Mark 11:1-11 Sunday School Lesson for Kids (Palm Sunday)

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“An Unusual Parade -Triumphant Entry – Mark 11:1-11 NIV” is a Bible lesson and activity pack for children focusing on the Palm Sunday story. The lesson explores how Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was a different kind of parade, not what people expected, and how He still came to save and serve people humbly. The lesson includes discussing parades, an object lesson where children act out the story, a video, and craft activities. Enjoy this free Mark 11:1-11 Bible lesson in the NIV format below, you can also download this teaching plan in KJV and ESV from the Sunday School Store.

Passage: Mark 11:1-11 (Also found in John 12:12-16 and Matthew 21:1-11)

Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade 

Triumphal-Entry-of-Palm-Sunday-Mark-11_1-11-NIVDownload

An Unusual Parade – Sunday School Lesson: Palm Sunday Praise

Palm Sunday opens up celebration of Holy Week, when we look at the events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. With Palm Sunday, we celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. His triumphal march was not what we’d expect of a typical “parade”, just as His victory on the cross is not what we’d expect of a typical king. But Jesus does the unexpected in amazing and life-changing ways. This lesson reminds us of how and why He rode into town on a donkey, and why it’s important for us to honor and praise Him every day of our lives. 

Jesus came humbly, to seek and save the lost. He didn’t always do things in the ways that we (or anyone else) would expect, but He fulfilled God’s plans and redeemed us from sin. Palm Sunday reminds us that He is great and mighty and worthy of our praise and adoration. Whether we lift up palms or lift our voices in song, we can rejoice in who He is and celebrate why He came. Unlike the people on the first Palm Sunday, we know the end of the story and recognize Jesus as Lord, not just for a day but for eternity.  

There are many ways to keep kids interested in the Bible lesson about Palm Sunday. One is to tell the story using props and actions. For example, you could act out the scene where Jesus sends his disciples to get the donkey, or where the people lay their cloaks on the ground for him to ride on. Another way to engage kids is to have them participate in a craft activity. You could make palm crosses or donkey crafts. You could also have a discussion about what Palm Sunday means and why it is important. Kids may also enjoy listening to music about Palm Sunday. There are many songs that can be found online or in children’s Bible storybooks. Whatever method you choose, make sure to keep it fun and engaging so that kids will remember the story and its meaning.


Materials Needed: Pictures or examples of things that change; baggy sweaters or jerseys; construction paper or cardstock; markers or crayons; decorative supplies; paper bags; paper plates or bowls; noisemakers; dried rice or beans; streamers; palm branches; sporting equipment; coats/cloaks; scissors; glue or tape; Bibles. 

Lesson Opening: The Palm Sunday story shows us how Jesus was honored and glorified as He entered Jerusalem during Holy Week to fulfill God’s plan. It might not have been a typical parade, king, or transportation method, but God’s ways are anything but typical! Start with an activity that uses these themes and gets kids thinking: 

  • Palm parade: Have a parade with students in a Sunday School classroom or building wing. Invite kids to get energy out and celebrate the story as they march around with palm branches or even pom poms. 
  • Donkey race: have students take turns acting like donkeys. Provide a small toy or item for each person to balance on his or her back while walking or crawling on all fours. This can be done with multiple students in a designated “race” area, or as a relay race. 
  • Palm branch pass relay: Have students sit in a row in chairs. Provide the first person in each row with a palm branch, and have them pass it down the row. When the last person receives the branch, he/she should run around with the branch, while everyone else in the row scoots down a chair. Once the person returns to the end of the row, the branch gets passed again, until all students have run it. For extra challenge, pass the branch behind the backs of the chairs. With smaller groups, have extra activities to make the branch running longer. 
  • “Rock band praise”: Jesus said that if the people didn’t praise Him, even the rocks would cry out. Invite students to take part in worship and praise of God. Use small instruments (or make your own) to create a “rock band,” and invite students to make a joyful noise with songs or rhythms. Make sure to shout “Hosanna!” 
  • Cloaks on the ground race: provide students with old T-shirts, blankets, or coats. Have them line up and take turns going from one side of the room to the other, stepping on the coats only. Each student should have two coats at a time, and must place them one in front of the other to move across the room.

Explain to students that today’s story is an important time when Jesus was honored in a special sort of parade, as He rode into Jerusalem to fulfill God’s Word.

Bible Lesson: 

This lesson contains a wonderful story that can be found in three of the four gospels (the one used here is from Mark). While not very lengthy, the verses have important meaning. It’s a passage that can be acted out in skit or with interactive movements, or simply read and described. Older students can read out loud, and teachers can read and discuss with younger ones. 

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 
-Mark 11:1-3

This is a rather interesting direction from Jesus to His disciples. He wanted them to go into the village and told them they would find a new colt there. They were to bring Him the animal. By comparison of today’s world, this would be sort of like driving someone’s car out of their driveway, and telling the owner “the Lord needs to borrow this; I’ll bring it right back.” The disciples knew to trust the instructions of Jesus, though, and they did as He asked.   

Ask: Have you ever been given strange instructions to follow? What were they? When can you trust someone enough to carry out odd-sounding directions?

And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.   -Mark 11:4-7

Even with odd directions, the disciples and the donkey owners trusted what Jesus had them do. In doing so, they were actually fulfilling a prophecy given long before. In the book of Zechariah, we read the prophet say  “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9). Zechariah came long before Jesus, but spoke those words that let people know Jesus was the king. He didn’t show up with marvelous fanfare or typical royal fashion, but followed God’s plan. Riding a donkey was a sign of humility, indicating that Jesus came to serve and to lead people in a unique way. He came in peace.

Ask: Have you ever seen something turn out differently than you expected? What was it? When do we see God at work in unexpected things?  

And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
-Mark 11:8-11

Here is the “parade” part of the passage. The people were honoring Jesus, knowing that He was someone significant. Remind students that “Hosanna” means “save us!” The people of Jerusalem knew that Jesus had saving power. They cried out to Him to rescue them. What were they expecting? Well, maybe they wanted Jesus to be a king who would save them from political oppression. In those days, the Romans were in charge, and did not make life easy for Jewish people. There was a desire for Jesus to overthrow the Romans and take command. Or perhaps the people knew that they wanted a Messiah, but didn’t realize what that would mean.
The palm branches were a symbol of the nation, sort of like waving a flag in honor of someone special at a parade. They knew Jesus was worthy of attention and treatment. They cheered and waved to give Him respect…unfortunately, by the end of the week, the same crowd was calling for His death. This might seem strange, but how often do we praise God on Sunday, and then act differently in other environments? We should be careful to worship the Lord not only at church, but everywhere we go. We can “wave our branches” or lift our voices in praise knowing that He has, does, and will provide all we need, loving us and caring for us always. Jesus is evidence of God’s faithfulness, and we can give back to Him with all of our actions! 

Ask: How can you praise God today? 

Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week, which leads us to the cross but culminates in the triumphal victory of Easter. This passage reminds us that Jesus often had unusual or unexpected methods, but that we can find God at work in all of the most unexpected places!

Close with prayer, thanking God for His Son Jesus and for always being with us.    .

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