Special Lesson - CHRISTMAS #3 (The Wise Men)

1) Welcome Activity:

• playdough... make yellow playdough for today and set out star shapes for the children to cut

2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.

Sing: Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star

TWINKLE, TWINKLE Christmas STAR
HOW I WONDER WHAT YOU ARE; UP ABOVE THE MANGER SO HIGH
LIKE A DIAMOND IN THE SKY ; GUIDING THE WISEMEN ON THEIR WAY
TO WHERE BABY JESUS LAY.

3) Prayer...Praise God for his great glory!

4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God sends his greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Saviour. John 1:14 “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father”  Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story again today that shows the glory of God recognized by the wise men of the East who came to bring gifts to the newborn king.

5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about the Wise Men from the East. Read pages 261-264 from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is: “We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2

7) Craft:

• Glitter Star: Cutout 1 circle, 5 triangles for each child from shiny gold paper (. Have the children glue them together in star shape on black or dark blue construction paper. You can decorate with other star stickers or glitter if you like.
• Star Wand… cut out two gold stars for each child. Assemble each wand one at a time with the children as the rest do a coloring sheet. Use masking tape to attach several stands of curling ribbon to the back side of one star. Use a stapler to attach a non-bending straw to the back of the other star. Staple the two stars together to form a wand. If you like, the children can decorate the star with star stickers, too.
• Once you have made your stars, use them to sing:

Twinkle, twinkle Christmas star
How I wonder what you are
Seen by wise men in the east
Point the way to lasting peace
Twinkle, twinkle Christmas star
How I wonder what you are

8) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children

9) Going Home: Sing the closing together. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?

10) Optional Coloring Pages:
- see New Testament Lesson 1 for many different Christmas coloring pages