Lesson Plan- Birth of Jesus (1st grade on up)

Birth of Jesus


Objectives: The students will be able to
- retell the story of Jesus’ birth
- identify where Jesus was born and in what town
- identify that Jesus was born on Christmas
- identify Bethlehem on a map



Review:
Prayer, questions and vocabulary words from last week’s lesson



Vocabulary Words: (Write the words on the board and discuss with class)

Expecting- going to have a baby soon
Emperor- the male ruler of a group of nations or states
Register- a book containing a written list or record of names
Taxed- a payment toward the running of a country
Journey- a long trip or adventure
Bethlehem- a small town in Israel where Jesus was born (show students this on a map and have the students find it on a map)
Inn- like a hotel where you can sleep and eat
Stable- where they keep animals
Manger- a trough where animals eat out of
Flocks- group of something



Plan:

Read story "Birth of Jesus" and ask questions from Take Home Sheet that will be sent home today.



Activities:

Introduce activities: What day was Jesus born?

sermons4kids.com- Christmas object lessons

creativebiblestudy.com- A Christmas Object Lesson ...or Two

beau.lib.la.us- The Best Gift (object lesson)

christiancrafters.com- Christmas Lessons & Advent Season Talks

dltk-bible.com- The Christmas Story lesson with memory verse, teacher's guide, puzzles, take home sheet, coloring pages, crafts and activities, etc.

calvarycurriculum.com- The Birth of Jesus, Angels Appear To Shepherds lesson #167 with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets.



Crafts:

Introduce craft: Where was Jesus born? In a stable.

fcpeace.com- Paper Bag Manger Scene
Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke, page 49 – 52

catholicicing.blogspot.com- DIY Printable Nativity for Kids by Lacy
Complete directions and printable templates


Other crafts-

Shine On- Students make punched-tin candleholders. (Bible Story Crafts & Projects Children Love by Kathy Ross, page 71).

The Catholic Toolbox- Punched Tin Candle Holder

noelnoelnoel.com- Festive Candle Holder
Cute, easy craft made out of a baby food jar and tissue paper. Tip: Make a mixture of half water and half glue in a paper cup. Paint with a paintbrush or a Q-tip a small area on each jar with the glue mixture, then cover the area with small pieces of tissue paper. Use a variety of colored paper to cover the entire jar with two or three layers of tissue paper. Coat the finished jar with thinned glue to seal.

Glitter and Sugar Ornament- A fun and easy way to make lots of pretty ornaments to decorate your Christmas Tree. A sample craft from Kathy Ross' book: The Best Holiday Crafts Ever!, page 144 & 145.

christiancrafters.com- Scroll down to Christmas & Advent

Birth of Jesus Story Wheel- Children turn their story wheel dials to retell the Bible story they learned over and over again. (Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke. Directions on page 37 - 39, craft template on page 40 & 44.)

Christmas- Bible Story Wheel (Bible Wheels to Make and Enjoy by Carmen Sorvillo, page 33 & 34.)



Games:

Introduce game: What town was Jesus born in? Bethlehem

learningtreasures.com- Nativity Dominoes to print out and play

diva-girl-parties-and-stuff.com- Right, Left, Christmas Game
A fun way to review the story of the birth of Jesus.

sundayschoolnetwork.com- Christmas Games (8 Christmas games posted here)



Snacks:

Introduce snack: Where was baby Jesus laid into?

dltk-kids.com- Edible Manger



Puzzles, Mazes, Worksheets:

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the birth of Jesus puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from July 29 – August 2).

fcpeace.com- The First Christmas Book
A book for you to make and share.

lambsongs.co.nz- 9 Christmas booklets or one page Bible story you can color

The Angel Said to Them . . . (find the hidden pictures)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s World: Grade 1 – 3 by Linda Standke, page 16.

Shepherds Find the Baby (find the hidden pictures)- Hidden Pictures Explore Hidden Treasures in God’s World: Grade 1 – 3 by Linda Standke, page 17. (Click on Sample)

dltk-holidays.com- Christmas puzzles
Scroll down to Christmas Themed Printable Games and Puzzles for anagrams, bingo, crosswords, cryptograms, dominos, jigsaw puzzles, mazes, Memory cards, riddles, word-mining, word searches

sermons4kids.com- Birth of Jesus (word search)

sermons4kids.com- Birth of Jesus (crossword)

sermons4kids.com- The Birth of Jesus (decoder)

pflaum.com- Four times during the school year, Pflaum Gospel Weeklies provides three ready-to-print activities for each level; Seeds (Preschool), Promise (Grades K-1), Good News (Grades 2-3), Venture (Grades 4-6) and Visions (Grades 7-8). Plus each season special features for the entire family.