Rotation.org Writing Team

PALM SUNDAY

ART II

PASSAGES

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

MEMORY VERSES

Mark 11:9 - “Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Psalm 118:26a - “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

PURPOSE

Jesus and all Jews were gathered in Jerusalem to remember what God had done for them. God told them to do this. This workshop will help the children create something that will remind them that Jesus came to save us, as a servant king not an earthly king.

Objective(s) for Rotation

See Bible background.

Objectives for Art Workshop

By the end of the workshop, the students will:

know that God understands our need for reminders;

be able to tell the story of Palm Sunday when someone asks about the basket;

understand that Hosanna means “Save Us”;

PREPARATION

Materials

Palm basket

• Acrylic varnish
  
• Brushes for varnish
  
• Buckets or containers for water
  
• Carton, 1 pint ½ and ½ per project – rinsed and dry
  
• Newspaper or table covering
  
• Palm “leaves” 3/4 inch wide -- 11 strips at least 14 inches long and 3 strips at least 10 inches long per basket
  
• Rubber bands, 2 per basket
  
• Water
  

Paper basket

• Carton, 1 pint ½ and ½ per project – washed and dried
  
• Glue sticks
  
• Paper cutter
  
• Paper grocery bags to cut into strips -- same measurements as for Palm basket
  
• Rubber bands, 2 per basket
  
• Rulers [Optional]
  

Advance Preparation

Ask the congregation for pint cartons that have been washed and dried.

Make sample baskets, paper and palm, plain top and pointed top.

Decide which basket to make with each age group.

Cut paper bag strips.

PROCEDURE

Open – Introduction

Read or have read the story of Palm Sunday in Mark 11:1-10.

Ask, “What did the people do to show their excitement?” [Shout, garments on the road, palm branches]

Ask, “ Have you ever been with a group of people that got excited?” [Ball game, concert, party]

Ask, “Why did the people shouted Hosanna?” [They wanted to be saved from the Romans]

Ask “Did Jesus come to save them from the Romans?” [No]

Dig – Main Content

Show finished basket(s).

Give each child 8 paper strips or palm branches 14” long.

Those working with palms will need to soak their branches before weaving.

Have each person lay 4 strips parallel to each other on the table.

Have them weave the other 4 strips through the center of the first strips.

Push the strips close together; be sure the ends of the strips are equal in length.

Give each child a carton.

Give each child 2 rubber bands to put around the carton.

Set the carton on the woven area; this is the bottom of the basket.

Bend the strips upward and slide them under the rubber bands, 4 on each side.

Give each child 3 weaving strips, 10” long. The weaving strips are long enough to have them overlap completely on one side.

Weave the first weaving strip over and under around the entire carton and “pack” it down.

Pull up on the vertical strips to tighten them and move the bottom rubber band down to hold the first row of weaving snugly against the carton.

Start each of the other 2 weavers on a different side of the basket and repeat above step.

Move the second rubber band to hold the top weaver while you trim the vertical strips. Then move it down to hold the middle weaver.

Finishing the top:

Work on the outside of the basket while the carton is still inside the basket.

Remember to keep the palm strips wet.

Plain top:

Trim all the vertical strips to 7/8 inch above the top of the top weaver.

Bend an inside vertical strip out and down over the top weaver and crease it at the bottom of the top weaver. Fold and crease the strip back toward the basket.

For paper baskets the touch of a glue stick will hold the end in place when you slide it under the top weaver. The varnish will hold it on the palm baskets; can’t glue wet palms.

Continue around the basket until all the inside strips have been turned out and under.

Remove the rubber bands and take the carton out.

Fold the outside strips toward the inside of the basket, do a second fold, and dab with a glue stick before slipping it under the top weaver.

Trim the carton so it is a bit shorter than the basket and carefully put it back inside the basket.

Pointed top:

Trim the vertical strips to 3 ½ inches.

You will be working first with the outside strips for this top.

Choose an outside strip; fold it at 45’, toward the carton, with the bottom of the fold at
the top weaver. The strip will now be going to your left.

At the top of the previous fold make another 45’ fold away from the carton. The strip will now be pointing toward the bottom of the basket and you will have made the first point.

Remove the rubber bands if necessary.

Weave the vertical strip under the horizontal strips on the outside of the basket.

Continue around the basket until all outside strips have been folded and woven.

Remove the carton and make the same 45’ folds but weave the end down the inside of
the basket. It will be awkward to weave under the bottom round inside the basket. You may cut off ½ inch and glue if using paper or if using palms trim the end of the strip so it is narrower. Slide it behind the bottom weaver.

You will notice that the outside points around the top do not lie completely flat. If this bothers you -- for paper get out the glue stick and fasten the point to the top weaver. See below for pointed top

Varnishing Palm baskets:

If you do not varnish them while they are wet you will have a withered, twisted mess. The varnish will make the basket stiff. If you use something such as a paper clip or toothpick to hold the outside points in place for the first coat of varnish you can remove it before the second coat.

Reflect – Closure

Ask the children to tell you the story about the first Palm Sunday.

Have Mark 11:9 read -- the people celebrated the arrival of their king.

Have Mark 15:12-15 read -- the people went with the crowd because Jesus did not do what they expected.

Have Mark 16:4-6 read -- the end of the story, Jesus did save them - from their sins.

Give each child a small plant of a few flowers to remind them of Easter, the rest of God’s plan.

Close with a Hosanna prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for saving us, not from earthly problems, but from our sins. Forgive us for the times we shout Hosanna because we do not understand your plans and your timing. Help us share the story of your gift as we tell people about our basket.

CONTRIBUTOR: Carmen Peter

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ken Wezeman,

Sincere apologies !!!! I did not proof read very well.

Strips of paper or palm branches should all be 3/4" wide for this size carton and 14" long. You will need 11 strips for each basket.