Archives: Christmas Pack #11
Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ: Young Children
Index for this Section
Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ
A Four Session Activity Guide for Leaders of YOUNG CHILDREN
By Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt
Author
Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt is a Diaconal Minister in the United Methodist Church. She has written nursery, children, youth and intergenerational curriculum resources. Her articles have appeared in Church School, International Journal of Religious Education, and The Alternatives Newsletter. Carolyn lives in Cheshire, Connecticut.
Introduction
With so much emphasis on Santa Claus in the weeks preceding our celebration of the birth of Jesus, it is no wonder that children become confused. This resource will enable adults to lead young children to remember whose birthday it is.
GOALS
This resource suggests experiences that will enable young children and their leaders:
- to introduce the concept that we decide what we will do to celebrate;
- to explore what helps us remember that this is Jesus' birthday;
- to explore ways to celebrate that show the importance of Jesus' teachings.
DESIGNING THE SESSIONS
These activities may enrich ongoing group experiences such as weekday classes, Sunday sessions, music and arts groups, weeknight or after school events.
The experiences in this unit are organized into four sessions for use during or before Advent. You may want to choose which activities you will do depending on the time you have available. In situations where the full session is not devoted to this study, activities can be selected to fit into, or be added to, those other ongoing group experiences.
ADVANCE PREPARATION
Before the unit starts, look over the following list and order or secure what will be needed.
- Review the other materials in the Christmas packet (including the activity guides for the other age groups) for additional resources and suggestions.
- Consider reviewing To Celebrate: Reshaping Holidays and Rites of Passage as you plan the unit. If not already available in your church's library, a copy can be ordered from Alternatives.
- Practice the three songs planned for use in this unit "This Is Our Way to Remember" (words by Carolyn Hardon Engelhardt; music, "Silent Night," by Franz Grueber - see GRAPHIC This Is Our Way), "Light the Advent Candle" (words and music by Mary Lu Walker, found in Dandelions, Paulist Press, 1975) and "The Crowded Stable" (by Richard Avery and Donald Marsh, Hope Publishing, 1976). [Due to copyright restrictions, the last two songs are not included here.]
- Review carefully the "Need" sections of each session so that the appropriate materials can be gathered ahead of time.
First Group Experience
NEED
- words and music for "Silent Night"
- words and music for "This Is Our Way To Remember," "Light the Advent Candle," and "The Crowded Stable" (included in this resource)
- twenty or so objects (seasonal, cultural, commercial, Christian) related to Advent/ Christmas/Epiphany, such as a Bible, crèche, religious Advent calendar, star, bell, store catalog, Christmas cards, etc.
- index cards with one "What's Your Decision?" item written on each card (see list of items on back page)
- homemade rhythm instruments (coffee can drums, for example)
- an Advent wreath or an Advent log
- copies of the letter to parents to send home with each child (see sample letter below)
Opening
Gather and sing "Silent Night" and "This Our Way To Remember."
The Story of Jesus
Going around in a circle, with each person adding to the story if they wish, retell the story of Jesus' birth. Begin with: "Long ago Mary and Joseph learned they would soon have a baby. They had to go on a long trip and still the baby had not been born ... (another person adds, etc.).
"Christmas Deciding" Game
Arrange the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany objects on a table or floor. Ask children to choose from the objects the things that help us to remember Jesus' birth. Then mix the objects up and invite others to sort. (Save the objects as the "Christmas Deciding Kit.")
"What's Your Decision?" Game
Place the "What's Your Decision" game cards in a pile. Let each child draw from the pile one at a time and answer the question on the card. For children who do not read, read the items to them.
Singing
Teach children the words to "Light the Advent Candle" and "The Crowded Stable." Encourage them to use the homemade rhythm instruments.
Closing
Show children the Advent wreath or Advent log and talk about what it symbolizes. Light the first Advent candle. Sing "Light the Advent Candle."
Hand out the notes for children to take home to their parents. (see sample below).
Dear Families,
During Advent, we are doing activities that help us to understand whose birthday it is that we celebrate. We are learning that we can choose what we do to celebrate. We want to remember to share and care at this time of year.
There are many ways that you can make this season meaningful in your household. Consider making an Advent wreath or log, lighting one candle each week of Advent. Perhaps you could light them each evening at mealtime and sing or read a scripture.
Secondly, consider allowing family members to arrange and act out stories with unbreakable nativity scene figures. For more suggestions on how your household can prepare for Christmas in the next weeks, see "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" If you don't already have a copy, this booklet is available from Alternatives.
For our group session next week, we would like for the children to bring a gift that they received in the past. We will be talking about why people give gifts. We hope that the child will share why someone gave her/him that gift.
We share with you the joy of remembering whose birthday it is!
Sincerely,
(church school teacher, or other leader)
Second Group Experience
NEED
- the gifts children bring (ones mentioned in the letter to parents)
- some gifts you bring (perhaps a "hand me-down" piece of clothing as well as some other gifts)
- money containers for special denominational giving fund, canned food, toys and clothes, etc.
- St. Nicholas narrative from the Activity Guide for Youth Groups ("Christmas Without Santa Claus" and "St. Nicholas: A Puppet Play" are also helpful. Both are included on this CD.)
- "What's Your Decision?" game cards
- words and music to the songs you learned last week and homemade rhythm instruments
- crèche figures (You might make paper figures and put magnet tape from a craft store on the backs of the figures. Such figures can then be used on the refrigerator at home.)
- "Christmas Deciding Kit" from last week with new objects added, such as a snowflake design, a sleigh, advertisements.
Opening
Use the gifts the children and you have brought to discuss why people choose to give gifts.
Jesus' Birthday Gifts
Read Luke 4:18 19 and Matthew 25:31 40 aloud. Jesus told us about some people we should always choose to help as a way to remember him. When we celebrate at Christmas, he wants us to remember the people who are hungry, thirsty, lonely, ill and imprisoned.
Alternative Gift Display
Display the money containers, canned food, toys and clothes. Discuss each item and how we might remember those in need this Christmas and throughout the year.
Singing
Sing "This Is Our Way to Remember."
St. Nicholas
Read the story of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. Discuss the ways in which St. Nicholas and Santa Claus are alike. Discuss ways in which they are different.
Singing
Continue learning the songs included in this resource. Sing some other songs about Jesus' birth.
Crèche
Discuss the crèche figures you made. Let children play with the figures.
"Christmas Deciding" Game
Use the items assembled in the "Christmas Deciding Kit" last week and the new additions Ask children to place the items in three groups: Buying and Selling, Winter, and Jesus' Birthday.
Closing
Ask all children and leaders by name (giving them the opportunity to pass if they don't want to
answer: "(name), how will you choose to remember Jesus' birthday this week?"
Third Group Experience
NEED
- name tags with the following "Merry Christmas" greetings written on them: Feliz Navidad (Spanish); Joyeux Noel (French); Ff'rahana sikukuu (Swahili); Shendon Kwailow (Taiwanese); Hristos rajdayetsya. (Russian); Froeliche Weihnachten (German)
- poster paper
- homemade rhythm instruments
- globe or world map
- Advent wreath or Advent log
- long roll of paper or a clothesline and clothespins
- index cards or plain paper
- pictures illustrating preparation for celebrating Christmas in the church or plain paper for children to draw some of their own
- fabric and other costume material
- drawing paper
- crayons
- paper punch and yarn
Opening
As children arrive, give each one a name tag that has the "Merry Christmas" greeting in another language.
Make posters that have the greeting in the different languages.
Sing "The Crowded Stable." As the different greetings are being sung, have those with that greeting on their name tag point to the poster with the same greeting. You may also have only those with the particular name tag greeting sing that part of the song. Children may enjoy using the homemade instruments to keep the rhythm of the song.
Globe and Wreath
While looking at the globe or map, point out the places where people are remembering that it is Jesus' birthday. Particularly point out areas where people speak the languages on the name tags.
Use an Advent wreath or log with various colored candles to represent the various groups of people in the world who are remembering that it is Jesus' birthday. Light the appropriate number of candles to represent the weeks before Christmas.
Advent Time Line
Involve the children in preparing a time line of Advent and Christmas celebration in the church. You can use a very long roll of paper, drawing and taping the pictures on it. Or, you can use a clothesline and hang the pictures from it.
Draw numbers on the index cards for each day beginning some days before Advent and continuing through January 6th. Place the numbers on the time line. Now add pictures from church files or draw some to show all the aspects of preparing to celebrate Jesus' birth. Include illustrations for the four Sundays of Advent, December 6th (St. Nicholas Day), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Epiphany or Three Kings Day on January 6th. This is an activity that allows you to guide the group to distinguish between what is in keeping with the celebration of Jesus' birth and other happenings this time of year.
After all the dates and illustrations are included on the time line, read the following Scriptures.
Make cards that list each Scripture reference and add them at the points where they are appropriate.
Luke 1:26 38 Isaiah 11:1 10
Luke 1:39 45 Isaiah 40:1 11
Luke 1:46 55 Isaiah 35:1 10
Matthew 1:18 24 Matthew 2:1 12
(The Isaiah passages can help children understand what the people of that time were looking forward to. Those things people were hoping for when Jesus was born are what we are trying, with God's help, to make happen in response to Jesus' birth peace, justice and well being for all people and creation.)
Posada
Using the fabric and costume materials, assign characters and act out a scene of Mary and Joseph as they come to pay taxes and be counted in the census; as they try to find a place to sleep and are turned away.
Some of the characters could be tax collectors, census takers, inn keepers, residents of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, other travelers, persons who take care of the stables, Mary and Joseph. Designate areas for buildings in the town and for the stable.
Plan and act out the events, perhaps several times with children taking different parts. (You may want to use "Las Posadas," available from Alternatives.)
"We Decide" Book
Using the drawing paper and crayons, suggest that participants make several pictures to illustrate the following: "We decide to ____________________ because Jesus was born."
Talk with the group about various possibilities. (To Celebrate: Reshaping Holidays and Rites of Passage offers many suggestions.)
You may wish to keep the pictures and work more next week when the book could be completed and taken home. When finished, use the paper punch and yarn to tie the pages of the books together.
Closing
Sing "This Is Our Way to Remember." Before the children leave, ask each child to bring a piece of fruit from home for next week's session.
Fourth Group Experience
NEED
- costume materials from last week
- baby doll
- materials from last week's "We Decide" Book
- items used in the display activity in the Second Group Experience, the "Christmas Deciding Kit"
- the fruit that the children bring
- foil or other material with which to make stars
Opening
Place a special baby doll where the children can see it as they arrive. Begin to share the story from
the Bible of the night of Jesus' birth. Invite children to prepare part of the room to be the barn
and another part to be an area for shepherds to watch sheep. You could use stuffed animals for the sheep and the costume materials for children to dress up and act out the parts of Joseph, Mary and the shepherds.
"We Decide" Book
Encourage children to prepare more illustrations from last week's "We Decide Book" activity. Punch holes in each picture and tie them together with the yarn. Title the book, "This Is Our Way To Remember" or "The We Decide Book."
Display
Encourage the children to look over the display items. Talk about how these items can help us remember people who are hungry, thirsty, lonely, strangers, ill and imprisoned.
Give a Gift
Make plans to give a gift that will meet the needs Jesus asks us to meet. Think of possibilities appropriate to your situation. For instance, using the fruit that children bring, make a fruit basket for someone who needs special care right now. You could also sing songs into a cassette recorder and give the tape to someone.
Make Stars
Make stars from foil or other materials. Talk to the children about the star that led the three kings to the baby Jesus. Send a note home with the children encouraging households to hang the star above their nativity scene using long thread and a thumbtack or tape.
Closing
Sing favorite songs about Jesus' birth and perhaps close with "This Is Our Way to Remember."
WHAT'S YOUR DECISION? GAME
each item onto a separate card.
- Name one thing you will do to celebrate Jesus' birthday.
- Name something that helps you remember Jesus.
- Why do stores send out catalogs?
- How many days do church people celebrate Jesus' birth?
- Name one thing you can do on Christmas Eve to remember Jesus' birthday.
- How can we help hungry people?
- Name one thing you can do on Christmas to remember Jesus' birthday.
- How can we show love to a friend?
- How can we use an Advent wreath or log?
- Where would you put nativity scene people and animals in your house?
- How can you share with a sister or brother?
- Why would people play with unbreakable nativity scene people and animals?
- How can we share with a child we don't know?
- Name another place you know about where people celebrate Jesus' birthday.
- What do some people choose to do at this time year that might cause confusion as we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birthday?
- How often would you choose to light Advent candles?
- How can we show love to an adult?
- What would a star help you remember?
- What are some ways to share at Christmas?
- Do you think the wise men came to see Jesus on Christmas Day or at some later time?
- Why do we give gifts?
- Why do people decide to give money to help others at Christmas time?
- Do you know the story of St. Nicholas?
- When is a good day to remember how St. Nicholas shared?
Make copies of this resource under the Creative Commons attribution, not-for-profit license.
Page updated 11 Sept. 2013
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