People Praise Jesus Bible Story Matthew 21:1-11,15-16; Luke 19:28-38 Teacher Challenge Look around at the beauty of the world God created. Look at the people around you, created in His image and for His pleasure. What an amazing, intelligent creator we have! And to think, He Himself entered our world as a human to save us from being separated from Him for all eternity. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people called out in praise, full of hope of salvation from government oppression. But God s plans were to save them from much more than that! What do you need for God to do in your life? In what ways do you express your praise to Jesus? The work Jesus did then is still effective today. He is alive and always interceding for you with the Father. Praise Jesus for who He is. Pray a psalm of praise from the Bible (Psalm 145, for example) as a reminder of just how great our creator is. Teacher s Planning 1. Choose which centers you will provide and the order in which children will participate in them. For tips on schedule planning, see page 9. 2. Plan who will lead each center, making sure to have one adult for approximately every six children. For staffing tips and ideas, see page 12. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide 241
Play to Learn Active Game Center: Find the nkey Bible. 1. Lead children in making donkey sounds ( Hee-haw ). Children will play a game called Find the nkey. When I tap you on the shoulder, it will be your turn to make a donkey sound. 2. Children form a circle and get on all fours. One child volunteers to find the nkey. Volunteer stands in center of the circle with eyes closed. Quietly appoint one child to be the nkey by tapping his or her shoulder. nkey says Hee-haw. Child in center of circle listens, opens eyes and points to the person he or she thinks is the nkey. Repeat with new volunteers and new nkeys as time permits. Talk About The Bible tells about a time when Jesus asked His helpers to find a donkey. In Bible times, people often walked or rode on donkeys to get places. Let s play a game where we have to find the donkey! When Jesus rode on the donkey, people were very happy. They shouted Hosanna! It was like a parade! The Bible says, Sing praises to the Lord. Lord is another name for Jesus. Singing praises shows our love for Jesus. We can tell Jesus we love Him when we pray. Pray briefly, Dear Jesus, we love You! For Younger Children Volunteer stands in center of circle with eyes open. Volunteer points to any child in the circle who responds by saying Hee-haw. For Older Children Children play a game like Marco Polo. Children move around playing area on all fours, saying Hee-haw. Volunteer closes eyes and tries to touch nearest nkey. 242 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide
Play to Learn Art Center: Paper Palms Bible, Preschool Music #1 CD and player, 81/2x11- inch (21.5x28-cm) green construction paper, scissors, Sing Praises word chart (available on Preschool Music #1 CD). 1. Children cut construction paper into wide strips, and then cut fringe along edges of strips to make palm leaves. 2. Lead children to wave branches as you play Sing Praises (track 16 on CD). Talk About In today s Bible story, Jesus rode a donkey into the town of Jerusalem. The people were very happy to see Jesus. They put their coats and palm leaves on the road when they saw Jesus coming. Let s make palm leaves! Anthony, can you say Hosanna!? That is a word people said to welcome Jesus when He came to Jerusalem. Let s all say Hosanna! together. Brianna, what do you do to show you are happy to see your parents when they come home? Hugging our parents and telling them we re happy to see them shows our love for them. Even though we can t hug Jesus, we can show our love to Him. The Bible says, Sing praises to the Lord. Lord is another name for Jesus. When we sing songs about Jesus and how great He is, we show our love for Him. Let s wave our palm branches as we sing praises to Jesus! For Younger Children Cut palm leaves out of white paper. Younger children use markers or crayons to color leaves. For Older Children Children form two lines as if on opposite sides of the road while waving palm leaves and singing song. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide 243
Play to Learn Block Center: Road Blocks Bible, blocks, old coats or lengths of fabric, green construction paper; optional palm leaves made in Art Center. 1. Children use blocks to outline a road wide enough to walk along. 2. Children act out walking along the road, placing coats or fabric and sheets of green construction paper along the road. (Optional: Children wave palm leaves made in the Art Center.) Talk About In our Bible story, Jesus traveled to the city of Jerusalem. Jesus rode a donkey along the road as people clapped and cheered. The people laid coats and palm branches on the road in front of Jesus. Let s make a road and pretend we re waiting on the road. The people were so happy to see Jesus, they shouted, Hosanna! Hosanna is a special word the people said to welcome Jesus. We can praise Jesus and show our love for Him. Singing songs about Jesus is a way to praise Him! The Bible tells us, Sing praises to the Lord. Lord is another name for Jesus. When we sing to Jesus or tell how great Jesus is, we are praising Him. Singing praises to Jesus shows we love Him. For Younger Children Before class, outline road using masking tape. Children place blocks on masking-tape outline. (Note: Remove tape immediately after activity.) For Older Children Children clap their hands and repeat the following poem as they walk along the block road: Hosanna! Hosanna! the children did sing. Hosanna! Hosanna! to Jesus, our King! 244 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide
Play to Learn Science Center: Lovely Leaves Bible, a variety of leaves, several magnifying glasses; optional pictures of a variety of leaves. 1. Children each select a leaf and examine it. (Optional: Children also look at pictures of leaves.) 2. One at a time, mix each child s leaves with two or three leaves on the table. Child examines the leaves to find his or her original leaf. Repeat as time allows. Talk About In today s Bible story, Jesus rode a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. The people stood beside the road and cheered. The people threw their coats and palm branches on the road for Jesus donkey to walk on. Palm branches are very large leaves from a palm tree. Let s look at some other kinds of leaves. Olivia, what color is your leaf? Is it soft when you touch it? Is it crunchy? What does your leaf smell like? Andrew, how did you know which leaf was your leaf? God gave you eyes to look at the leaf. God gave you hands to feel the leaf. God gave us eyes and hands because He loves us! The Bible says, Sing praises to the Lord. Lord is another name for Jesus. We can praise Jesus by singing about our love for Him! For Younger Children Instead of mixing and finding leaves, children glue them to papers to make leaf displays. For Older Children Children sort leaves by size, color, shape and/or texture. Children may also trace around the edges of the leaves with a crayon on a sheet of paper. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide 245
Listen to Learn Matthew 21:1-11,15-16; Luke 19:28-38 Bible, Bible Story 40 pictures from God s Story for Me Poster Pack #1, Preschool Music #1 CD and player. Greet Each Other Let s invite our friends to join a Praise Parade. Choose one child to begin a line. That child chooses a friend to line up behind him or her. The child chosen to join the line does so and then that child chooses someone to line up behind him or her. Repeat until the entire class is in line. Lead the line on a short parade around the room. Let s say together, We love Jesus! Tell the Story Open your Bible to Matthew 21. Tell the story using the pictured motions (keywords in bold) or show Bible Story 40 pictures. When have you sung a song to someone? Listen to our Bible story to hear about a time people sang a song to Jesus. What a happy day it was! Jesus and His friends were going to the Temple in the big city of Jerusalem. On the way, Jesus stopped. He said to His friends, There is a little donkey in the town. Untie it and bring it to Me. Jesus friends did just as He asked them. They found the donkey and brought it back to Jesus. Jesus climbed on the donkey s back and began riding to the big city. Clippety-clop, clippety-clop went the donkey s feet. Jesus friends walked along the road with Him. Many other people were walking along the road to Jerusalem, too. There were girls and boys, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas. They were excited to see Jesus! Some people spread their coats on the road. This showed that they welcomed Jesus as if He were a king. Other people cut branches from palm trees and laid them on the road for Jesus donkey to walk on. What a happy day it was! Some people ran ahead to tell others, Jesus is coming! JESUS is coming! And even MORE people came to see Jesus. They laughed and sang. They shouted, Hosanna! Hosanna! (Hosanna means please save us and was shouted to praise someone.) It was a wonderful day in the big city of Jerusalem! The children praised Jesus. The moms and dads praised Jesus. The grandparents praised Jesus. EVERYONE who loved Jesus praised Him by singing happy songs to Jesus. 246 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide
Talk About the Story What did the people do to welcome Jesus? Make motions of spreading coats, cutting branches and singing to help children remember. We can praise Jesus and show we love Him, too! What can we do to praise Jesus? (Sing songs about Him. Pray. Tell Him we love Him.) Sing to God Sing a song with me about a good reason to be happy. Lead children in singing Jesus Is Alive! (track 8 on CD). I am happy that Jesus is alive! I love Jesus. We show our love for Jesus by singing our praises to Him. Option: Provide rhythm instruments for children to use while singing Jesus is Alive! Hear and Say Holding your Bible open to Psalm 9:11, say verse aloud. Lord is another name for Jesus. Singing praises to Jesus shows our love for Him. Lead children in repeating the verse and clapping their hands on each word. Repeat several times. Vary the motion by asking children to stomp their feet, pat their heads, slap their knees, etc. Pray to God Volunteers say the following prayer: Dear Jesus, we love You. Amen. Praise to God Lead children in the following finger play. We can praise Jesus and show our love for Him. Here is the donkey clip-clopping along. The children are skipping and singing a song. Here are the branches; oh, see how they sway! Here rides the Lord Jesus on this happy day. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide 247
Talk to Learn Bible Story Activity Pages Center A copy of Activity 40 from The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #1 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers, scissors, tape; optional small pieces of fabric, glue. Lead children to complete pages following the instructions. (Optional: Children glue fabric pieces to road or clothing on page.) Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages and retell the story. Preschool Puzzle Center Copies of Puzzles 53 and 54 (p. 113 and p. 115 from The Big Book of Kindergarten Puzzles) for each child; pencils, crayons or markers. 2009 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to the original purchaser only. The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #1 167 Name Sing praises to the Lord. Psalm 9:11 Child colors page. Child cuts and folds page sections and Jesus figure. Child tapes sections of page together in any order to form a story square (see sketch on back of this page). Child moves Jesus figure around story square to show story action. How many of each object can you count in this picture? Write the number in the box. coats branches fold fold Puzzle 53 What did the people on the road do to show their love to Jesus? What can we do to praise and thank Jesus? Bible Story Activity 40 fold Children complete the puzzles and color pages. Use the conversation suggestions on the pages. Read-Aloud Story Center A copy of Story Picture 27 from The Big Book of Read- Aloud Stories #1 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers; optional brightly-colored tissue or construction paper, glue. People praised and welcomed Jesus when He came to Jerusalem. We can praise Jesus and show our love for Him, too. Our Bible says, Sing praises to the Lord (Psalm 9:11). BONUS IDEA! How many s are on the road? How many s are off the road? How many s are above people s heads? 2001 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted. The Big Book of Reproducible Kindergarten Puzzles Make 2 praise banners from the picture. Cut out the picture and then cut it from corner to corner. Tape each piece to a straw and wave the banners! Color the picture. (Optional: Glue pieces of brightly colored tissue or construction paper on window.) 113 Story Picture 27 Read the story and distribute pictures. Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #1 59 248 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide