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

Special Lesson - CHRISTMAS #2 (Shepherds)

1) Welcome Activity:

• Puppets... sheep and shepherds
• Flannel board... set out all the nativity scene pieces today
• Playdough... white playdough for making sheep. Show the children how to roll balls and connect them to make a head, body, etc.

2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Sing some Christmas songs today, too.
3) Pray... Thank God for sending Jesus to be our Saviour.

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 show to the shepherds out in the field on the night that Jesus was born.

5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about The Shepherds. Read pages ---- from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Text: Today’s Text is: ----

7) Crafts:

• Lamb heart craft... a simple cut and paste craft using heart shapes to make a lamb's face. Materials needed: scissors and glue. For younger children, cut all the pieces ahead of time. For older children who are competent with scissors, you may want to allow them to cut out the pieces themselves. Template here: http://www.first-school.ws/t/craft/lamb_hearts_b.htm
• Handprint Sheep Craft... trace each child's hand onto black construction paper. Cut out the hands. Turn the hand so that the fingers are pointing downwards and allow the kids to glue cotton on the "palm". The "fingers" will be the legs. Draw a face on the "thumb" - use a googly eye, if you like. Materials needed: black construction paper, cotton balls, scissors, glue, markers, googly eyes.
• Toilet Paper Roll Sheep... this one is a little more complicated, but with a little extra prep work (and a few simplifications) this could be really cute! Good for a group that is mostly 4 and 5 year olds. See instructions here: http://crafts.kaboose.com/cardboard-tube-lamb.html
• Paper Plate Lamb... Have the children cover a paper plate with cotton batting (if you want to use cotton balls, pull them apart first or the plate will be very heavy). Glue on eyes, ears and a mouth cut from constructions paper. See instructions here: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/melamb.html

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

9) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. 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 NT Lesson 1 for a selection of Christmas coloring pages

Special Lesson - CHRISTMAS #1 (Announcements)

1) Welcome Activity:

• collect small cardboard boxes, stuff each box with tissue paper and a piece of paper with the word "Jesus" on it in fancy letters. Wrap the boxes in wrapping paper - one for each child. Ask the children... what do you think is in the box? What would be the best present ever? Let them come up with lots of ideas. Then have them unwrap the gift. What is inside? Jesus - the best gift ever!
• alternatively, you can wrap one small box in larger packages and let the children unwrap the layers over and over until you get to the name "Jesus".

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

Christmas Bells (To the tune of "Jingle Bells".)
Christmas bells, Christmas Bells, Ring them all the day.
God the Father sent His son on that first Christmas Day.
Oh, Christmas bells, Christmas bells, ring them all the day.
God the Father sent His son on that first Christmas day.

3) Prayer... Thank God for the greatest gift ever, Jesus Christ, our Saviour!

4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: God works among his covenant people to prepare the world for the Savior. Tell them that they are going to hear a Bible Story about the announcement of the birth of the Saviour of the world.

5) Bible Story: Today’s Story is about The Birth of the Savior. Read about A Message for Mary, from the Read and Learn Bible (pages 246-249).

6) Text: Today’s Text is:

7) Craft:

• The Best Gift Ever.. Give each child a piece of construction paper with a large square drawn in the middle with the word “Jesus” in the square. On the top of each page write “The best gift ever” and glue the text on the bottom. Give the children a selection of bits of wrapping paper and small stick on ribbons and have them “wrap” and decorate the box so that others can lift the paper and see the best gift ever.  Materials Required: - wrapping paper scraps - small stick on bows- ribbon scraps -scissors
  - glue - construction paper.  A very simple craft that the children are always so pleased with!

• Christmas Music: Today is a great day to sing some Christmas songs. Children love to accompany themselves with instruments. If you have bells, shakers or other instruments at home that the children could play, this would be a great time to bring them in. Steer away from secular holiday songs and focus the children on songs that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

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:

Special Lesson - EASTER

1) Welcome Activity:

• a basket full of empty plastic eggs makes an interesting conversation starter, especially if you choose the Hollow Egg craft

2) Sing: Gather the children into a circle to begin the lesson. Sing the opening song to welcome all the children and get to know their names. You may choose 2 or 3 others from the song collection as well. This will help the children to settle down and focus them on what you are going to do that day.

3) Prayer: Pray together with the children to begin the hour. Take the time to ask the children is there is anything or anyone that they want to pray for/about.

4) Theme: Today’s Story is about the special celebration of Easter. Easter is not about chocolate and treats and Easter bunnies. Easter is about Jesus our Savior rising from the dead to save us from all of our sins. This is a very special celebration because it means that we belong to God. He redeemed us.

5) Bible Story: Read "A Joyful Sunday" pages 435-442 (R.442-449) from the Read and Learn Bible (Scholastic).

6) Today's Text: " He is not here; He has risen, just as he said." Matthew 28:6a

7) Craft:

• The Empty Tomb: Before the lesson, cut out a stone tomb shape for each child out of black/grey construction paper, and a smaller rock shape for each child. Have each child color an angel with yellow/silver or gold. Cut out the angel and glue him in the center of the tomb. Place the rock over the angel and attach at the top with a brad, so that the stone can be “rolled away”. When the craft is assembled, tell the story to the children with the craft in hand. When the women approach the tomb, they find the stone rolled away and an angel tells them, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” Matthew 28:6a.
  

Sample of Craft w/ rock in front, and rock "rolled away":

• Hollow Egg Easter basket...  This craft requires a bit of an older crowd (perfect for 4-5 year olds) as it requires higher level thinking to make connections.  Before you tell the story, show the children some hollow plastic eggs.  Let them touch them and shake them - what do they think is inside?  Then, let them open the eggs.  There is nothing inside - they are empty!  Put the eggs away and then read the story... emphasizing the tomb being empty.  Hand the eggs back to the children and ask - what does the egg have to do with the story?  Open the egg to illustrate that it too is empty just like the tomb on Easter morning!  Let them decorate a simple basket made with a brown paper lunch bag trimmed in half with a construction paper handle stapled (not taped) at the top.  Fill the baskets with fake grass if you like, and let each child pick out several empty eggs to put in the basket.  Our kids couldn't wait to show the eggs to their moms and dads - "guess what's in this egg, Mom?" one child asked excitedly as soon as his mom walked in the door.  "Nothing!  Just like Jesus tomb on Easter Morning," he announced without waiting for a reply.  :-)

• Hollow Egg coloring picture...  can be used as a companion craft to the Easter Basket above.  Glue on the text and allow the children to color/decorate the egg.

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

9) Going Home: After you pray, 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 Page: