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Title: Kindergarten Sabbath School Program, April 1, 2000

From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders)

Date Completed: March 15, 2000

Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to 
teach the lesson, THE CHILDREN WELCOME JESUS
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Lesson Aim: We show our love for Jesus by praising Him.

Memory Verse: ".....Blessed is he who comes in the name 
of the Lord!"  Matt. 21:9, NIV


GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - PRAISE PARADE

Materials needed:
Music and words to the song, Praise Him, Praise Him, 
All Ye Little Children 
Musical instruments (Check with your Beginners 
Department or local school music teacher)
Bibles
Streamers
Dowel sticks
Scotch Tape
Permanent Markers

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
Cut the streamers into 5-6 foot long pieces.  On each 
piece print the words, Praise Parade for Jesus.  Tape 
each streamer to the end of a dowel stick.  If you 
will be going outside to conduct this parade, or if 
you do not have a pianist, pre-record the song, 
Praise Him, Praise Him on a cassette tape.

WHAT THE CHILDREN DO:
Explain to the children that a parade is when 
people march in public in front of other people to
show others something they are proud of or something 
they believe in.  Talk about the parades that 
children have either seen or participated in.
Let's pretend we can have a parade for God this 
morning.  We believe in Him and we want others
to know we love and honor Him.  (It would 
be fantastic if the adults in the church would 
consent to watch the praise parade for a few moments 
either before lesson study time or after their Bible
study class has dismissed.)

Have each child choose an instrument, Bible or 
streamer to carry in the parade.  March around the
room or church singing, Praise Him, Praise Him.
In our story today children and adults were honoring 
and praising Jesus.  Let's see what that
parade was like.  GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY.


GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE -PALM PRAISES

Materials needed:
(One real palm branch for each child; Palm Sunday 
is celebrated in two weeks, so palms should be
readily available.) AND one palm branch cut from 
green construction paper, for each child.
Markers
Bibles

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
On the slender leaves of the palm branch write 
one word of the memory verse on each leaf.  Write
in dotted form, so each child can trace over the 
word with marker.

WHAT THE CHILDREN DO:
Give each child a real palm.  Explain how it was 
used during the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. 
Some churches still celebrate Christ's ride into 
Jerusalem on a day called Palm Sunday. Show the 
children where the memory verse is found in the 
Bible.  Have them trace over the words on a 
construction paper palm branch.  Make two rows of 
children facing each other.  Have them form an 
archway over their heads having just their palm 
branches touching.  The first child at the beginning 
of the line repeats the memory verse and goes through 
the archway to the opposite end of the line.  He 
holds up his palm branch and waits for another 
child to come through and reform the archway with 
him.  The second child repeats the verse, walks 
through the archway and connects back with the first.  
This procedure continues until the entire archway has 
moved down and all children have had an opportunity 
to repeat the verse and walk through the archway 
formed by the palms.


ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - POTPOURRI PRAISES

Materials needed:
Baby food jars with lids OR pint jars with lids 
(one for each child)
Potpourri
Potpourri oil
Several bowls
Teaspoons (one for each child)

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
There are no advance preparations necessary.

WHAT THE CHILDREN DO:
Remind the children of some of the ways the 
children in the story today showed their love 
and praised Jesus.  (Laying down their coats, 
waving palm branches and tossing flowers) Pour 
the potpourri into several bowls within accessible 
reach of each child.  Give each child a jar and a 
teaspoon.  Ask the children to think of things to 
praise Jesus for.  Each time someone thinks of 
something to praise Jesus for everyone drops a 
teaspoonful of potpourri into their jar.  (Encourage 
the children to think of attributes of Jesus such as 
His kindness, forgiveness, love etc.) When each 
child's jar is full of potpourri, pour several 
drops of oil over it and screw the lid on. 
Encourage them to take the jar home and place it 
somewhere where everyone can enjoy the odor. When 
we praise Jesus it is like a sweet smelling odor 
to Him.  He loves to hear our praises just like 
we love to smell sweet smelling incense or 
potpourri.  (Psa. 141)


ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - POPCORN PRAISE

Materials needed:
Jar of un-popped kernels of corn
Hot air popper or old fashioned popcorn popper
Napkins
Ziplock bags

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
There are no advance preparations necessary.

WHAT THE CHILDREN DO:
Show the children the jar of un-popped kernels 
of corn.  Tell them they are like boys and girls
who have forgotten how to praise Jesus.  Without 
the warmth of God's love in them, they can't
come to life and be all they are created to be.  
(Now fix the popcorn in the popper.  Either share 
it with the children as you finish the object 
lesson or give it to them in bags to take home.)
When God's love warms our hearts we burst with 
joy and praises to Jesus just burst out of us. 
We can't help but tell others how much we love 
Him and how great we think He is.  Encourage
the children to share the popcorn with friends 
and family at home while sharing things they want
to praise Jesus for.