Sometimes it’s hard to put Jesus back into Easter when we are surrounded by bunnies and chicks and other things that have more to do with spring renewal than the real story. It can be especially confusing for children. How DOES an egg-toting bunny fit into the picture?
Well, here is an easy Palm Sunday craft for your family to make, along with a list of fun children’s books to read out loud.
Why not gather the neighbor kids together for the craft and then have a parade (dogs dressed as donkeys are welcome). It would be a great way to share your faith.
PALM BRANCHES
What you’ll need:
Paint sticks (or dowels)
Cardboard (a cereal box will do)
Green construction paper (two shades, if possible)
Scissors and a pencil
Craft glue or a glue gun
Optional: brown and green paint and a brush
Instructions:
On light cardboard, trace a child’s handprint and cut it out. This will be your pattern.
Trace around your pattern and cut out about 12 handprints per palm branch. It is prettier if you use six of two different shades of green. We didn’t have two shades, so we painted some yellow handprints in light green.
Check to see if your paint stirrers have advertisements on them. If they do, a quick coat of brown craft paint will cover that right up.
When everything is dry and ready, begin gluing your handprints on the “branch”. Start at the un-notched top of the stick and glue a hand on.
Then, layer your handprints on, staggering them on the branch and flipping hands so that some are left-handed and some right.
Tie ribbon or raffia in the notch, if desired.
Let everything dry (read a book while you wait) and then let the procession begin!
Here’s a list of children’s books about Palm Sunday:
- Jeremiah the Donkey and the Day of Palms: An Adventure to Jerusalem
- Jesus Enters Jerusalem
- The Week That Led to Easter
- Hosanna! The Story of Palm Sunday
- Humphrey’s First Palm Sunday Board Book
John 12:13. “They took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
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Read more of Ann’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
