• write about a time when, like the religious leaders, they were jealous of someone else
• plan a welcome ceremony for a royal visitor to school
• find Jerusalem on a map and look at images of the city.