Palm Sunday Game for All Ages: The Wave Parade

With a ball and a passage from Mark, kids will have fun trying to keep up with this fast-moving, Palm Sunday game.

You’ll need:

Bible
ball

Palm Sunday Game: The Wave Parade

Read aloud the account of Palm Sunday from Mark 11:8-10.

Ask:

Tell about a time you were at a parade.

Say: Sometimes you have to move to get a good view of what’s happening at a parade. I imagine that’s what happened to all the kids who were there when Jesus entered town on Palm Sunday. Let’s see how quick you are at moving your feet when something moves by.

Form a line so kids are side by side, with about three feet between each person. (If you have more than 10 kids, form two groups.) Explain that you’ll roll a ball down the line—and the ball will represent Jesus passing by.

Say: As soon as “Jesus” passes you, you’ll run to the far end of the line and stand next to the last person in line—that way you’re ready to see the ball (I mean, Jesus) going by again. Our entire line will move, one person at a time. Got it? Let’s start with a practice round.

Roll the ball very slowly, so kids get the hang of running to the end of the line and taking a new place as the ball passes them. Try a few more times, rolling the ball more quickly each time. Kids will most likely end up in a jumble, trying to get in line, but that’s the point! Play several times, varying the speed of your roll.

Say: Palm Sunday was a big, noisy celebration—just like this was. Let’s close with a celebration wave as Jesus passes by. Roll the ball down the line, this time having kids cheer and wave as the ball goes by.

For more game ideas, check out The Humongous Book of Games for Children’s Ministry. You can also look at these posts!