Lesson Plan- Holy Week and Death on a Cross (1st grade on up)

Holy Week Lesson


For older students:

thereligionteacher.com- Holy Week Lesson Plan


For younger students:

Objectives: The students will be able to
- explain the meaning of Holy Week and what happens during that time
- retell the events of Holy Week in order.
- identify the importance of the events of Holy Week, specifically that it is through Jesus' death and resurrection that our sins are forgiven.
- explain how Easter is the celebration of Jesus' rising from the dead with new life



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words: (Write words on the board and discuss with class)

Jerusalem- the capital of Israel and holy city of the Jews (show students this on a map or have one of the students find it on a map).
Trial- looking closely at the facts and law before a court of law to see if someone is innocent or guilty
Innocent- not guilty, did not do it
Guilty- you did the crime
Crime- breaking the law
Pontius Pilate- the Roman governor
Execution- to be killed
Hanged- to kill yourself by tying a rope around your neck and hung by the neck until you die from lack of oxygen
Sentence- a judgment by a court telling you the punishment of the crime that you did
Accused- somebody charged with a crime
Custom- something that people always do or always do in a certain way by tradition
Prisoner- somebody held in prison
Persuade- to get somebody to do something
Crucify- to lay a person down and nail the hands and feet to the cross and stand the cross up by putting the end of the cross into the ground.
Whipped- to strike someone with a whip over and over again
Thieves- people who steal things
Easter- celebration of Jesus' coming to new life after death
Resurrection- coming to new life after death



Plan:

Read your story about Holy Week and then ask questions



Activities:

dltk-bible.com- The Easter Story (click on 1 through 4) lessons with memory verse, teacher's guide, puzzles, take home sheet, coloring pages, crafts, etc.

loyolapress.com- Holy Week Activities

loyolapress.com- Walk Through Holy Week Activity

thereligionteacher.com- Holy Week Lesson Plan & Worksheets

catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com- Teaching about Holy Week

childrensministry.com- 22 Jesus-Centered Ideas for Holy Week With Kids

teachbyfaith.com- Top Holy Week Activities for the Classroom

teachbyfaith.com- Holy Week Activities for Middle School Students

chasingthosemoments.com- Holy Week Activities for All Ages
Looking for some interactive Holy Week activities your family can do together? Look no further! Here I have compiled a list of object lessons, crafts, and hands on illustrations for helping to bring the stories of Jesus during each day of Holy Week to life for your kids.

jesus-without-language.net- Holy Week Review- Day 1
This is the first in a five day mini series exploring holy week. Each day a small activity is linked to an event from the days leading up to Easter.

jesus-without-language.net- Holy Week Review- Day 2

jesus-without-language.net- Holy Week Review- Day 3

jesus-without-language.net- Holy Week Review- Day 4

jesus-without-language.net- Holy Week Review- Day 5

jesus-without-language.net- Holy Week Pre-writing pack
Journey through Holy week from Palm Sunday to Good Friday with this pack full of file folder games, Bible crafts and story cards. With 3 pages for each day of holy week this is perfect for those following the holy week activities or parents wanting a brief daily activity to do with their own children.

kandel.ie- Lent Week Lesson

eoccc.org- Though Many We Are One (On The Lenten Journey to Holy Week) lesson plan



Print the following words on the board in four columns (four words in each column). Point to a word and say it. Have a student use that word in a sentence and tell something about it.

Lent
Suffer
Mass
Holy Communion
Changed
Good Friday
Die
Passion/Palm Sunday
Wine
Holy Thursday
Mary
Cross
Holy Saturday
Body of Christ
Last Supper
Forgave



Put the following words on the board and have the students say the words: Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Good Friday, Passion/Palm Sunday. Then ask the students which day in Holy Week came first and what happened. Put a number by the day that corresponds to which came first, second, third, and fourth. Continue through the whole week having the students identify and retell the events of Holy Week in the proper order.

Questions to ask:

What day observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds, who were in Jerusalem for Passover? (Palm/Passion Sunday)

What day includes the last meal Jesus and the disciples had together, the institution of Eucharist or Communion? (Holy Thursday)

What day did Jesus cleansed the temple? (Holy Monday)

What day did Judas meet with the Jewish leaders and was paid 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus? (Spy Wednesday or Holy Wednesday)

What day did the people wave palm branches and proclaimed Jesus as the messianic king? (Palm/Passion Sunday)

What day did Jesus’ body lay in the tomb? (Holy Saturday)

What did Jesus do on Holy Tuesday? (Jesus taught in the temple)

What day was Jesus arrested, had his trial, crucified and suffered, died, and was buried? (Good Friday)

What day did Jesus predict Judas’ betrayal, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples, Jesus’ predicts the denial from Peter, and Jesus takes them to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray? (Holy Thursday)



Crafts:


stjohnwc.org- Holy Week Story Wheel

catholicicing.com- A Craft For Each Day Of Holy Week

catholicicing.com- Holy Week Crafts

leahnewtonart.com- Holy Week Art

catholicinspired.com- Holy Week Crafts and Ideas

weelittlemiracles.com- Make an Easter Story Wreath {free printables!}

pinterest.com- Holy Week Calendar Craft
Examples: Sunday- palm branches, Monday- Jesus clears the temple (overturned tables with coins), Tuesday- Jesus teaching in the temple (scrolls), Wednesday- Betrayal (hand with coins), Thursday- Jesus washes disciples feet (footprints), Friday- Jesus is crucified (cross), Saturday- Jesus lays in the tomb (tomb with stone covering entrance)

Other Holy Week Calendar Crafts to get ideas from:

jouneytojosie.blogspot.com- Holy Week Chart

thedomesticnotebook.blogspot.com- Holy Week Calendar Craft


Introduce craft: What crowed three times just like Jesus said it would? A rooster. Who denied Jesus three times just like Jesus said someone would? Peter.

first-school.ws- Rooster Craft
A cute rooster craft made with a paper plate. *Leave off the feet and the rooster can rock back and forth.


Introduce craft: What did Jesus have to carry and what was he nailed to?

christiancrafters.com- Mosaic Cross
Easy cross necklace/magnet that all kids can make.

craftingthewordofgod.com- Cross Sun Catcher

christiancrafters.com- The Colors of Christ Cross
*Neat tip at the bottom for younger students.

catholicinspired.com- Good Friday Craft ~ Clothes-pin Crucifix



Games:

sarajcreations.com- Free Holy Week Matching Card Game

copticdadandmom.com- Holy Week Memory Game (scroll down to this)

copticdadandmom.com- Good Friday Hours Matching Game (scroll down for this)

jeopardylabs.com- Holy Week Trivia Jeopardy

jeopardylabs.com- Holy Week Jeopardy #2

jeopardylabs.com- Holy Week Jeopardy #4

Play one of the following review games and use the questions below.


Introduce game: What crowed three times just like Jesus said it would? A rooster.


Pass the Rooster!

Directions: An egg timer is set for any time the teacher wishes. Have the students sit in a circle. The teacher then gives a student a rooster and asks them a question about Holy Week. The student must answer the question correctly. If they do not, the student must answer another question until they are correct. When the student is correct, the teacher says, “Pass the rooster!” and the student passes the rooster to the person on their right and that student must answer a question to be able to pass the rooster. Whoever is holding the rooster with the timer goes off is the rooster.



Basketball

Need: one small ball (or two balled up pieces of paper), two chairs, one trashcan.

Directions: Put a trashcan against a wall. Divide the class into two teams. Have students line up in two teams behind a chair (to keep them from getting too close to basket). Ask the first person in Team #1 a question. If they are correct, they get to try to make a basket. If they make a basket, their team gets a point. If they do not get a basket, their team does not receive a point. After the first player has his turn, he then goes to the end of Team #1’s line. It is now Team #2’s turn. The team with the most points wins.

Questions for games:

1. What do the bread and wine become at Mass? The Body and Blood of Jesus.
2. Why did Jesus suffer and die for us on the cross? To save us from sin so that we can have God’s life; because he loves his Father and all of us.
3. How did Jesus show his love for us? He suffered and died on the cross.
4. Why didn’t Jesus come down from the cross and save himself? He wanted to die for us; he wanted to save us from sin; he wanted us to live forever in heaven; he wanted to keep the promise that his Father made; he wanted us to have God’s life.
5. What did the people do on Passion/Palm Sunday to show their love for Jesus? Waved palm branches; put their cloaks down before him on the ground; sang and cheered.
6. When did the apostles receive their first Holy Communion? On Holy Thursday evening at the Last Supper.
7. What did Jesus want the apostles to do when he said, “Do this in memory of me”? Change bread and wine into his Body and Blood.
8. What prayer did Jesus say for the soldiers and the people who put him to death? Father, forgive them.
9. What did Jesus do before he bowed his head and died? Gave himself to his Father.
10. What was the best gift that Jesus gave us to his Father on the cross? Himself.
11. Whom do we receive in Holy Communion? Jesus.
12. How much did Jesus love us? He loved us so much that he died for us.
13. On which day did the people cheer and honor Jesus as a king? Passion/Palm Sunday.
14. On which day did Jesus give himself in the form of bread and wine? Holy Thursday.
15. On which day did Jesus die for us? Good Friday.
16. What is the Jewish feast in remembrance of God’s saving love in his freeing of his people from slavery in Egypt? Passover
17. What did the people say as they waved their palm branches to Jesus? Hosanna
18. What is the celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to begin his passion; the first day of Holy Week? Passion (Palm) Sunday
19. What is Jesus’ gift of himself in the form of bread and wine so that we can share his life? Holy Communion
20. What is the day Jesus gave us the Eucharist? Holy Thursday
21. What is the Eucharist called? Blessed Sacrament
22. What is the bread that has become Jesus called? Sacred Host
23. What is the cup that holds the wine at the Eucharist? Chalice
24. Who is the man ordained to do what Jesus did (giving the Eucharist) at Mass? Priest
25. What is it when you say something that is not true? Lie



Holy Week Bingo- Make up simple bingo cards using pictures or vocabulary words with Holy Week questions from your lesson. Be sure to make calling cards out of index cards so you can hold up the picture or word so the children can see if they have that on their Bingo card. (You can also just make the spaces on your Bingo cards in the shape of a cross to remind them that Jesus died on the cross for them).

Bingo Card Maker- Free 3 x 3 or 5 x 5 Bingo card that you can make.

Printable Bingo cards- You can also replace some or all of the pictures in the picture bingo option with vocabulary words to help teach students vocabulary. At Step Two: Choose Your Theme under Picture Bingo, scroll down to the bottom to BLANK to design your own Bingo cards.




The Catholic Toolbox- How To Review Material


Play one of these games below to review today’s lesson


These games are free, however they are only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.


Holy Week Spin the Bottle Game- A fun way to review Holy Week. Scroll down to Games.

Holy Week Memory Game- Play Memory, Go Fish, or Sequencing with these cards.

Holy Week File Folder Game- The objective of the game is to go through all the days of Holy Week by answering questions about each day.



Snacks:

Introduce snack: What happened on Good Friday? Discuss.

Good Friday Cross- Good Friday marks the day of the crucifixion. Make crosses out of bread sticks (use Pillsbury refrigerated breadsticks).

pillsbury.com- Cheesy Crescent Sticks and make into a cross

pillsbury.com- Twisty Dippers and make into a cross


During Lent we do not eat meat on Fridays. We also do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. What can we eat during this time? Discuss. Make a snack that is meatless.

catholicculture.org- Good Friday Bread



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from November 2 - 21).

biblewise.com- Crown of Thorns (maze)

Jesus Who? (find the hidden pictures)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s Word: Grade 1 – 3 by Linda Standke, page 27.

The Lamb of God (find the hidden pictures)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s Word: Grade 1 – 3 by Linda Standke, page 28.

wordmint.com- Holy Week (Word Search)

biblewise.com- Peter’s Denial (decoder)

sundayschoolkids.com- The Road To Easter
Starting with Palm Sunday, students put the events in order in which they happened.

teachingandlearningresources.co.uk- Holy Week (crossword)

ecatholic.com- Holy Week (Crossword)

calvarycurriculum.com- several lessons with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

teachingheart.net.blog- Holy Week Activity Sheets

thereligionteacher.com- Holy Week Worksheets (scroll down to these)

smp.org- Holy Week Worksheet
Cut out strips and put in order how they happened during Holy Week

catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com- Holy Week Activities Pack

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from November 2 - 21).

biblewise.com- Crown of Thorns (maze)

Jesus Who? (find the hidden pictures)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s Word: Grade 1 – 3 by Linda Standke, page 27.

The Lamb of God (find the hidden pictures)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s Word: Grade 1 – 3 by Linda Standke, page 28.

biblewise.com- Peter’s Denial (decoder)

teachingandlearningresources.co.uk- Holy Week (crossword)

faithhope.org- Remembering Holy Week (crossword)

calvarycurriculum.com- several lessons with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.

catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com- Holy Week Activities Pack
The pack includes a scrambled words challenge, a crossword puzzle, a visual story strip, and an activity inviting prayerful reflection with the Scripture stories of the Passion.

sundayschoolkids.com- The Road To Easter
Starting with Palm Sunday, students put the events in order in which they happened.

teachingheart.net.blog- Holy Week Activity Sheets

thereligionteacher.com- Holy Week Worksheets (scroll down to these)

smp.org- Holy Week Worksheet
Cut out strips and put in order how they happened during Holy Week



The following activities are free, however they are only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.


What Happened During Holy Week?- Label the pictures below with the correct day of Holy Week. Then color the pictures. (For younger students: Ask the students what is happening in the first picture. Discuss. Then ask them, “What day of Holy Week is it?” Write #1 on the board and Palm/Passion Sunday beside the number. Continue with pictures 2 – 4.

Holy Week Worksheet- The following days of Holy Week are in the wrong order. Number them so they are in the right order. Then draw a line to what happened on that day.

Holy Week Quiz- 20 questions with answers