Hand Palm Cookies

Playing on the double meaning of the word "palm."

Discussion begins around how people used their hands on Palm Sunday and jumps into how we can honor/celebrate Jesus:

1. The teacher can do the motion and ask kids to imitate it, then ask the discussion question.
2. AFTER the kids respond, each makes a "palm" cookie. They will end up making 5 or 6 palm cookies each. Based on the discusssion (seen below), each cookie can represent a different idea or part of the story.

Options:

• Cookie Recipe: Use your favourite Sugar Cookie Recipe or see the recipe in this Widow's Mite Cooking Workshop written by Carol Hulbert, First United Methodist Church.
• No Oven: pre-bake the cookies at home in advance.
• No "Hand" Cookie Cutters: have them manually form a small palm cookie by placing their own hand on the dough and trimming the excess dough with a plastic knife.
• You could have the kids decorate the palm dough using baker's jell or granulated sugar/redhots to make the designs for each of the following "palms". Or.... you could just cut out palm cookies AFTER each mini-discussion, then bake, then apply icing as the decoration for each of the palm cookies... walking through the presentation a second time.

Things to Do and Talk About as You Create the Hand Palm Cookie

Unlike "making/decorating your own cookie" approach, in this lesson you can approach making the dough hand's as something your entire class works on together. That way you can end up with a VARIETY of "Palm Hand Cookies" -- each representing different ideas about the story that you talked about    

The following are things you could do/talk about. Feel free to add your insights and turn them into cookies!

Looking for Jesus by placing our hand to our brow.

• What were the people hoping for?
• How do we look for Jesus today and where will be find him?
• Decoration idea: eyes on the cookie

Waving at Jesus to welcome him.

• How do we welcome Jesus?
• Decoration: the words welcome drawn on the cookie

Laying cloaks on the road.

• How do we honor Jesus with what we have?
• Decoration: candy buttons

Applauding Jesus.

• What do we do to appreciate Jesus?
• Decoration: two  cookie hands connected together with an exclamation point drawn on.

Praying Hands.

• People had prayed for the Messiah to come. What has/can Jesus do for us?

Nailed Hands.

• Jesus gave his hands to the cross. How do we thank him for his forgiveness?
• Decoration: line on palms to represent nails.

Other things about cookies you could interject into the discussion:

• When you trim away the excess dough.... What things does God want to "trim away" from our lives so that we will look more like Jesus?"
• As you decorate a cookie...   What impressed God more, your appearance or your attitude?  How loud you shout in worship of Jesus?  Or how much you love others after the parade is over?
• When you eat the cookie...  Who are we supposed to share the Good News with?  How do you do that? (by acting like Christ toward others)

The original idea for this "palm" cookie double entendre came from member Lisa M, and was expanded by members Neil and Luanne.

Popcorn balls could be the stones who would cry out if Jesus' followers stayed quiet.

Member Amy Crane adapts Margie's above idea

A Palm Sunday lesson idea based on the verse about the rocks crying out.

Read and discuss the Palm Sunday passage in Luke 19:28-40. Talk about verse 40, Jesus' response to the Pharisees complaint about all the noise his fans were making: “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” (NRSV)

Make popcorn balls (which look like stones, right?) and talk about what sorts of things the stones would shout out about Jesus. Praise? Thanks? (for what?) Encouragement?

The internet is full of recipes for popcorn balls. Here is a simple one.

How about constructing the "scene" of Jesus' triumphal ride into Jerusalem using edible "construction" materials such as the infinitely moldable "Rice Krispie Treats."

(Tip: add a little more marshmallow and butter so they don't quickly harden.)

Each item becomes a reminder of an important teaching point. Kids could make their own, or make it as a group project. Use food coloring to create different "materials."

Palms: green rice krispie treats. What are you doing to praise Jesus in your life and prayers?

Rocks singing: round rice krispy treats.  What are you doing to speak out for the needs of others -- those whose voices are going unheard?

Donkey: made out of rice krispie treats. How have you made Jesus YOUR king?

Road: crush brown cookies set in a thin layer of icing on top of graham cracker "pavement" or make a thin "pavement" by rolling a krispy treat.  What are you doing to make room for Jesus in your life and find ways to serve him?

Tip: Use food-grade gloves to handle the krispie treats and spray them with cooking spray.

Tip: Construction on a lightly greased surface then transfer to wax paper to go home.

You could also make individual shapes that represent parts/ideas and SKEWER them like a Palm Sunday Kabob and give them away.

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Palm Sunday Popcorn Hand Snacks

In keeping with the creative idea of "waving hands" on "palm" Sunday, get a box of clear foodservice gloves and fill them with popcorn as a "give away" snack with a message written on them.  Make some for students to enjoy too.

Write encouraging Palm Sunday messages on them before you fill them. Tie the opening end with a nice ribbon.

Extend the metaphor with some life application:

• WHAT acts and attitudes should we "wave" at, cheer -- encourage more of in our communities on Jesus' behalf?
• WHO needs more cheering in your family? Among your friends?
• Who should we be giving a "helping hand" on Jesus' behalf?