YOUTH CAN TEACH
Teaching Tools
C H R I S T M A S
Celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ
Activities to Make Learning Fun
Sitting around the Christmas tree or at CHURH thinking of Thee
CHRISTMAS is about BELIEVING and a child’s heart is ready to believe. There is a magic in the air this holiday season. Every child has a wish. Some receive and some do not. Some give to those who would go without and they receive a gift much greater than one they might receive.
BELIEVING is about giving as Jesus gave. He came to earth, born of Mary in a manger, below the brightest star in the heavens. Hundreds of people waited hundreds of years for Him to come to be our Savior. Old Testament and Book of Mormon prophets told of His coming. Angels appeared telling of His birth. Shepherds followed the star and wise men brought gifts to the Christ-child.
Here Are the YOUTH CAN TEACH Activities to Make CHRISTMAS fun for children and youth
Use the following article to give you details (a preview) of the 33 CHRISTMAS activities.
TEACH ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES anytime or follow these five topics and teach them day-by-day or week-by-week at CHURCH or HOME as you countdown until CHRISTMAS. Enjoy!
TOPICS:
PARTS 1-2 (this blog post)
• Birth of Jesus Foretold (#1-8 Activities)
• Away in a Manger (#9-13 Activities)
PARTS 3-4 (see post HERE)
• Gifts From Jesus (#14-21 Activities)
• Gifts We Give Jesus (#22-33 Activities)
Part 1 of 5
. . . BIRTH OF JESUS FORETOLD . . .
Activities 1-7
#1
Prophets Tell of Jesus poster presentation
WHICH BOOK OF MORMON PROPHETS TOLD OF JESUS’S BIRTH?
Children and youth can share with family and friends the TESTIMONIES of four Book of Mormon prophets who told of Jesus Christ’s coming. Examples (reading top left to bottom as shown).
• The Nephite prophet Alma had a vision of Jesus 100 years before He was born. He saw that Jesus would be born of Mary in Jerusalem. He would suffer the pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind that we might be saved. He would loose the bands of death for everyone. – Alma 7:10-12
• Samuel the Lamanite prophet stood on a city wall and told the people that Jesus would be born in five years. He said a sign would come—great lights would be in heaven. And in the night before He was born, there would be no darkness: it would be like day. The day of His birth a new star would appear. – Helaman 14:2-6
. . . DOWNLOAD Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus song visuals (HERE or below)
. . . DOWNLOAD Prophet Samuel the Lamanite Announces the Birth of Jesus mobile ornament (HERE or below)
• The prophet Nephi the son of Lehi, lived 600 years before Jesus. He told of his vision—seeing the virgin, the mother of the Son of God bearing a child in her arms. – Nephi 11:20-22
• The prophet Abinadi lived 150 years before Jesus. Abinadi told the people that God himself shall come down among the children of men and shall redeem His people [breaking] the bands of death [taking] upon himself their iniquity [or sins]. – Mosiah 15:1, 7-9
. . . Stand As a Witness – Who Is Abinadi? prophet poster (HERE)
. . . Abinadi Warns the Wicked King Noah puppet show (HERE)
#2
“Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus” song visuals
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN FIVE YEARS?
Youth can sing along to tell of the Book of Mormon Prophet Samuel the Lamanite stands on the wall to tell that Jesus would soon be born. Write the words in the song on the cue cards (in your language) to place on the back. For example, “Said Samuel ‘Within five years … Baby Jesus will be born.’”
LYRICS – GO HERE TO HEAR THE MUSIC
Said Samuel, “Within five years
A night will be as day,
And Baby Jesus will be born
In a land far, far away.”
[Chorus]
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Oh, let us gladly sing.
How blessed that our Lord was born;
Let earth receive her King!
Across the sea, in Bethlehem,
Lord Jesus came to earth
As Samuel had prophesied,
And angels sang His birth.
#3
Samuel the Lamanite announces the Birth of Jesus ornament
TWO STORIES ON TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD TELL OF BABY JESUS COMING
This dual-sided star ornament hangs on the Christmas tree with baby Jesus at the bottom (on a string)
SIDE 1: The angel announces Jesus’ birth
SIDE 2: Samuel the Lamanite announces Jesus’ birth
This star and baby Jesus mobile ornament shows the prophet Samuel the Lamanite and the angel announcing the birth of Jesus.
What a way to connect Jesus who will visit two continents. Have children read the scriptures on both sides of the ornament.
SIDE 1: Jerusalem (where Jesus organized His Church and became our Savior) Luke 2:9-15
SIDE 2: The Americas (where Jesus visited after His death) Helaman 14:2, 5
COMPARE THE STORIES (see more PICTURE STORY details on the activity page HERE)
#4
Prophecies of Jesus (Birth to Second Coming) Timeline prophesies match
TRAVEL THROUGH TIME TO LEARN OF JESUS
Youth can use this Post-and-Present activity to imagine themselves in a time machine traveling back and forward to learn of the prophet’s words telling of Jesus.
In this poster activity youth can take a journey to His: Birth, Ministry, Death and Atonement, Resurrection, Visit to the Nephites, and The Second Coming. Simply follow #1-5 steps to play the match game (matching up prophecies with events in the life of Jesus Christ). See the activity HERE to play.
SAMPLE CARD If I were a child at the time of the prophet Samuel the Lamanite, what would I hear him say? – Jesus “must die that salvation may come . . . to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord.” – Helaman 14:15
ANSWERS (TO PROPHECY CARDS):
BIRTH: Helaman 14:2 (see above), Alma 7:9-10
MINISTRY: Isaiah 40:10-11, Mosiah 3:5
DEATH & ATONEMENT: 1 Nephi 11:33, Alma 5:48, Alma 7:13
RESURRECTION: Helaman 14:15, Hosea 13:14, Alma 7:12
VISIT TO NEPHITES: 2 Nephi 26:1, John 10:16, 3 Nephi 11:8-10
SECOND COMING: D&C 45:44, Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:28-36, D&C 45:16, 58-59
#5
Jesus Is the Star We’ve Waited For! star bright that special night ornament
JESUS ALSO WAS THAT “BRIGHT STAR”
Children and youth can brag about this special gift we’ve received that we all celebrate at Christmas time. Hang it on the tree to remember the Old Testament and Book of Mormon prophets told of His coming to save the world from sin and death.
Hold in this STAR BRIGHT ornament children and youth stand and bear their testimonies of why Jesus is that “Bright Star” in their lives; why they love Jesus. Also, talk about ways they can feel close to Jesus.
IDEAS (HERE) in the December 2015 Talk “How can I feel close to Jesus Christ?”
“As you think about Jesus, let His love warm you like a fire in winter. You don’t have to be the best at anything to be with Him.
This is a perfect time of year to think about Jesus’s birth. Take time to relax and feel peaceful.
I pray that you can feel how much Jesus loves you. He knows that you are trying to follow Him. Let that thought comfort you and give you confidence to go forward doing good.”
#6
Angel Tells of Two Births: John and Jesus puppet show/story and match game
TWO BABY COUSINS TO BE BORN
Youth can present these to younger children to know that an angel appeared to tell Mary and Elizabeth they were having babies and Mary’s would be Jesus and her cousin Elizabeth would have John the Baptist who would later baptize the Son of God, Jesus.
BEFORE TELLING THE STORY TALK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING
The Angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph, telling them that John the Baptist and Jesus would be born. John would tell the people that Jesus was coming to prepare the way for Him. He would then baptize Jesus. Jesus would come to tell us of Heavenly Father’s plan.
Did you know that John and Jesus would be cousins? John’s mother Elizabeth, and Jesus’s mother Mary were cousins.
PLAY THE MATCH GAME
Make two sets of cards on cardstock and have children play the match game, laying cards facedown on a table or with magnets on a board. Turn them over, taking turns, placing them back where you found them if a match is not made. Then say something you know about the person(s) on the matched cards. The person with the most cards wins.
Let’s go to a family reunion and meet the kinfolk of John and Jesus
You may also like the word search puzzle to get to know John the Baptist to DOWNLOAD HERE.
#7
I’m Thankful for Jesus’s Birth poster or coloring page
JESUS COMES FROM AN EARTHLY MOTHER & HEAVENLY FATHER’S SON
Children feel love for babies, and especially this baby cuddled in a blanket lying in a manger bed. At the bottom of the poster, you will find the HOME ACTIVITY that reads, “Tell me about the special night that Jesus was born and what gifts I can give to Him.
The activity gives many ideas on how to teach children. You may want to point out the STARS on the poster that read, “What gifts can I give Him?” Also, “How can I show my love?” Talk about how we can show love to others and tell children that when we show LOVE to others we are also showing LOVE to Jesus.
DOWNLOAD “Away In a Manger” song visuals (HERE, shown below)
#8
Birth of Jesus shepherd and angel turn-around headband
JOY TO THE WORLD … WE HAVE FOUND HIS SON, OUR SAVIOR
To feel the joy of Jesus’ birth, children can wear the headband and roleplay the SHEPHERD and ANGEL roles. With the SHEEP side of the headband forward say, “I am a shepherd. I found the baby Jesus.” Then, with the STAR side of the headband forward, say, “I am an angel. I told the shepherds where to find the baby, Jesus.”
