Great for COME FOLLOW ME, Primary and Family Home Evening, Sunday School, Bible Study, Daily Scripture Devotionals
ACTIVITY: 3-D Baby Jesus Ornament
Children can proudly hang this ornament on their Christmas tree or in their room to remind them that “Jesus Is Our Greatest Gift.”
MORE LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES: Review (CTRA lesson 46) the preparation 2 and attention activity (p. 253), and teacher presentation (p. 256) in the manual.
Option: Create ahead this baby Jesus ornament and place it in the gift box when presenting the Attention activity (p. 253) in the manual.
TO MAKE:
1. Using cardstock, print or copy, color, and cut out the ornament. Option: Before cutting, laminate with contact paper.
2. Fold down tabs and all box sides. Fold baby Jesus center and place inside.
3. Glue side tabs inside the box. Fold and glue bow zig-zag line to box zig-zag line. Poke a hole above bow with a pencil and thread a 12″ string through to hang on the tree.
THOUGHT TREAT #1 Gift-Wrapped Treats. Tell children that the gift inside is sweet, but the sweetest gift of all is the gift Heavenly Father gave us when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to the earth to be our Savior and to teach us how to be happy.
THOUGHT TREAT #2: JOY Happy Birthday Jesus Cake (shown right; see below for recipe).
This treat is also used in CTR-A Lesson #7 using the activity (crown/hat) to role-play the Christmas story.
TO FIND LESSON: Present Lesson 46 – Primary 2 Manual – CTR-A: Jesus Christ Is the Greatest Gift (Christmas) see details below*.
VIDEO: “Mary and the Angel” from the Church website.
VIDEO: “The Wise Men” “Jesus is Born”
MORE LESSON ACTIVITIES:
THIS IS THE LAST ACTIVITY FOR THE CTR-A MANUAL.
CTR-B MANUAL IS NEXT SET OF LESSONS.
CLICK HERE FOR THE PREVIOUS ACTIVITY: CTR-A LESSON 45 We Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Easter).
CLICK HERE FOR THE CTR-A TABLE OF CONTENTS.
*LESSON 46
Jesus Christ Is the Greatest Gift (Christmas)
“Lesson 46: Jesus Christ Is the Greatest Gift (Christmas)” Primary 2: Choose the Right A (1995), 253–57
Purpose
To help each child appreciate the great gift our Heavenly Father gave us when he sent Jesus Christ to the earth.
Preparation
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Prayerfully study Matthew 2:1–12 and John 3:16.
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Place picture 2-41, The Birth of Jesus (Gospel Art Picture Kit 200; 62116) in a box, if possible, and wrap it as a gift. Write John 3:16 on a tag and fasten it to the gift.
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Make a card for each child by folding a sheet of paper in half and writing Merry Christmas on the front. If possible, bring envelopes for the children to put the cards in.
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Draw or cut out a paper star to represent the star the Wise Men followed (a star pattern can be found at the end of the lesson).
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Bring simple articles of clothing (such as scarves or robes) to be used as costumes for role-playing Mary, Joseph, and the Wise Men. If costumes are not readily available, bring name tags to indicate the roles. Also bring a doll to represent Jesus and items (such as a box, jar, and vase) to represent the Wise Men’s gifts.
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Prepare to sing or say the words to “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, p. 34). The words to this song are included at the back of the manual.
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Materials needed:
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A Bible.
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A recording of spiritual Christmas music (optional).
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Pencils and crayons.
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Picture 2-7, The Wise Men (Gospel Art Picture Kit 203; 62120).
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Make the necessary preparations for any enrichment activities you want to use.
Suggested Lesson Development
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Follow up with the children if you encouraged them to do something during the week.
The Birth of Jesus Christ Was a Great Gift
The Wise Men Gave Gifts to Baby Jesus
Giving Gifts of Love Brings Us Joy
Summary
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.
Enrichment Activities
Choose from the following activities those that will work best for the children in your class. You can use them in the lesson itself or as a review or summary. For additional guidance, see “Class Time” in “Helps for the Teacher.”
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Sing or say the words to the first verse of “Silent Night” (Hymns, no. 204) with the children.
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace;
Sleep in heavenly peace.
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Sing or say the words to “Away in a Manger” (Children’s Songbook, p. 42), “Mary’s Lullaby” (Children’s Songbook, p. 44), or “Oh, Hush Thee, My Baby” (Children’s Songbook, p. 48). The words to these songs are included at the back of the manual.
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Read Matthew 2:1–2, 9–11 aloud. Discuss the importance of the star to the Wise Men. Help each child cut two triangles out of paper and glue them together to form a star decoration (see pattern below). Let the children take their stars home.