I love all the fun things about this time of year, but wanted to make sure that I teach my kids what it's really all about. I found some meaningful ideas that are helpful for teaching about the Savior's birth and the meaning of this special time of year. Most of it is from the Primary 1 Lesson 46 about the Birth of Jesus, but I added a few things to it. Hopefully, you can use at least some part of this lesson to help teach your kids about the Birth of the Savior.
1. Make a small manger (small paper-mache box from the craft store works well) and cut strips of yellow foam into small pieces of “hay”. You will also need a small baby Jesus to put into the manger. Print and cut the following ideas into small cards to use as ideas for earning hay for the manger:
2. Materials needed:
b. A small nativity scene. I found a printable paper one online at www.scrapbookscrapbook.com, click on the photo to link to the page. If a nativity scene is not available, use picture 1-75, The Birth of Jesus (Gospel Art Picture Kit 200; 62116).
d. GAK Pictures: 1-75, The Birth of Jesus (Gospel Art Picture Kit 200; 62116); picture 1-76, No Room at the Inn (62115); picture 1-77, The Announcement of Christ’s Birth to the Shepherds (Gospel Art Picture Kit 202; 62117); picture 1-78, The Wise Men (Gospel Art Picture Kit 203; 62120).
Tell the story of the angel’s visit to Mary, as found in Luke 1:26–35. Explain that the angel told Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God, Jesus.
• What was the name of Jesus’ mother? (See Luke 1:27.)
• Who was the father of Jesus? (Heavenly Father. See Luke 1:35.)
Explain that Joseph was not Jesus’ father. He was a good man chosen to take care of Jesus. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him about the important baby Mary would have. The angel told Joseph that Mary should be his wife.
Show picture 1-76, No Room at the
• Why didn’t Mary and Joseph sleep in the inn? (See Luke 2:7.)
• What kind of a bed did Mary have for baby Jesus? (See Luke 2:7.)
Help the children sing or say the words to “Away in a Manger” (Children’s Songbook, p. 42).
A baby in a manger (rock arms as if cradling a baby),
A loving mother near (reach out arms),
A star shines in the heavens (point with awe to the sky),
The Son of God is here (clap hands for joy)!
Show picture 1-77, The Announcement of Christ’s Birth to the Shepherds, and tell about the visit of the shepherds, as described in Luke 2:8–20.
• Why were the shepherds afraid? (See Luke 2:9.)
• What did the angel tell the shepherds? (See Luke 2:10–12.)
• What did the shepherds do after they visited baby Jesus? (See Luke 2:17, 20.)
Show picture 1-78, The Wise Men, and tell about the visit of the wise men, as described in Matthew 2:1–12.
After several trips around the room, have the children get off their camels and come back to the nativity scene. Explain that by the time the wise men found baby Jesus, Joseph had found a better place for the family to stay and they were no longer in the stable. Remind the children that the wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Have each child tell if his or her pretend gift is gold, frankincense, or myrrh and then present it to the baby Jesus.
Help the children sing or say the words to “The Nativity Song”.(Avon Allen Compton and Pat Kelsey Graham, Friend, Dec 1980, 13) You can use the music or just say the words while holding up the corresponding picture for each verse:
1. This is the season beloved of the year.
Sing a rhyme; Christmastime soon will be here.
Tell the true story of Jesus’ birth,
When, as a baby, Christ came to the earth.
2. These are the new stars shining so bright,
Lighting the world on that first Christmas night.
This is the angel proclaiming the birth,
Singing, “Hosanna!” and “Peace on the earth!”
3. This is the stable—shelter so bare;
Cattle and oxen first welcomed Christ there.
This is the manger—sweet hay for a bed—
Waiting for Jesus to cradle His head.
4. These are the shepherds, humble and mild,
Hast’ning to worship the newborn Christ Child.
These are the wise men who followed the star,
With frankincense, gold, and myrrh brought from afar.
5. See the sweet mother, Mary so fair,
And Joseph, guiding the donkey with care.
See the dear Baby of Bethlehem,
Little Lord Jesus, the Savior of men.
Explain that each Christmas as we celebrate the birthday of Jesus, we can give gifts to him. We can’t give gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh like the wise men did, but we can give another type of gift. We give a gift to Jesus when we try to be like him. We are being like Jesus when we are kind to our family and friends.
Help each child make or decorate a manger. Tell the children to put their manger somewhere in their homes where it will remind them to do kind deeds for others as gifts to Jesus. Challenge the children to do at least one kind deed each day until Christmas. Each time they do a good deed, they can put one piece of “hay” into the manger. When the manger is full of “hay,” they can put baby Jesus inside.
Explain that the birth of Jesus Christ was one of the most important things that has ever happened on the earth. Express your love for Jesus and your desire to be like him, not only at Christmastime but all year long.