Palm Sunday: Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1 11; Mark 11:1 11; Luke 19:28 38 Week 2. REMEMBER VERSE Jesus is not here! He has risen!

Transcription

1 Palm Sunday: Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1 11; Mark 11:1 11; Luke 19:28 38 Week 2 REMEMBER VERSE Jesus is not here! He has risen! Luke 24:6 Ponder Point: Jesus Is King SERVICE SCHEDULE Opening Activity Stations minutes Explore Welcome & Engage 5 10 minutes Discover Large Group minutes Small Group Respond Review/Bless/Connect minutes The people of Israel were crying out for a king. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem the people celebrated while they shouted, Hosanna, Hosanna! This cry was a cry for salvation. It was a plea to be rescued. Jesus rode into the city as a King who was coming to rescue His people. He came not as a political savior, but as the One who redeems us from our sin. 1

2 Lesson Overview: Matthew 21:1 11; Mark 11:1 11; Luke 19:28 38 Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare min. EXPLORE Welcome & Engage Exploration stations create space intended to transition children to lead them from the external world into an environment where they can commune with God, just as they are with all that they are. Activity 1: Decorated Palm Branches palm branch template heavy white card stock (1 per child) or (1 per small group/draw palm branch template on ½ sheet of poster board) Tissue paper or crepe paper (green) Glue sticks DISCOVER Large Group min. Facilitate interactive games, songs, and large muscle activities, allowing children to participate in discovering God s Word. Worship songs The Big God Story (Optional) Hamilton the Hedgehog (Optional prop: Donkey) Mail Time/Remember Verse Large muscle activity RESPOND: Review/ Bless/Connect min. Storytelling, discussion and interaction with others, and a time to respond to God in worship through creative expression. Bless the children that they may experience God fully and be a blessing to others. Snack/Big God Story Review/Blessing Connect: Activity 1: Here Comes Jesus Path Green and brown paper or use provided template pieces of cloth to represent coats leaf stickers or palm leaf cut outs glue Hamilton s Box of Fun This is a recurring activity that can be utilized at the end of the service until parents arrive for pick up. Activity 2: Palm Leaf Jump Green foam sheets to represent palm leaves Hamilton s Box of Fun: Family First Parent Resource 2

3 Activity Stations: min. Clean up: A CD with clean up music will be played. At this time, please encourage and assist the kids with clean up. Once the kids are finished, please guide them to their color blanket or Explore table. Explore: 5-10 min. Activity 1: Decorated Palm Branches palm branch template heavy white card stock (1 per child) or (1 per small group/draw palm branch template on ½ sheet of poster board) Tissue paper or crepe paper (green) Glue sticks PREPARE Photocopy palm branch template onto the white card stock paper or draw large palm branch on ½ sheet of poster board. Cut up square pieces of tissue paper or crepe paper. SET UP Place the palm branches at each child s place setting (or do as a group). Set the tissue paper on the table. ENGAGE Hello, friends. What do you see on the table? Interact with children and their responses. Today you ll have the chance to decorate something special. Do you know what this is? Allow children to respond. This is a palm branch. Today in The Big God Story we re going to hear how this branch was used. But first we need to cover the leaf with the green tissue paper. Let kids use glue sticks to cover the palm leaf with green paper. Move to Large Group: Be sure to model for the kid s large group behavior. Please participate in all aspects of today s large group time Large Group Discover: min. Children move into a large group setting and participate in reciting God s Word, corporate worship, and large muscle activities. Ponder Point Jesus Is King Week 2 3

4 Hi, kids! Welcome! I am so excited to be here with you today. Let s all celebrate God by singing and dancing together! (Play the wiggles song or another intro song as kids join you in large group.) Wow! That was great! Now, everyone, take a seat Let s go over today s rules so we can have fun and be safe as we celebrate God! Be kind and be safe! Here is our special line, the teacher stays on this side of the line and the kids stay on that side of the line. Jesus made our hands to be kind to our friends, show me your hands (have kids wave their hands). Remember we can use our hands to clap and have fun, but never to hit or hurt our friends. Show me your feet (have kids stomp their feet). We can use our feet to dance and have fun, but we never use our feet to kick or hurt our friends or our church. Another way we can be kind is when teacher is speaking, you are listening. Show me your ears (have kids wiggle their ears). We can listen with our ears and zip our lips when I m talking. Add any other rules that specifically work for your room. Preschoolers do better when they know their expectations. Do you know who else likes to be a part of The Big God Story? That s right! Hamilton the Hedgehog! Shall we call him and ask him to join us? (The children will answer.) On the count of three, let s call him together. Are you ready? One, two, three. Hamilton, where are you? (Encourage kids to call for Hamilton.) Hmm I wonder what he is doing. Let s try again. Hamilton, where are you? ( walk the puppet out of his house.) Hamilton s Prop (Optional): Donkey Hi, Hamilton! Hamilton, what do you have? (Have Hamilton whisper in the Storyteller s ear.) Interact with Hamilton about the item brought with him today (donkey). Use Hamilton to transition to Mail Time. He can help you get the mail, or he could choose a volunteer to help retrieve the mail. Mail Time: Hamilton the Hedgehog Hamilton the Hedgehog is a fun puppet that you can use during your large group discover time. You may choose to use Hamilton to introduce the morning s activities or perhaps get the mail (Remember Verse). Every week there may be an optional prop you may choose to have Hamilton use to introduce the children to today s Bible story (which will be told later during small group). It s always good to use Hamilton to help settle the kids. You can tell the kids, Hamilton is very shy so everyone needs to be quiet and listen so he will come out of his house. You may have a façade that is part of your stage/teaching area that would include a home for Hamilton. However, if this is not an option and children see you with the puppet on your hand, just interact with both Hamilton and the children. That interaction will help kids to see the puppeteer and puppet as separate characters. You don t need to give Hamilton a voice, simply ask Hamilton questions and he can nod yes or no. Each week children will receive mail in the mailbox placed in the large group area of your classroom. Written on the mail is the month s Remember Verse from the Bible. It s important for children to associate the message written on the mail as words from the Bible, so be sure to have a Bible visible for reference. 4

5 Remember Verse Bible (your personal or a children s Bible) Mailbox SET UP Place today s Remember Verse inside of the mailbox. You can also use Hamilton to retrieve your mail for the morning. March 19-20, 2016 Remember Verse Motions Jesus: Put finger of one hand into the palm of the other hand, repeat on other hand. is not here: Shake head to indicate no. He has risen: Raise both arms high to the sky. Luke 24:6 ENGAGE Use this time to get excited and enthusiastic about sharing God s Word with your group of kids. Make a big deal out of going to the mailbox to open the mail and retrieve the Remember Verse. Make sure to tell the kids that this Remember Verse comes from the Bible. Realize children may not totally understand the meaning of this scripture, but they are beginning the practice of hiding God s Word in their hearts. Now, lead the large group in reciting the Remember Verse several times together using a variety of engaging methods (motions, high voice, low voice, squeaky voice). You might want to ask your group to stand up. Using the hand motions (above in the text box), go over the verse two or three times with the kids. Get excited! Treat this as a celebration an exciting time of introducing your children to God s Word. Applaud them for a job well done! The Big God Story (Optional): The following supplies will be provided if your class will be doing a large group story time. Palm Sunday: Triumphal Entry Week 2 Matthew 21:1 11; Mark 11:1 11; Luke 19:28 38 toy donkey fabric or large overcoat to act as a cloak 1 palm branch per child *USE FOR STORY PREPARE Gather supplies. (OPTIONAL): Use real palm leaves or cut 12-inch strips of green craft foam to be used as palm branches in the storytelling/respond section. I think we are ready to ask God to help us learn today. (Lead the kids in a Prayer of Release as you prepare to hear God s Word.) Prayer of Release A Prayer of Release is a prayer asking God to remove any distractions that would get in the way of hearing from and responding to Him. As we pray, we dedicate this time to the Lord and quiet ourselves, so that we might hear specifically from Him. In this way, we are consciously laying aside our worries, successes, and requests for the moment. We ask to be filled with knowledge and understanding from Him, giving God His rightful role as teacher. Give the kids a few seconds, as it feels appropriate, of silence. (A few seconds of quiet can also help settle your group.) 5

6 One day Jesus was walking with two of His friends. He asked them to go and find a donkey in the town. (Show the toy donkey.) What kind of sound does a donkey make? (Let children respond; interact with their responses.) A donkey says, Hee-haw, hee-haw. Let s make that sound together. Good job! Jesus told His friends that if anyone asked why they were taking the donkey, they should tell them, The Lord needs it. Can you say that with me? On the count of three let s say, The Lord needs it. One, two, three. The Lord needs it. Good job! Well, the disciples did what Jesus asked. They found a donkey and untied him. Some of the men in town asked, Why are you taking that donkey? What do you think the disciples told the men? (Children will answer.) That s right, they said, The Lord needs it. The disciples brought Jesus the donkey and placed a coat on its back. (Show coat.) Jesus got on the donkey and started riding into Jerusalem. Many of the people were excited that Jesus was coming into town. They put their coats and palm branches on the ground in front of Jesus and the donkey. (Lay coat in front of the children.) The people didn t just lay coats in the road. The people also placed palm branches on the ground in front of Jesus. Let s pretend we are just like the people in our story today. (OPTIONAL: Have a volunteer pass out the palm leaves to each child.) Everyone is going to get a palm branch. (Instruct kids how to handle, not hurting anyone with their palm branch.) When you get your palm branch, hold it tightly in your hand. Let s lay our palm branches on the ground just like the people did for Jesus. (Have kids lay their palm leaves in front of themselves.) The people were so excited to see Jesus that they began to shout praises to Him. (Have kids pick up their branches.) They shouted the word Hosanna. Can you say that word with me? Hosanna. Now let s shout it. Hosanna! Wow, great job! This word was telling God that they needed a king who could save them. Do you know who that King is? It s Jesus. Guess what? Jesus is our King too! That makes me so excited! I want to shout Hosanna! again. Let s all shout it out one more time. Hosanna! Now let s shout Jesus is King! (Wait for kids to repeat after you.) Worship Songs: Choose one or two worship songs to sing during large group. Large Muscle Activity: Choose a large muscle activity for your classroom. Some hints for introducing the large group activity: Have everyone sit down and get ready to listen to the rules of the activity. (Try whispering as you sit down to help kids concentrate.) Before you have kids start the activity, explain and model what the kids are to do for the activity. Show the item you will be using (scarves, bean bags, etc.) Keep kids sitting while you pass out item, as they get the item (scarf, etc.) they can stand up. Start activity. When you are finished with the activity, have kids sit down again and collect items. (This will help with kids crowding and running into each other.) Following are suggestions for large group activities either in your classroom or in a large group programming area. 6

7 March 19-20, 2016 Scarves: Give each child a scarf and let them wave it to the music or a game of Slow and Fast (found on Rhythms on Parade by Hap Palmer). A few other fun songs from Hap Palmer: Rock and Roll Freeze Dance, Jack in the Box (kids pretend to be a different animal as they jump out of the jack in the box.) Paint the walls: Preschoolers love to paint! Give kids a paintbrush and some imaginary paint and they love to paint or clean the walls. Use sponge or large paint brushes, use a couple of buckets (no water or paint necessary) and tell the kids that they can paint or clean the walls anywhere they want to in the large group area. Parachute: A variety of items can go on your parachute (often to match your curriculum). Dismiss the kids to their groups/rooms for Small Group Respond. Small Group Respond: min. Snack/Bible Story Review Questions (per small group) The Big God Story Review Pages Hand Sanitizer, Graham crackers Settle your kids back on the small group blanket; use hand sanitizer and pass out crackers. Say a prayer of thanks before eating. Read the Review Pages provided in your small group bin. When Reviewing the Story: While using the Review pages, discuss what happened in the story with your group. Look at the pages and point out a few key sentences. Get your kids talking, too! Ask questions while you look at the pictures. Discuss the following questions with the children. Questions are meant to prompt further conversation about what children have been experiencing. They also invite children to ponder this truth and dwell with the wonder of God. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem the people celebrated while they shouted, Hosanna, Hosanna! Jesus rode into the city as a King who was coming to rescue His people. He came not as a political savior, but as the One who redeems us from our sin. Bless: What did Jesus tell His disciples to get for Him? When Jesus was riding on the donkey, were people angry or happy to see Jesus? Did the people wave flowers or palm leaves in front of Jesus? What did the people shout? Open a Bible and use the provided Blessing Card: Children, may you always know that that Jesus is King every day and every night. The Lord is King forever and ever. Psalm 10:16a 7

8 Connect: Activity 1: Here Comes Jesus Path Green and brown paper or use provided template pieces of cloth to represent coats leaf stickers or palm leaf cut outs glue PREPARE If you are not using the provided template, cut out a brown strip for road. You may want to pre-glue brown paper (road) on green paper or allow kids to glue before they start project. ENGAGE When Jesus came into town on a donkey, the people were so excited to see Jesus that they began to shout praises to Him. They shouted the word Hosanna. We are going to make a road just like Jesus would have walked on. Give each child a template and help them glue a couple of cloth pieces to represent coats and a few leaf stickers or palm leaf cut outs. Kids can take their picture home to re-tell the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem. Activity 2: Palm Leaf Jump Green foam sheets to represent palm leaves ENGAGE Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem one day to go to the temple. Crowds filled the street. They were so excited to see Jesus! Let s have some fun pretending we are walking on palm leaves. Spread the palm leaves on the floor. First have the leaves close together and see if the kids can step on them without touching the carpet. Next, space them further apart and see if they can land on the palm leaves. Or try having them jump from leaf to leaf. This is a large muscle activity for kids to get their energy out while remembering the story. 8

9 Ongoing Connect Option Hamilton s Box of Fun Hamilton s Box of Fun This is a fun resource to encourage the kids to interact with each other by sharing toys and using their imagination with different objects. This activity can be utilized at the end of the service until parents arrive for pick up. Please return these special activities to Hamilton s Box when you are finished for the day. coloring page (this will match the day s Bible story) miscellaneous activities special books (open the flap books, or music books) SET UP Put a variety of fun objects/toys in the box. Hide the box or basket somewhere in the room. Please do not allow kids to return to playing with ALL of the toys. As parents arrive to pick up their children, be sure to greet each one and share an encouraging word about your day. The adult in the younger preschool room must match security tags. Our policy is NO TAG NO KID! If someone has lost their tag, they need to go to Guest Central to get issued a new tag. No exceptions! Remember Verse Motions Jesus: Put finger of one hand into the palm of the other hand, repeat on other hand. is not here: Shake head to indicate no. He has risen: Raise both arms high to the sky. Luke 24:6 Family First Look Cards Be sure to hand out this week s Family First Look to the parents as they pick up their child. This resource will help parents review this week s lesson with their child and look ahead to next week s lesson. It also has this week s Blessing and the current Remember Verse their kids are learning. 9