An Angel Announces Jesus’ Birth 1 Bible Focus: Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-38, 46, 47 Bible Memory: Matthew 2:1, 2 ”Jesus was born. . . . ‘We came to worship him.‘” (ICB) ”Jesus was born . . . we . . . are come to worship him.” (KJV) Life Focus: We can share good news about Jesus. Heart to Heart We all can remember times when we received good news. Perhaps you were notified of a new job, received news that a child would soon be added to your family, or heard that a loved one‘s health had improved. Although these messages gladden our hearts, the good news of Jesus‘ birth is an even greater source of joy. As you teach today‘s lesson, your excitement will encourage the children to rejoice during this holiday season for all the right reasons. Bible Background Nazareth was an insignificant village in Galilee, but God sent a messenger to two residents of that village. Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married. At that time, an engagement was such a sacred commitment that it could be broken only by a bill of divorcement. The appearance of the angel to Joseph confirmed that the child who was being carried by Mary was of divine origin. The angel told both Mary and Joseph that the expected child should be named Jesus. Lesson 1 at a Glance Step 1 Active P la Quick Step I Have Good News I Sent a Letter Mu Good News Newspapers (Unit center) Step 2 Bible Discovery Use all of these activities to help children tell about a time when Mary and Joseph heard good news. Sing and Pray Bible Time An Angel Announces Jesus‘ Birth HeartShaper Materials • none Other Materials • none • heart pattern p. 117 • none • scissors, envelopes, black marker, red or pink copy paper • newspapers, art paper, clear tape, washable markers or crayons • Resources CD and Sheet 1 stick puppets 1a and 1b, Teaching Picture 1, Scamper puppet • newspaper, CD player, 2 rulers or paint-stirring sticks, tape or glue, Bible, telephone • Make-n-Share pp. 3 and 4 and stickers • washable markers or crayons, blunt-tip scissors • none • baby dolls wrapped in fabric or nativity scene figures of baby Jesus, Bibles • (optional) Teaching Picture 1 • plastic or wooden angel figurine • Heart Tugs Issue 1 • none y Getting Started Use one or more of these activities to help children explore good news. sic Art g& Sin Pray Bibl e Time Bible Review Bible Memory Step 3 Grow and Go Use one or more of these activities to help children share good news they know about baby Jesus. Quick Step Good News Cards Cra Sharing Walk Closing the Hour Preschool Teacher, Unit 1, Lesson 1 04211-PresTeacherBody-SC.indd 9 Active P la y Remember the Good News ft ily Living Fam 9 7/20/09 1:46:58 PM Life Focus Getting Started (10–15 minutes) Step 1 • We can share good news about Jesus. Use one or more of these activities to help children explore good news. Welcome • Use your Scamper puppet to greet the children. • Place an identification tag on each child and gather necessary information from the adult bringing the child to class. • Provide a container in which children can place their offering money. • Guide each child to an activity center. Quick Step I Have Good News I Sent a Letter Before class, copy and cut hearts from red paper using the pattern from page 117. Place each heart in its own envelope. As children enter the classroom, print each child’s first name on an envelope. These envelopes have good news inside. Listen for your name as I sing this song. Hold up an envelope. Sing the following words to the verse of “Yankee Doodle Dandy”: I sent a letter to my friend / to share some happy news. / (Hosea) came and picked it up / and read his happy news. Have the child open the envelope and read the message to him. Continue until every child has had a turn. • What good news was written inside these envelopes? (Jesus loves you.) • How does hearing this good news make you feel? We can share good news about Jesus. Good News Newspapers (A unit center) Before the activity, tape art paper inside sheets of newspapers. Fold the newspapers. Some of the people in your family may read newspapers. I brought newspapers for you today. Give each child a newspaper and read some of the story titles on the one you picked out ahead of time. Talk about what you read. Then ask each child to draw on the art paper taped to the inside of the newspaper something that makes him happy. Fold and secure newspapers like they are when they are delivered to your home. Children can take turns delivering papers and saying, We can share good news about Jesus. • What good news did you draw? • How do you feel when someone tells you good news? Especially for 2s! Your 2s can enjoy pretending to deliver their good news newspapers. 10 04211-PresTeacherBody-SC.indd 10 Materials none Materials heart pattern p. 117, scissors, envelopes, black marker, red paper Active P la y Do you know what good news is? Let’s play a game to find out. Have the children stand in a circle. When I say something is good news, you jump up and down and clap your hands. If what I say is not good news, stand quietly. Examples of good news: I got a new dog. Susan’s aunt is having a baby. We’re going on a vacation. Examples of not-so-good news: It’s time to clean up. There is no birthday cake left. It is time for bed. • Tell me about a time when you heard good news. We can share good news about Jesus. Mu sic Teaching Tip If you have a large class, pass out the envelopes and have the children open them at the same time. Materials newspapers, art paper, clear tape, washable markers or crayons Art Teaching Tip Save plastic newspaper bags for use in this activity. Cleanup Use the Scamper puppet to encourCleanup age children as they help clean the room before moving to your Bible Time area. An Angel Announces Jesus‘ Birth, Lesson 1 7/20/09 1:46:59 PM Life Focus We can share good news about Jesus. Bible Discovery (20–25 minutes) Step 2 • Materials Resources CD Tracks 1 and 4, newspaper, CD player, Scamper puppet g& Sin Pray Materials Teaching Picture 1, Bibl e Time Resources Sheet 1 stick puppets 1a and 1b, 2 rulers or paint-stirring sticks, tape or glue Materials Teaching Picture 1, prepared Mary and Joseph puppets 1a and 1b Use all of these activities to help children tell about a time when Mary and Joseph heard good news. Sing and Pray Sing: “Happy Birthday, Jesus” and “We Came to Worship Him” Pray, God, thank You for giving us the good news about Jesus’ birth. In Jesus’ name, amen. Tuck a rolled up newspaper under Scamper’s arm. Show Scamper to children. Children, what does Scamper have under his arm? It’s a newspaper. A newspaper can be used to spread good news. The Bible tells us about two people who heard good news. Open your Bible as you begin to tell the story. Bible Time (Before class, tape or glue a handle to each stick puppet. Show the teaching picture.) The Bible tells us that God sent an angel to talk to a young woman named Mary. (Hold Mary 1a in front of the teaching picture.) Mary lived in the small town of Nazareth. The angel said, “Greetings! The Lord is with you.” Mary wondered what the angel meant. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. God is pleased with you. He is going to give you a baby boy. You are to name the baby Jesus.” The angel told Mary this baby would be great. Mary was happy God had chosen her to have this special baby. She told the angel that she was the servant of God. (Hold Joseph 1b next to Mary.) Mary told Joseph about the special baby she was going to have. Joseph was the man she was engaged to marry. Joseph didn’t know what to do. (Remove Mary.) Then the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel told Joseph to take Mary as his wife. The angel said to name the baby Jesus, because this baby would save people from their sins. Joseph did just what the angel said to do. (Show Mary and Joseph together.) Mary and Joseph were glad they had heard the good news that Jesus was to be born. We can share good news about Jesus too, just as the angel did. Bible Review We just heard some really good news. Let’s remember what we heard in our Bible story. • Show the teaching picture. Who brought good news to Mary and Joseph? • Show the angel and Mary. What good news did the angel tell Mary? • Show Mary and Joseph. What good news did Mary tell Joseph? • Show the angel and Joseph. What good news did the angel tell Joseph? Materials Bible, toy telephone Bible Memory Teaching Tip If you have a large class, have everyone shout the Bible Memory into the phone receiver at the same time. Repeat several times. Hold up a Bible. Who can tell me what this is? You’re right. This is the Bible, God’s special book full of good news. Show the telephone. We’re going to use this telephone to remember some good news from the Bible. Say the Bible Memory into the telephone and then give the phone to a child. Ask the child to repeat or say the Bible Memory. Continue until everyone has had a turn. Preschool Teacher, Unit 1, Lesson 1 04211-PresTeacherBody-SC.indd 11 11 7/20/09 1:47:00 PM Life Focus Grow and Go (15-20 minutes) We can share good news about Jesus. Step 3 • Use one or more of these activities to help children share good news they know about baby Jesus. Quick Step Good News Cards Before class, cut out a “Good News Card” for each child and prefold on dotted lines. Let’s make some cards so we can share good news about Jesus. Give each child a card and stickers. Read the message on the front of a folded card. Can anyone tell me some good news about baby Jesus? Have children open their cards and place stickers in the dotted outlines as you read the good news messages. Encourage each child to color the picture of the two children sharing good news. Children can seal the cards with their balloon stickers. • You learned good news about baby Jesus today. What was the good news? • Who would you like to give your card to? Sharing Walk Before class, get permission to visit other classrooms during the session. We’re going to visit some of our friends today. We can share good news about Jesus. Give each child a baby doll or a Bible to carry and then practice the responses to the questions below. Lead the children to the other classrooms and ask the questions. (Older children may want to share that He would be named Jesus, He would be great, and He would save people from their sins.) • Where can we learn the good news about baby Jesus? Have children carrying Bibles hold them up and say, “The Bible.” • What good news do you have to share today? Have children carrying dolls/figures hold them up and say, “Jesus was born!” • How does this good news make you feel? Have all the children say, “Happy!” Materials Make-n-Share pp. 3 and 4 and stickers, washable markers or crayons, blunt-tip scissors Materials baby dolls wrapped in fabric or nativity scene figures of baby Jesus, Bibles Cra ft ily Living Fam Teaching Tip Consider using a walking rope to help lead children from class to class. Especially for 2s! Encourage your 2s to carry the Bibles and dolls around the classroom and show them to each other while you talk about the good news of Jesus’ birth. Remember the Good News An angel shared with Mary and Joseph good news about baby Jesus. We can share good news too. Let’s play a game and learn our Bible Memory so that we can share it with others. Holding the angel, say the Bible Memory. Then pass the angel to a child and invite the child to say or repeat the Bible Memory. When finished, that child can pass the angel to the child next to him. Continue until everyone has had a turn. • What good news can you share about baby Jesus? Closing the Hour • Be sure children who are leaving now have their activity projects. • Give each child’s parents a copy of today’s Heart Tugs. Mention the “Something Good” clapping rhyme they can do with their child. NOTE: A Family Together Time page is available online for families to download. See www.heartshaper.com. 12 04211-PresTeacherBody-SC.indd 12 Materials plastic or wooden angel figurine or Teaching Picture 1 Active P la y Expert Tip Think about what you want the listeners to do, feel, believe, think, or learn by the end of your lesson. Always aim for the heart, not just the head. —Steven James An Angel Announces Jesus‘ Birth, Lesson 1 7/20/09 1:47:02 PM An Angel Announces Jesus’ Birth Bible Focus: Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-38, 46, 47 Bible Memory: Matthew 2:1, 2 ”Jesus was born. . . . ‘We came to worship him.‘” (ICB) ”Jesus was born . . . we . . . are come to worship him.” (KJV) Life Focus: We can share good news about Jesus. 1 Extra Hour Heart to Heart We all can remember times when we received good news. Perhaps you were notified of a new job, received news that a child would soon be added to your family, or heard that a loved one‘s health had improved. Although these messages gladden our hearts, the good news of Jesus‘ birth is an even greater source of joy. As you teach today‘s lesson, your excitement will encourage the children to rejoice during this holiday season for all the right reasons. Bible Background Nazareth was an insignificant village in Galilee, but God sent a messenger to two residents of that village. Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married. At that time, an engagement was such a sacred commitment that it could be broken only by a bill of divorcement. The appearance of the angel to Joseph confirmed that the child who was being carried by Mary was of divine origin. The angel told both Mary and Joseph that the expected child should be named Jesus. Lesson 1 at a Glance—Extra Hour Step 1 Quick Step “Something Good” Rhyme Active P la y More! Getting Started Use one or more of these activities to help children explore good news. Gam More! Bible Discovery Use all of these activities to help children tell about a time when Mary and Joseph heard good news. Other Materials • Heart Tugs Issue 1 • none • none • toy telephones • none • pillowcase, party invitation, small toy, framed picture of family, apple or orange • Resources CD, Sheet 2 Jesus picture 1c, Teaching Picture 1, Scamper puppet • CD player, gift-wrapped box with removable lid, Bible, toy telephone, greeting card with angel or nativity scene on front, envelope • Scamper puppet • party invitation in envelope, Bible, towel or cloth • Teaching Picture 1, Resources CD Good News Angel activity printable file • white or yellow paper, white or silver doilies, scissors, washable markers, glue sticks • Heart Tugs Issue 1 • toy telephone ily Living Fam Good News Phones Guess What? Step 2 HeartShaper Materials e g& Sin More! Sing and Pray Pray Bible Time—Another Way! An Angel Announces Jesus‘ Birth Bibl e Time More! Bible Review More! Bible Memory Step 3 More! Grow and Go Use one or more of these activities to help children share good news they know about baby Jesus. Quick Step ”Scamper‘s Good News” Good News Angels Cra ft Saying Good-bye Preschool Teacher, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Extra Hour 04211-PresTeacherBody-SC.indd 13 13 7/20/09 1:47:03 PM Life Focus More! Getting Started (10–15 minutes) We can share good news about Jesus. Step 1 • Use one or more of these activities to help children explore good news. Transition Time • Greet new arrivals with enthusiasm. Be sure each child has an identification tag. • Gather children to play the game Telephone. Send the message, “We can share good news about Jesus.” • Follow your usual procedures for taking children to the restroom and serving a snack. Quick Step ”Something Good” Rhyme Open up Heart Tugs and show the children the pictures. Let’s say a rhyme about sharing good news. Begin by setting up a rhythmic pattern of patting legs and then clapping hands. Lead the children in the rhyme, “Something Good,” included in today’s Heart Tugs. Each time you say the rhyme, substitute a new child’s name. Say something good about that child’s personality, attitude, or conduct. Children can also say good things about each other. We shared good news with each other. We can share good news about Jesus too. • What is something good you can say about (insert child’s name)? Good News Phones Let’s see if we can share some good news using these telephones. Give children the phones. If you have a large group, children can take turns. Encourage the children to share good news with each other, using the statements below or allowing them to think of topics on their own. You shared good news. We can share good news about Jesus too. • Tell your friend about a present you received on your birthday. • Tell your friend about your favorite vacation or trip. • Tell your friend about someone you like to play with. • Tell your friend Jesus loves him! Guess What? Put objects in pillowcase. Let’s play a game together. We will reach into the pillowcase and pull out items that remind us of good news. Have the children take turns pulling out objects. Decide what is good news about each object. Possible answers: You’ve been invited to a party. Your friend is coming over to play. Your family is going somewhere special. You get to eat your favorite snack. We’ve heard a lot of good news today. We can share good news about Jesus too. • Which object did you think was good news? • What other good news have you heard? Materials Heart Tugs Issue 1 Materials toy telephones Materials pillowcase, party invitation, small toy, framed picture of a family, apple or orange Active P la y ily Living Fam Gam e Especially for 2s! Have children sit in a circle. Put a ball, a teddy bear, and a boxed snack in a pillowcase. Pull out one item at a time and say, Good news! We get to roll a ball. Roll the ball to each child. Good news! We get to hug a teddy bear. Pass the teddy bear around the circle for hugs. Good news! We get to have a snack. Distribute the snack. 14 04211-PresTeacherBody-SC.indd 14 An Angel Announces Jesus‘ Birth, Lesson 1, Extra Hour 7/20/09 1:47:04 PM Life Focus We can share good news about Jesus. More! Bible Discovery (20-25 minutes) Step 2 • Use all of these activities to help children Materials Resources CD Track 1, Sheet 2 Jesus picture 1c; CD player; gift-wrapped box with removable lid Materials Teaching Picture 1, Bible Sin More! Sing and Pray g& Pray Sing: “Happy Birthday, Jesus.” Pray, Dear God, thank You for sending an angel to give Mary and Joseph the good news about Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen. Before class, place the picture of Jesus inside the gift box. I brought a box that has something very special inside. What do you think it is? Listen to answers, and then open the box. Look, it’s a picture of baby Jesus! The Bible tells us that an angel shared some good news about baby Jesus. Let’s listen and find out what happened. Bible Time—Another Way! Bibl e Time Materials toy telephone Materials Scamper puppet, Resources CD Track 4, CD player, greeting card with angel or nativity scene on front, envelope Open the Bible and place it on your lap. Show the teaching picture. I am going to read a story about an angel who brought good news. Every time I say the word angel, you can say, ”Good news!” Tell the story, pausing each time you say angel.) The Bible tells us that God sent an angel (Good news!) to talk to a young woman named Mary. Mary lived in the small town of Nazareth. The angel (Good news!) said, “Greetings! Don’t be afraid. You will have a baby. Name Him Jesus.” Mary was happy that the angel (Good news!) had told her God had chosen her to have this special baby. Mary told Joseph about the special baby she was going to have. Joseph was the man she was engaged to marry. Joseph didn‘t know what to do. Then the angel (Good news!) appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel (Good news!) told Joseph to take Mary as his wife. The angel (Good news!) said to name the baby Jesus, because this baby would save people from their sins. Joseph did just what the angel (Good news!) said to do. More! Bible Review I’m going to call you and see if you remember the good news we just heard. Hold the phone up to your ear to ask questions. Ask for volunteers who can answer the questions and hand the phone to them. Or you can ask the question, give the answer, and ask children to repeat the answer into the phone. • What did the angel say to Mary? (“Don’t be afraid.” “You will have a baby.” “Name Him Jesus.”) • How do you think Mary felt about this good news? • After the angel left, to whom did Mary tell the good news? (Joseph) • What did the angel tell Joseph to name this special baby? (Jesus) More! Bible Memory Before class, write the Bible Memory inside the greeting card and place it in an envelope. Have Scamper deliver the card to the group. Scamper has brought us a card. I hope there’s good news inside! Open the card and read the verse. This is good news! Let’s sing our Bible Memory together. Play “We Came to Worship Him” and encourage children to sing along. Preschool Teacher, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Extra Hour 04211-PresTeacherBody-SC.indd 15 tell about a time when Mary and Joseph heard good news. 15 7/20/09 1:47:05 PM Life Focus More! Grow and Go (15-20 minutes) We can share good news about Jesus. Step 3 •Use one or more of these activities to help children share good news they know about baby Jesus. Quick Step ”Scamper‘s Good News” (Hide the Bible with the towel. Have Scamper bring out the party invitation. Talk to the puppet.) Scamper, what do you have? Can I see? (Scamper gives the card to you.) Children, what do you think is inside this envelope? (Listen to responses.) Let’s open it and see. (Open the envelope and hold up the card.) It’s a party invitation for one of his animal friends. Scamper has been invited to a party. That’s good news, Scamper! Parties are so much fun. I love the presents. (Scamper nods.) And the games. (Scamper nods.) And the cake. (Scamper jumps up and down.) I think Scamper likes the cake best, don’t you? Scamper really wanted to share his good news with us, didn’t he? When we have good news, we like to share it with our friends. Scamper, can you show the children what is hidden beneath that towel? (Scamper pulls off towel.) (Put puppet down and pick up the Bible.) This is my Bible. (Open Bible.) My Bible tells me that an angel brought good news to Mary and Joseph. The angel told Mary and Joseph that God was going to give them a baby boy. His name would be Jesus. Just as Scamper shared his good news with us, we can share good news about Jesus with our friends. • What was Scamper’s good news? • What good news do you have to share with your friends? Good News Angels Using the printable file in the Resources CD, copy and cut out the shapes needed for children to make their own angels. Show the teaching picture and point to the angel. An angel told Mary and Joseph that Jesus would be born. Let’s each make an angel to share with someone who needs to hear the good news about Jesus. Assist as needed in assembling the angels. Encourage children to draw angel faces with markers. As an option, children can decorate the angels with glitter or sequins. (If using glitter, have children sprinkle over a tray or box.) Finally, read the message strip and have each child glue one on the body. • Who would you like to give your angel to? • What good news about Jesus can you share? We can share good news about Jesus. Materials Scamper puppet, party invitation in envelope, Bible, towel or cloth Materials Teaching Picture 1, Resources CD Good Cra ft News Angel activity printable file, white or yellow paper, white or silver doilies, scissors, washable markers, glue sticks (optional: glitter or sequins) Teaching Tip Use colored sugar sprinkles instead of glitter. These can be found in the baking aisle of your grocery store. Especially for 2s! Invite your 2s to apply the glue and then sprinkle on the glitter or sequins yourself. Help 2s attach the message. Allow angels to dry in a place out of children’s reach. Saying Good-bye • Invite children to say the Bible Memory into toy telephones while they wait for parents. • Be sure children have projects made in class. • Give parents this week’s Heart Tugs. Encourage them to say the rhyme “Something Good” with their children. NOTE: A Family Together Time page is available online for families to download. See www.heartshaper.com. 16 04211-PresTeacherBody-SC.indd 16 Cleanup Ask children to line up. March around the room, stopping at areas that Cleanup need cleaning. Clean the area together and then march on. An Angel Announces Jesus‘ Birth, Lesson 1, Extra Hour 7/20/09 1:47:06 PM
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