11/27/11 winter unit 1: good news of great joy lesson 1

8/4/2019 11/27/11 Winter Unit 1: Good News of Great Joy Lesson 1

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KEY CONCEPT MOTIONS:

Every time you say the key concept during the lesson,use these motions: Gods Son [point up], Jesus, is born

[cradle arms and rock back and forth].

BibleSummaryLuke 1:26-38, 2:1-7

An angel told Maryshe would have ababy: Gods Son,Jesus. Joseph andMary had to travelfrom Nazareth toBethlehem for the

census. When theyarrived, there was noplace for them tospend the night, sothey stayed in a stable.While they were there,Jesus was born. Marywrapped Him incloths and laid Himin a manger.

Bible Verse. . . God showed His

love among us: He

sent His one and only

Son into the world.

1 John 4:9

LESSON 1:UNIT 1:

In the Beginning . . . Growing into a Life of Faith

Good Newsof Great Joy The Angels Promise

to Mary

ObjectivesKNOW WHAT:

Children will hear the Christmas story,including the angels visit to Mary and thebirth of Jesus.

SO WHAT:

Children will learn that God sent His Son,Jesus, as a baby to show His love.

NOW WHAT:Children will participate in various activi-ties that reinforce what the angels did inthe Christmas story.

Spiritual FormationCelebration

People NeededTeacher, Helper

Supplies(Labeled visuals below can be found inthe Lesson 1 Visual folder on the WinterQuarter CDs.)

CD playerMusic for singing Sound Effects CD (optional) Christmas tree with picture ornaments

(see Unit Overview for instructions) The Beginners Bible Large Christmas gift bag

(for pretend halos) Crayons For each child:

1 Instrument (maracas, jingle bells,drums, etc.) (optional)

1 Halo 1 White paper bag with angel wings

outline (Lesson 1 SG 8) 3 Star stickers

Key Concept sticker (Lesson 1 SG 9) Two-sided take-home coloring sheet

(Lesson 1 SG 10, Lesson 1 SG 11) Snack

Gods Son,Jesus,

is born.

KeyConcept

1 Winter Quarter 2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 1


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In Advance Recruit a Helper to operate the music CDs and the sound effects CD.

Determine which songs you will use and be prepared to lead the children in singing.Song suggestions:

Upbeat song, that kids can clap along to, for transition from Activity Stations to theCreative Bible Teaching (consider using the same song for all 15 lessons or using adifferent song for each unit)

Who Was There (Jump for JoyCD) Jump for Joy (Jump for JoyCD) Its Christmastime (Jump for JoyCD) He is Born (Jump for JoyCD)

Determine whether or not you will use the sound effects CD. If you prefer not to use thesound effects, or to use only a few of them, look at each sound effect listed in the lessonand determine if you will play the sound effect from the CD, encourage the kids to makethe sound effect along with you, or omit the sound effect, and then modify the lessonaccordingly.

Gather the supplies listed above and arrange your classroom as follows:

Designate one area or corner of the room as your teaching area. Set up props that willbe used during the lesson and consider covering them with a sheet or a large piece offabric to keep them from curious kids during Activity Stations. Also consider placing aline of tape on the floor to help keep kids out of the teaching area.

For the lessons in Unit 1, the Bible story will be told through picture ornaments on aChristmas tree. See the Unit 1 Overview for specific instructions on creating the treeand ornaments. The pictures on the ornaments should face away from the kids at thebeginning of each lesson. Make sure the ornaments are arranged to match the order of

the story.

Prepare the materials that will be given to each of the children. To prepare the stickers,print or copy the pages onto Avery label sheets #5294. Consider cutting the stickers apartfor easier distribution.

The halos can be created by cutting lengthsof gold or silver wire garland. Twist theends together to form a circlet. Place thecompleted halos in the gift bag and set itnear the Christmas tree.

To prepare the angel puppets, print the

angel wings outline and copy it on card-stock. You may choose to cut outaround the wings outline, but this isnot necessary. Glue the wings sheet tothe back of a white paper lunch bag toform the base for an angel puppet.

Print out the lesson and practice theteaching time.

UNIT 1:

Good Newsof Great Joy

Notes:


Lesson 1 SG 8

Glueortape

paperbagher

e.

WinterQuarter/Lesson1SG8

2007WillowCreekCommunityChurch

Permissiongrantedtoreprodu

cethis

pageforuseinthislesson.


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UNIT 1:


Creative Bible Teaching

(15 MINUTES)

[Play upbeat music as children transition to the teaching area. Encourage kids to clap their

hands along with you. Clap in a variety of styles like overhead, on your knees, on yourbelly, etc.]

TEACHER:

Hi, everyone! My name is__________, and Im so glad youre here today! We are going tohave a lot of fun! We will sing songs, play games, and meet some special friends! I am sohappy to see you all here, because today we will be celebrating a special day. There is aspecial holiday coming up. I want you to yell the name of the holiday when I say the wordmerry. Ready? Merry

[Kids respond, Christmas!]

Thats right, Merry Christmas! There are so many things that are great about Christmas. Butmy favorite thing is to hear the Christmas story from the Bible! It is a really great story. If

you know any of the people in the Christmas Bible story, or some of the animals in theChristmas Bible story, put your arm in the air and wave to me like this. [Demonstrate andthen calls on kids for their answers.] Lets all stand up and sing a song about the Christmasstory in the Bible.

Activity Stations(20 MINUTES)

Choose which activity stations you will use from the list included in the Activity Stationsfolder.

Teachers Prep

READ LUKE 1:26-38 and 2:1-20. When you were a child, did the month of December seemthree times longer than any other month of the year? For children, the closer Christmas getsthe slower time seems to pass. Underneath the decorations and the hoopla, kids often recog-nize there is something special about Christmas that makes it different from other holidays.

Do you remember being amazed at the truth of Gods grace when you first saw Christmas asa personal expression of love from God to you? When we think of Christmas this way, wecelebrate the season as God intended. Read Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-25. Do you feel achildlike anticipation as you wait for Christmas to arrive? Does your soul take delight in thestory that is two thousand years old, and yet new each time it is heard? This year, allow your-self to be inspired anew by the Christmas message.



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UNIT 1:


MUSICSong suggestion: Who Was There

TEACHER:

Good singing, friends. I love this story sooo much. Lets tell the Christmas story right now.Ive got my Bible. [Show The Beginners Bible.] Each ornament on our tree shows a part ofthe Christmas story. And the best part is, today we are going to learn that Gods Son [pointup], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back and forth]. Say that with me. Gods Son[point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back and forth]. Now say it in your quietestvoices. Gods Son [point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back and forth]. Click on

your listening ears, friends. Click! Click! [Tug on each earlobe.] Now lets put on our specialeyes. Shookum! Shookum! [Hold hands to eyes, one at a time, shaping glasses.]

[Start the Bible story whispering and gradually work up to regular volume.] The Bible saysthere was a woman named Mary, who lived in a town called Nazareth.

[Flip over the first ornament with the picture of Mary.]

This is a picture of Mary. One night, God sent a special angel to visit Mary.

[Flip over the ornament with the picture of an angel.]

[SFX 1: Harp music . . . Angel: Dont be afraid. You are going to have a baby. Gods Son.

The babys name will be Jesus. . . . Harp music.]

TEACHER:

[Point to Mary picture.] When Mary first saw the angel, she was afraid. Can you show meyour afraid faces? [Model for kids.] Then the angel told her, Dont be afraid. The angel saidMary was going to have a baby, Gods Son. And what was the babys name going to be?[Jesus.] Thats right. The babys name would be Jesus. Well, Mary was very excited. But thereis more to the Christmas story.

[Flip over the ornament with the picture of Joseph.]

There was a man named Joseph. He loved Mary very much. [Point to Mary.] And Maryloved Joseph, too. Give yourselves a great big hug. [Model for kids.] So Mary told Joseph thatan angel visited her, and that she was going to have a baby, Gods Son. Soon after Mary toldJoseph about the baby, Mary and Joseph went on a trip to Bethlehem. See, all the people inthe town needed to be counted, so Mary and Joseph had to go to the town of Bethlehem tobe counted.

[Flip over the ornament with the picture of a donkey.]

[SFX 2: Donkey hee-hawing.]

TEACHER:

Mary got on a donkey, and then Joseph and Mary went far, far away to the town ofBethlehem. [Invite children to pat their hands on their knees.] They kept going and going.The road was dirty. The road was dusty, and Mary was getting very tired. Finally, Joseph



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UNIT 1:


and Mary arrived in Bethlehem. The town of Bethlehem had a lot of people. Listen to allthe people!

[SFX 3: Crowd noises.]

TEACHER:

Everyone had come to be counted, just like Mary and Joseph. There were so many peoplethat Mary and Joseph had a hard time finding a place to sleep. There was no room any-where, because there were too many people. The only place they could find to sleep was in astable. A stable is just like a barn. The stable was filled with many animals.

[Flip over the ornament with the picture of a cow.]

There were cows.

[SFX 4: Cow mooing.]

TEACHER:

What sound does a cow make? [Allow kids time to respond. Flip over ornament with the pic-ture of a sheep.] There were sheep.

[SFX 5: Sheep baaaing.]

TEACHER:

What sound do sheep make? [Allow kids time to respond. Flip over ornament with a picture ofa donkey.] There were donkeys.

[SFX 6: Donkey hee-hawing.]

TEACHER:

What sound does a donkey make? [Allow kids time to respond.] There were animals every-where! [Whisper.] But Mary and Joseph rested there in the dirty, smelly stable. Then some-thing very special happened. Jesus was born.

[SFX 7: Lullaby music.]

[Flip over the ornament with the picture of Baby Jesus in a manger.]

TEACHER:

Baby Jesus was born. [Pretend to rock Baby Jesus.] He was wrapped in cloths and placed in a

manger. Gods Son, Jesus was born. God loved us so much, He gave us Baby Jesus. Pretend torock Baby Jesus. [Rock arms back and forth.] Baby Jesus is a special baby. God loves us somuch, He gave us Baby Jesus. Lets stand and sing.

MUSICSong suggestion: Jump for Joy

[Invite children to sit down on the count of three.]



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UNIT 1:


TEACHER:

I love Christmas. Who was born on Christmas? [Jesus.]And today we learned that Gods Son[point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back and forth]. Say that with me, friends.Gods Son [point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back and forth]. Gods Son[point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back and forth]. That makes me want tocelebrate and be happy! Lets sing a song with instruments and make music for Jesus!

[If instruments are available, Helper and Teacher pass them out.]

MUSICSong suggestion: Its Christmastime

[Invite children to sit down and collect instruments.]

TEACHER:

Today we learned that Gods Son [point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back andforth]. Lets say that again. Gods Son [point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock backand forth]. Now, lets open our special Christmas package.

[SFX 8: Harp music.]

TEACHER:

Wow! There are some pretend halos in here.

[Pass out a halo to each child.]

Lets pretend to be the angel in the story. The angel talked to Mary and said, Dont beafraid. [Shake finger back and forth.] Say that with me. Dont be afraid. [Shake finger backand forth.] You will have a baby. Say that with me. You will have a baby.

Lets pretend to be the angel and say, The babys name is Jesus. [Rock baby.] The babysname is Jesus.

Lets pretend again. The angel talked to Mary and said, Dont be afraid. Say that with me.Dont be afraid. You will have a baby. Say that with me. You will have a baby.

Lets pretend to be the angel and say, The babys name is Jesus. [Rock baby.] The babysname is Jesus.

Angels sang songs, too. Lets sing some songs like the angels.

[Helper passes out instruments along with Teacher.]

MUSICSong suggestion: He is Born

[Collect instruments and invite children to sit down.]



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UNIT 1:


Life Application Activity(10 MINUTES)

TEACHER:

Today we learned the true Bible Christmas story. What did the angel say to Mary? [Dont beafraid. You are going to have a baby. The babys name is Jesus.] Who was in the Christmasstory? [Angels, Mary, Joseph, animals, Jesus, shepherds.] What did we learn today? Gods Son[point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back and forth].

Lets make an angel puppet to remember what the angel said to Mary.

[Helper gives each child a white paper bag with angel wings.]

TEACHER:

Watch carefully as I make my puppet. You are going to make your own angel in just aminute.

[Model for the children how to make the angel puppet by making your own. Helper places thecrayons in the middle of the group.]

TEACHER:

Everybody put your bag on the floor with the folded part on the bottom looking at you.Color the face on the puppet.

[Helper and Teacher go around to all the kids and help them draw two eyes, a nose, and amouth.]

TEACHER:

Now color some hair on the top of the angels head. I am going to give everybody threestickers to place on their angel. Decorate the body of your angel with crayons and starstickers.

[Pass out the stickers and allow kids to complete their angels. When all the kids are finished, theHelper collects the crayons.]

TEACHER:

Wow! Everybodys angel looks great! They are beautiful. Lets all put our puppets on ourhands. Repeat after me what the angel said to Mary. Dont be afraid. [Repeat with kids.]Youre going to have a baby. [Repeat with kids.] His name will be Jesus. [Repeat with kids.]

To help us remember the true Christmas story, Im going to read it to us from the Bible.

[Read the story of the angel visiting Mary from The Beginners Bible.]

TEACHER:

Today we learned the Christmas story. God loves us so much, He gave us Baby Jesus. Welearned Gods Son [point up], Jesus, is born [cradle arms and rock back and forth]. Letspray to God and thank Him for Baby Jesus. [Lead the children in the following finger play.]



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UNIT 1:


Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.]Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.]Give a little clap. [Clap hands.]Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.]Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.]Fold them in your lap. [Fold hands in lap.]

[Invite the children to repeat after you as you pray.]Dear God,Thank You for the Christmas story.Thank You for Baby Jesus.Thank You for our snack.In Jesus Name,Amen.

Snack and Coloring Activity(15 MINUTES)

This is the time for you and the children to build community. A great way to let the kids knowyou care about them as individuals is to ask them questions about themselves.

GIVE each child a snack to eat.GIVE each child a Key Concept sticker to put on their shirt while they are eating their snack.GIVE each child a coloring sheet to color while they are waiting to be picked up.ASK each child a question or two:

Do you think Baby Jesus liked all the animals in the stable? Which animal is your favorite?


Lesson 1 SG 10

God

sSon,Jesus

,isborn

.

Lesson 1 SG 9

Gods Son, Jesus, is born.

The Angels Visit to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)

11/27/11 winter unit 1: good news of great joy lesson 1

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