Awesome Palm Sunday Activities for Kids and Families

With everything going on in our world today, we have to prepare for Easter differently than we normally would. To help you do just that, we’ve compiled some Palm Sunday activities that you can use in your online lessons or share with the families you serve for at-home fun.

Let’s help kids prepare for the Easter story with these Palm Sunday crafts!

Donkey Crafts

What better way is there to celebrate Palm Sunday than with a donkey representing Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem?

1. For a bit of messy fun, make handprint and footprint donkey paintings.
2. A cleaner option could be making this paper bag puppet that kids can color.
3. Kids will love creating this easy clothespin donkey standing on foam palm leaves.
4. These donkey paper plates are perfect for a cute and simple decoration.
5. Or create a 3D paper bag donkey.

Palm Sunday Flower Pot Craft

Kids and parents will also love these adorable Palm Sunday Flower Pots (Excerpted from the free HeartShaper Holiday Helps).

Materials

Instructions

1. Paint the cups and craft sticks gray or brown (the color of a donkey’s coat and legs). Paint the bottom of the small cup white (like a donkey’s snout). Paint black “hooves” at the ends of four of the craft stick “legs.” The large craft stick will be used for the donkey’s neck.
2. Use wiggly eyes, markers, and construction paper to transform the small cup into a donkey’s head. Draw nostrils on the cup’s bottom. Glue wiggly eyes on the sides of the cup (near the top rim). Cut two triangles “ears” from construction paper and attach them inside the rim of the cup. On the opposite side of the cup (across from the eyes and ears), cut a slit slightly wider than a large craft stick. Push the neck craft stick up through the slit so that it holds the head.
3. Tape or glue the “leg” craft sticks to the bottom of the 8 oz. cup, as illustrated. For added fun, cut and tie together several strands of yarn to make a yarn “tail.” Cut a small hole in the back of the cup and slip one strand of yarn through the hole. Tie the yarn to secure the tail to the back of the cup. Put a few small stones in the bottom of the cup. Add soil and seeds. Then push the free end of the neck stick down into the soil. Water the soil regularly. Watch for the plants to grow. Thank God for the life He gives. Praise Jesus because He came to give you life.

Palm Branch Crafts

Palm branches are another great reminder of the people greeting and celebrating Jesus! So, use these crafts to help kids learn about this celebration!

1. Kids will love making one of these simple and easy palm branches.
2. Or try making these handprint branch wavers.
3. These origami palm fronds can be made with just paper, scissors, and a stapler.
4. Create this beautiful cross by folding palm branches.
5. Have kids cut out these fun palm leaves.
6. Try making theses paper palm crosses.
7. Kids will also enjoy making these palm frond collages.

Rock Crafts

Using rocks is also a great way to represent Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem (check out Luke 19:40).

1. Kids will love this cute concert of rocks crying out “Hosanna”.
2. Or try this smaller version with just one pet rock.

Palm Sunday Activities

These games and activities are also great for creating some Palm Sunday fun. Check them out!

1. Kids will have fun putting together this road map to Easter, and it’s a great way to teach or remind them about the events of Holy Week.
2. Try a game of “Pin the Tail” with a purchased or printed donkey. Or try it with one of the donkey crafts listed above.
3. Or use this short elephant toothpaste object lesson to remind kids of Jesus’ response to the Pharisees.

Palm-Branch Pass Game

Another fun game to try is “Palm-Branch Pass”. (Excerpted and adapted from Big Book of Bible Games.)

Materials

Prepare the Game

1. Set the chairs in lines of four to eight, creating at least two lines of chairs as shown in the sketch. Trim off any sharp twigs from branches.

Lead the Game

1. Group students into teams of four to eight. Assign each team a line of chairs. Students sit on chairs.
2. Give a branch to the student sitting in the first chair on each team. At your signal, the student passes the branch down the row. When the branch reaches the last student in the row, he or she carries the branch and runs to the first chair in the row. While the student is running, all the other team members move down one chair, leaving the first chair empty for the running student to sit on. After he or she is seated, the student passes branch to the next student and the branch is passed down the row again. This process is continued until all students have returned to their original chairs.
3. A volunteer from the first team to finish the relay answers one of the questions below. Mix up teams and the play game again if time allows.

Options

1. If possible, use palm branches (available at flower shops).
2. If you cannot get a branch from a tree or bush, cut a palm branch out of green paper.
3. If there is not an even number of players, play the relay along with the students.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some of the reasons we want to praise Jesus? (He is God’s Son. He was willing to die on the cross to pay the punishment for all people’s sins. He rose from the dead. He loves us all. He taught us the best way to live.)
2. What are some ways we can praise Jesus? (Sing songs to Him. When we pray, tell Him why we love Him or what we are thankful for. Tell others how wonderful He is.)
3. What is your favorite way to praise Jesus? Volunteers respond.

Plate Toss Game

Finally, kids will love this easy and fun “Plate Toss Game”. (Excerpted and adapted from Big Book of Bible Games.)

Materials

Prepare the Game

1. Print the letters from the sentence “Jesus is alive,” printing one letter on each paper plate. Make one set for every 12 students. Use a different color marker each time you print the sentence.

Lead the Game

1. Divide your class into teams of no more than 12 and have each team lines up single file at one side of the playing area. Give each student a paper plate written in his or her team’s color. (Some students may have more than one paper plate.)
2. Students take turns throwing the paper plates like Frisbees. Then, at your signal, the first student in each line runs to collect one of his or her team’s paper plates. The next students in line repeat the process.
3. When all of the paper plates have been collected, teams put them in order to read “Jesus is alive.”

Options

1. If you have a smaller playing area, challenge students to skip or hop (or another way of movement) to collect the plates and return to line.
2. Students retrieve the plates in order. The first team to complete the sentence gives an example of how we know Jesus is alive.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some other ways to complete the sentence “Jesus is…”?
2. What are some ways we can show Jesus we are thankful for the wonderful news that He died to take the punishment for our sins and that He is alive today?
3. How does your family celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at Easter time?

Easter is a time for remembrance and celebration of our Risen King. So, help kids do just that with these fun, free crafts and activities!

The Easter Storybook

The Easter Storybook focuses on the journey of Jesus’ whole life leading to the joy of Easter morning. Every story will give children a glimpse into Jesus’ identity—as Teacher, Good Shepherd, Savior, and King—making this a rich book to read throughout the year.

The Easter Storybook explains who Jesus is, what He did, and why His death and resurrection matter, in a simple way that children ages 4–8 can understand and remember.