Rotation.org Writing Team

PALM SUNDAY ROTATION

COOKING

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES

Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-10
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-19

MEMORY VERSES

Mark 11:9 - "Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the LORD!" [NRSV]

Psalm 118:26a - "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the LORD!" [NRSV]

PURPOSE

Children will explore the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Objectives

Children will:

Older students will locate the stories in their Bibles; Younger students will learn that the story is in the New Testament in the Gospels.

Know that Jesus came to Jerusalem along with thousands of others to celebrate the Jewish Passover.

Learn that Palm Sunday remembers Jesus' entry into Jerusalem just a few days before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. This story begins the events of Holy Week.

Discover that Jesus' entry on a donkey signified that he was a humble, peaceful Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

Understand the meaning of the word "Hosanna"; the people expected a king to save them, yet the crowd misunderstood what sort of Messiah Jesus was.

PREPARATION

Read the Bible Background.

Materials

For Older Students:

Hearts of Palm Dip

Equipment/Supplies

• Bowl
  
• Chopper or knife
  
• Food processor
  
• Grater [Optional]
  
• Measuring cups
  
• Napkins
  
• Plates
  
• Spatula
  

Ingredients

• Cheese, Asiago or Parmesan - grated
  
• Crackers, chips, or bread for dipping
  
• Cream cheese, 4 ounces
  
• Hearts of palm, 8 ounce can
  
• Mayonnaise, ½ cup
  
• Onions, green – 1 cup chopped
  
• Sour Cream, ½ cup
  

For Younger students:

Bloomin' Apple

Ingredients

• Apples - 1 for every 4 children
  
• Brown Sugar
  
• Cinnamon
  
• Margarine
  

Equipment/Supplies

• Apple Slicer
  
• Baking pan
  
• Bowl, small
  
• Knives, plastic
  
• Measuring spoons
  
• Mixing spoons
  
• Napkins
  
• Plates
  

For lesson:

• Bibles
  

Advance Preparation

For baked apples - preheat oven to 350 degrees; melt margarine

Open -- Introduction

Welcome the children. Open with prayer.

Say: I love celebrations! Do you? Have you ever seen a famous person up close? [Allow responses, but keep them brief.] What is it like to see a famous person?

Today we are going to read about Jesus' coming to Jerusalem. Lots of people were there, because it was the time for Passover. This story is found in all four Gospels, but we will read from Mark.

Distribute Bibles and help the children look up Mark 11:1-10. Have a volunteer read, or have them take turns.

For Younger children, show them where the story is located, and read it with lots of flair.

Dig – Main Content

For older children, tell them that many times at special occasions, or parties, some type of dip is served. Today we are going to make "Hearts of Palm" dip. Make the connection that they are using a palm product because it is a Palm Sunday celebration.

Have the children wash their hands.

Assemble the following ingredients:

8 ounce can hearts of palm, drained
1 cup chopped green onion
4 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup Asiago or Parmesan cheese, grated*
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Chop the hearts of palm and green onion a bit in the food processor, and then add the remaining ingredients. Make sure the lid is on tightly and process until smooth.

*If you don't grate the cheese before adding it to the food processor, the chunks can get caught on the blade and then cause the dip to "explode" all over the place, so a tightly-fitting lid is essential.

This batch makes about two cups, so the recipe might need to be increased if there are a large number of participants.

Place the dip in a bowl. Distribute plates and napkins. Serve the chilled dip with bread, crackers, or chips.

Hearts of Palm dip will last a week or more in the refrigerator.

For younger children, make the Bloomin' Apple. Arrange the children in groups of four.

Assemble the following ingredients:

Apples - 1 for every 4 children
1 tablespoon brown sugar for each apple
1 teaspoon margarine for each apple
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon for each apple

Have the children wash their hands. Have each group slice their apple with the slicer. There should be at least 2 slices per child.

Guide each child to:

Arrange their apple slices with other children's slices on the baking pan to look like leafy branches. Be sure to explain that they are trying to make something that resembles a palm branch to celebrate the special event called Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey.

Help mix the brown sugar, melted margarine, and cinnamon.

Use a plastic knife to dot the sugar and cinnamon mixture on the apple slices.

Bake the apple slices at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool.

Distribute plates and napkins. Share the snack.

Reflect – Closure

Older students:

As the children eat, imagine what it might have been like if they were in Jerusalem on the day that Jesus entered on the donkey. What might they see? Hear? Smell? What might the weather have been like? Or, have them tell about a parade they saw or participated in. What was it like?

Younger students:

Ask: We usually think of palm branches when we read this story. What kind of leafy branches do you think might have been used? The above questions could also be used.

Clean up.

Review the memory verse.

Close in prayer.

ADAPTATIONS

Other food ideas for Palm Sunday might include anything grown on palm trees such as coconut and date products:

put out a plate with a variety of olives or dates;

make macaroons or other food with coconut such as bread, cookies, pie, or pudding;

make date bread, muffins, or pudding.

SOURCES

www.theveggietable.com/recipes/heartsofpalmdip.html

Karyn Henley. Creative Bible Learning-Science & Cooking. Cincinnati, Ohio, Standard Publishing, 1997, page 145.

CONTRIBUTOR: Julie Burton