Hello, my wonderful young friends! Today I want to share with you some engaging "Holy Week activities for kids" that will help bring the final days of Jesus' ministry to life in meaningful ways. Holy Week is the most sacred time in the Christian calendar, when we remember Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, His Last Supper, crucifixion, and glorious resurrection.

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

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With Jesus I Have Hope: A Kid's Bible Story About Hope in the Resurrection of Jesus Our King, Featuring a Christian Lesson showing the True Meaning of ... to Grade 2 (With Jesus Series Book 24)

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Through these activities, you'll experience the powerful stories of Holy Week with all your senses - creating palm branches, baking bread, making a cross, and celebrating the empty tomb. Each activity connects directly to the Bible stories so you can better understand what Jesus experienced during that remarkable week. As we journey together through Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday, you'll discover why this week changed the world forever and what it means for each of us today.

Holy Week Activities for Kids

Chapter 1: Palm Sunday - Welcome the King!

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey while crowds welcomed Him as their king. The Bible tells us, "A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'" (Matthew 21:8-9).

For this activity, make your own palm branches using green construction paper or by painting paper plates green and cutting them into leaf shapes. Wave them around while shouting "Hosanna!" just like the crowds did. You could also create a "Welcome Jesus" parade at home, taking turns playing Jesus (riding on a stuffed animal "donkey") while others wave palms and lay down coats on the floor.

Another fun activity is making donkey handprints - paint a child's palm and four fingers brown (the donkey's face and ears), then press onto paper. Add details like eyes and a mane once dry. This helps children remember Jesus chose a humble donkey rather than a warrior's horse, showing He came in peace.

Chapter 2: Monday - Temple Cleaning Day

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and found people buying and selling animals for sacrifice, with money changers overcharging poor pilgrims. Jesus was rightfully angry at this corruption in God's house! "So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 'Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!'" (John 2:15-16).

Create a "temple cleaning" activity where children help clean a special area of your home or church. Talk about how Jesus wanted God's house to be respected as a place of prayer. Explain that we should treat churches and Bibles with special care and respect.

Make a simple paper temple craft by folding construction paper into a house shape. Inside, children can write or draw ways to honor God's house - like being quiet during prayer, listening carefully to Bible stories, or helping keep the church clean. This helps them understand Jesus' concern for keeping God's house sacred and focused on worship rather than worldly business.

Chapter 3: Tuesday - Parable Party

During Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus taught many important parables (special stories with deeper meanings) in the temple. He knew His time was short, so He shared important lessons about God's kingdom. Jesus told stories about wise and foolish bridesmaids, servants who used their talents wisely or poorly, and the final judgment when people will be separated like sheep from goats.

Create a "Parable Party" where you read one of Jesus' parables from Matthew 25, such as the Parable of the Talents. Then act it out with simple costumes or puppets! For the Talents parable, use play coins or chocolate gold coins to represent the money the master gave his servants. Discuss how God gives each of us special gifts and abilities to use for Him.

Make "Kingdom Crowns" from yellow construction paper decorated with jewels made from colorful stickers or markers. While making them, talk about how Jesus taught that His kingdom isn't like earthly kingdoms - it's made of people who love God and serve others. Write one way to serve others on each jewel of the crown.

Chapter 4: Wednesday - Perfume Remembrance

On Wednesday, a woman named Mary showed her deep love for Jesus in a remarkable way. The Bible tells us, "A woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head" (Mark 14:3). Some people criticized her for "wasting" the expensive perfume, but Jesus defended her beautiful act of worship.

Create scented artwork to remember this story. Mix a few drops of essential oil or vanilla extract with paint and create beautiful artwork. As the pleasant smell fills the room, talk about how Mary's generous gift filled the whole house with fragrance and how her story is still remembered today, just as Jesus predicted.

Make "Kindness Cards" for people who might feel forgotten or lonely. Decorate them with hearts, flowers, or other beautiful designs. Just as Mary gave her most precious gift to Jesus, we can give the gift of kindness to others. Talk about how small acts of kindness can bring great joy, just as the perfume brought joy to Jesus during His final days before the crucifixion.

Chapter 5: Thursday - Last Supper Bread

On Thursday evening, Jesus shared a special Passover meal with His disciples, which we now call the Last Supper. During this meal, "Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'" (Matthew 26:26-28).

Bake simple bread together to help children understand this important moment. Use a basic recipe with flour, water, salt, and a little oil. As you mix, knead, and shape the dough, talk about how Jesus used everyday bread to teach His disciples about the sacrifice He was about to make. When the bread is done, break it and share it, remembering Jesus' words.

Create "Thankful Placemats" by decorating paper with drawings or words describing things you're thankful for. Jesus gave thanks before breaking the bread. Use these placemats for a special family meal where you talk about Jesus' last meal with His friends and how He showed His love by serving them.

Chapter 6: Friday - Cross Crafts

Friday of Holy Week, often called Good Friday, was the day Jesus was crucified. Though it's difficult to explain crucifixion to young children, we can focus on Jesus' great love in giving His life for us. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13).

Create a simple cross craft using two popsicle sticks glued together and decorated with purple tissue paper (representing royalty) or red heart stickers (representing love). Alternatively, make a cross from nature items like sticks tied together with yarn. Talk about how the cross, once a symbol of death, has become a symbol of God's love and forgiveness.

For older children, make a "Forgiveness Chain". Write things we need forgiveness for on strips of paper. Link them together into a paper chain. Then cut the chain apart while explaining that Jesus' death breaks the chain of sin and sets us free. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Ephesians 1:7). This tactile activity helps children understand the concept of forgiveness in a concrete way.

Chapter 7: Saturday - Waiting Garden

Saturday was a quiet day of waiting and sadness for Jesus' followers. They thought all hope was lost as Jesus' body lay in the tomb. "Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away" (Matthew 27:59-60).

Create a simple "Waiting Garden" using a shallow dish filled with soil. Add small rocks to create a tomb area and plant fast-growing seeds like grass or bean sprouts around it. Place a large stone in front of the "tomb." This garden represents the garden where Jesus was buried, and the growing seeds remind us that new life was coming, even though the disciples couldn't see it yet.

Make "Hope Stones" by painting small rocks with colorful designs or writing words like "Hope," "Faith," or "Love." Talk about how sometimes we have to wait through dark or difficult times, just like Jesus' friends did on that Saturday. But God is still working, even when we can't see it, and joy will come in the morning.

Chapter 8: Sunday - Resurrection Celebration!

Resurrection Sunday is the most joyful day of Holy Week, when we celebrate Jesus' resurrection! Early that morning, women went to the tomb and found it empty. An angel told them, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:5-6).

Create "Empty Tomb Rolls" by wrapping a large marshmallow (representing Jesus' body) in crescent roll dough (representing the tomb). Bake according to package directions. When you bite into the roll, the marshmallow melts, leaving an "empty tomb"! This delicious object lesson helps children understand that Jesus' tomb was empty because He rose from the dead.

Make "Alleluia Shakers" by filling plastic Resurrection eggs or small containers with dried beans or rice. Decorate with stickers or markers. Use these to make joyful noise while singing resurrection songs like "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today." These shakers help children express the excitement of the resurrection morning.

Chapter 9: Holy Week in a Box

Create a special "Holy Week in a Box" to help children visualize and remember the entire week's events. Find a shoebox or other container and divide it into sections for each day. In each section, place a small object representing that day:

For Palm Sunday: A small palm leaf made from green paper
For Monday: A small homemade whip made from string (representing Jesus clearing the temple)
For Tuesday: A coin (representing the parables about using money wisely)
For Wednesday: A small bottle of perfume or scented oil
For Thursday: A piece of bread and a tiny cup
For Friday: A small cross
For Saturday: A stone
For Sunday: An empty egg or small angel figure

Each evening during Holy Week, take out the corresponding item and read the Bible story that goes with it. This creates a meaningful tradition that builds anticipation for resurrection week while helping children understand the sequence and significance of Holy Week events.

Chapter 10: Holy Week Journey Map

Create a large "Holy Week Journey Map" on a poster board or long strip of paper. Draw a winding path from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday, with stops along the way for each day of Holy Week. Add simple drawings or paste pictures showing what happened each day.

For Palm Sunday, draw Jerusalem's walls and gate with palm branches
For Monday, draw the temple with tables being overturned
For Tuesday, draw Jesus teaching crowds in the temple
For Wednesday, draw a perfume jar
For Thursday, draw a table with bread and a cup
For Friday, draw three crosses on a hill
For Saturday, draw a tomb with a stone
For Resurrection Sunday, draw the same tomb with the stone rolled away and bright rays of light

As you move through Holy Week, place a small figure (like a button or game piece) on the appropriate day. This visual timeline helps children understand all important events in Jesus' life throughout the Holy week. Each day, move your marker forward and read the corresponding Bible story.

If you've enjoyed these Holy Week activities, I think you'll also love exploring "The Christmas Story for Children"! This beautiful narrative takes you through the angel's visit to Mary, the journey to Bethlehem, the humble stable birth, shepherds amazed by angels, and wise men following a star. With engaging activities like making star ornaments, creating a shoebox manger scene, and baking birthday cupcakes for Jesus, it's a wonderful way to celebrate the miracle of Christ's birth with children. Check it out when the Christmas season approaches!