DLTK's Sunday School Lessons
The Nativity
by
Sunday School Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan. Visit the Christmas Section for further ideas to supplement this.
Introduction:
This is a summary of the previous three lessons on Christmas. It will reiterate the Christmas message, and help the children to understand that the rest of the year is special too. I've said this before, but it's worth mentioning again. When instructing young children, repetition is a positive thing. Everything is so new at this age that it is helpful to repeat important messages multiple times.
The message: Christ has come. The story is just beginning.
The message is that the story doesn't have to stop here, Jesus grows up, and He heals the sick, walks on water, and raises himself from the dead. Christmas is only the beginning!
Make sure you repeat the message many times during the lesson. Send the Nativity Take Home Sheet home with the children to encourage parents to reiterate the message during the week. It includes a poster at the bottom that the children can color and hang on their wall or refrigerator.
Preview of the lesson:
Some people like to do craft time first and story time second and some like to switch it around. I like the first option, myself.
Always consider offering, Coloring Pages (advent coloring pages) for children who aren't interested in participating in the group activity (or if you get done the group activities very quickly and need something to fill in the spare time). Everyone has a need for "alone time" once in awhile. Also, sending home the coloring pages with the Take Home sheet provides parents with much needed help in reinforcing the lessons. You can make a nice little booklet each week with the take home sheet on top -- I promise that most parents will appreciate the effort!
Description |
Time Allotted |
Supplies |
| Welcome! Receive name tags. Have the children use crayons, markers, yarn, buttons and whatever other materials (such as sparkle glue) you have available to personalize their name tag. Discuss why an evergreen tree is special (stays green all year round), and how green is the color of life, like Jesus' new life on earth. Sing the Learning our Names song |
10 to 15 minutes | Tree name tags, scissors (or adults can precut), crayons, markers, yarn, safety pins or tape. |
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Craft time! Preschool thru Grade 1: Painted ornaments is a nice craft both age groups can do if you don't want to make the Haystacks. Adults may want to work with the paint so it doesn't get to messy. Grade 2 and 3: Make Baby Jesus Haystacks. It's an easy no bake recipe. It just requires four ingredients, a microwave, and a little extra patience. The children could pour ingredients, and help stir. |
15 to 30 minutes depending on your adult/child ratio |
Preschool thru Grade 1: clear glass ornaments, acrylic paint, newspaper. Grade 2 and 3: Baby Jesus Haystacks recipe. Microwave, bowl, 2 spoons, 1 cup measuring cup, 4 ingredients. |
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Bible Story/Song Time: It can be fun to sing with the children, especially at Christmas time. Children tend to remember songs for a long time. Incorporating bells or small instruments might add some more fun to the singing. All Grades: Sing Away in a Manger. Preschool and Kindergarten: Read the Story of The Nativity (or read from your own store bought children's bible). Grade 3: it's tough to know when it's the right time to start readings from the Bible, but if the children have been read a children's version of the story in the past, I believe this is a good age to introduce the King James (or your preferred) bible reading. |
10 minutes | There are several coloring pages specific to the nativity scene. These pages can be printed and then staple them together and let the kids take the pages home to color through the week. |
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Closing: Depending on the time remaining, allow the children to talk about the scene at the manger. (It would be great if you had a picture, or use the felt bulletin board, so the kids can see it.) Ask the children what order each character came, and how they each found out about Jesus birth. Then read to them (or have them read along) A Christmas Prayer and give them a copy to take home. Standard ending song: "We Love to Learn Together" |
5 to 15 minutes | To end the lesson you could make a Nativity Scene felt bulletin board. The nativity can be completed this week. Words to: Standard ending song: "We Love to Learn Together" |