The Gospel for Palm Sunday contains the entire Passion narrative. When we hear it proclaimed, we are meant to journey with Christ as He takes up His Cross and gives His life for us. In this lesson, students will meditate on Jesus’ Passion through the words of the Gospel and sacred art.
Palm Sunday
Lesson Overview
Upper Elementary Lesson Materials
Download all PDFsMaterials
- The text of the Sunday Gospel (available at SophiaOnline. org/PalmSundayYearA)
Gospel Reflection
The Gospel reading this week is the Passion narrative from Matthew 26:14-27:66, available at the following link: SophiaOnline.org/PalmSundayYearA.
Activity
- First, download Christ’s Passion in Sacred Art PowerPoint available for free at the following link: SophiaOnline.org/ChristPassionSacredArt.
- Create a prayerful atmosphere in your classroom or, if possible, take your students to a chapel.
- Have students read the Gospel passage (Matthew 26:14-27:66), or read it aloud to your students.
- Project the images of Christ’s Passion from Christ’s Passion in Sacred Art PowerPoint as you read through the account of the Passion. Noted next to each image is a line from the Gospel reading that indicates when to begin projecting that new image.
- Give students a few minutes of silence when each new image is projected to allow reflection on it in their own hearts.
- When finished, have students choose one of the images that stood out to them and write a brief paragraph about what God might be speaking to them through it.
Lower Elementary Lesson Materials
Download all PDFsMaterials
- The text of the Sunday Gospel (available at SophiaOnline. org/PalmSundayYearA)
Gospel Reflection
The Gospel reading this week is the Passion narrative from Matthew 27:11-54, available at the following link: SophiaOnline.org/PalmSundayYearA.
Activity
- First, download Christ’s Passion in Sacred Art PowerPoint available for free at the following link: SophiaOnline.org/ChristPassionSacredArt.
- Create a prayerful atmosphere in your classroom or, if possible, take your students to a chapel.
- Read aloud to your students the abridged version of the Gospel reading (Matthew 27:11-54).
- Project the images of Christ’s Passion from Christ’s Passion in Sacred Art PowerPoint as you read through the account of the Passion. Noted next to each image is a line from the Gospel reading that indicates when to begin projecting that new image.
- For lower elementary students, begin the PowerPoint at slide number 7.
- Give students a few minutes of silence when each new image is projected to allow reflection on it in their own hearts.
- Ask your students to share which moment from the Passion narrative and/or which painting stood out to them the most. Project again the images from the PowerPoint as students reference them. Ask your students what about these moments and paintings in particular stood out to them and why they think so.
