How many of you include Holy Week activities for middle school or elementary in your curriculum? At first thought, that question almost seems unnecessary. Of course, it is common to find this topic in Christian schools. Easter is one of the most popularly attended church services of the year. This is a great opportunity to help families who rarely worship dive a little deeper into Holy Week before attending Easter services. Easter is so much more than Sunday. Student knowledge should include the journey that leads up to Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection.
My Most Memorable Holy Week
I don’t think that I will ever forget this moment in my ministry. It was only my second year of teaching. In the days leading up to Easter, my principal was out of town after her mom passed away. Then, the phone call came. One of my former students (I taught second grade at the time) just lost her biological grandma, but in reality, this person was the only mom she really knew. She was a healthy and active nurse who worked long hours. She had passed away completely unexpectedly. My student spent long days in our childcare as well as at school with us prior to this loss. In many ways, she spent as many hours with us at school as she did with her mom.
Since her current teacher was busy with family and my principal was at the funeral for her own mom, I, being a couple of thousand miles away from my own family on the holiday, drove with a childcare coworker to spend a few hours with the girl while her relatives made some arrangements. Comforting a child over the loss of a parent is not something that you can learn in teacher college – even if there is grief training. We painted her nails, made her smile, and just chatted about her questions.
The funeral that shortly followed greatly impacted our little school family. Some students attended, and the student soon moved away to live with family members. Yet, God’s love could be seen covering the student, her family, her peers, and her teachers with the comfort and care that they needed during this difficult time.
How to Teach Holy Week
As you can see, Holy Week holds a special place in my heart. First, for the love of my Lord and Savior, but also for the love of a student who suffered such a difficult loss. However, for my current students, I want them to walk away from Holy Week with a full understanding of the events that happen during this week. When the pandemic hit last year, we were in the midst of this topic. Many of you had to use distance learning strategies to teach this unit.
Personally, my project-based learning unit was easy enough to send home for my students.
You could use mini books that explain the overview of this topic in simple text with pictures that students can color. Maybe your students are a little older, and you want an activity to decorate a bulletin board. Craftivities with a writing component might be perfect for you. You could also use flipbooks to hang in the hall. Perhaps you have upper elementary students, and you are looking for a more detailed lesson in an interactive notebook. Finally, you might be searching for some sketch notes as Holy Week activities for middle school students.
Your students can learn about Holy Week with this free resource. Enter your name and email, and I’ll send you Holy Week Coloring Pages.
If you are looking for these resources that are completely ready for you to print and use, visit my store to learn more about my Holy Week/Easter line.
Looking for more related articles? Check out:
- Holy Week School Chapel Ideas
- Holy Week Activities for Middle School Students
- Holy Week Activity Centers to Improve Your Faith Lessons
Looking for more related articles from other authors? Check out:
- The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Holy Week with Kids
- Holy Week Activities for Kids
- How to Celebrate Holy Week at Home
Thanks to the team at Kayse Morris for all of your help with blogging! If you are looking to start your own blog, check out her 7 Helpful Tips on How to Blog Like a Boss!
Here are some great examples from two of her other students:
