Stations of Holy Week: A hands on learning experience

The background

As a lifelong Protestant and dyed in the wool Baptist, I have traditionally steered clear of Catholic practices. Growing up, no one ever explicitly told me that Catholics were “bad” but the insinuation was always in their tone. We never said the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostle’s Creed because that ritualistic behavior was too “catholic.” How could anything meaningful happen from something you do so frequently? PLUS, the apostles creed specifically has a statement about “the catholic church.” I can’t confess a belief in the catholic church if I’m protestant!

Years later, I feel so silly. I had to come to terms with the truth: my foundational need to distinguish myself from Catholics was built on a strawman’s argument. While I am in my core a Baptist and not Catholic, I see God’s beauty in their denomination. Catholics are my siblings in Christ. I can even have a holy envy (here’s a nod to Barbara Brown Taylor’s book!) for Catholic traditions. You may detect I’m still deconstructing unhelpful and divisive language and I ask for grace as I’m learning.

After many years of pondering, I built a hands-on Holy Week experience akin to the Catholic Stations of the Cross. This creation is not to critique the Catholic practice but to identify a practice rooted strictly in scripture alone. After all, how can Baptists celebrate Catholic traditions!? (I say with clear sarcasm).

This idea all fell together when I found, through Pinterest, a Holy Week Scavenger Hunt kit sold on Teachers Pay Teachers. Grateful for a framework to build upon, I purchased the download and got to work. I ask if you intend to follow my trend, go to the curriculum link and support this teacher!

My actions were quite simple: purchase the curriculum, create posters from the curriculum, print the handouts, and collect elements to represent each specific day. Below, I will show you my end results.

I ask if you intend to follow my trend, go to the curriculum link and support this teacher! I also used these two maps to highlight where things were happening each day during Holy Week.

The set up

Palm Sunday

• Poster
• palm branches, crown, & coat
• olive branches
• scrolls & printed scripture
• sheep
• reflection question: which famous person would you be excited to meet?

Monday

• poster
• fruit in basket (for fig tree)
• whip, coins, and birds in cage
• reflection question: what is something that makes you feel scared?

Tuesday

• poster
• kids books l & scholarly books on the Gospels
• world globe (I forgot to inflate)
• donation box & coins
• reflection question:  what is the difference between a dream, a wish, and a hope?

Wednesday

• poster
• 30 pieces of silver
• sheep & cross
• flannel board of Judas & religious leaders
• reflection question: how do we know secrets are bad?

Maundy Thursday

• poster
• chicken (rooster)
• door with blood (passover reminder)
• scrolls & 10 commandments
• pitcher & basin of “water”
• Jesus praying in the garden
• handcuffs
• activity: communion supplies plus fake grapes & goblet (I also had kid snacks of grape juice and animal crackers)
• reflection question: name a time you got caught in a lie.

Good Friday

• poster
• crown of thorns, purple cloth, & whip
• activity: nails, wood, hammer
• cross w/ railroad tie nails
• tomb terrarium & Mary doll
• book- photo of the temple
• reflection question: name something that is gross to share (like a tomb)

Holy Saturday

• poster
• candles & angels for our grief
• closed tomb with action figures standing guard
• 2 reflection questions
  • what is your favorite way to rest?
  • name someone you miss and love

Easter Sunday

• poster
• activity: toddler Easter wooden  figures
• activity: cars & road toys
• women dolls & Jesus dolls
• reflection question: write down some good news you are excited to share!

Ascension Day