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
YOUTH CAN TEACH, so please let them teach with you. The best way youth can learn to teach is to know they have to teach it and explain it to someone. This way their testimony grows and their love for teaching and serving increases.
CHRISTMAS is about BELIEVING and a child’s heart is ready to believe. There is magic in the air during this holiday season. Children have wishes. Some receive and some do not. Children learn how to give to others who would go without and they receive that warm feeling that comes when they think of someone other than self, a gift much greater than a toy 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. People waited hundreds of years for their Savior, to come. 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 36 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!
Section 1
BIRTH OF JESUS FORETOLD
Activities 1-8
WHICH BOOK OF MORMON PROPHETS (& OTHER PROPHETS) TOLD OF JESUS’S BIRTH?
YOUTH CAN TEACH children about Another Testament of Jesus Christ: The Book of Mormon, where prophets recorded when Jesus visited them in ancient America.
Children will love sharing these stories as youth teach and rehearse with them the stories.
• 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
• 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)
OTHER PROPHETS PROPHESIED ABOUT JESUS’ BIRTH
• Isaiah prophesied that a pure woman would give birth to Jesus, to be “the Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
• Micah prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN FIVE YEARS?
YOUTH CAN TEACH and sing along to tell of the Book of Mormon Prophet Samuel the Lamanite who stood 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.
TWO STORIES ON TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD TELL OF BABY JESUS COMING
YOUTH CAN TEACH with this dual-sided star ornament that 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.
A way to make the connection of Jesus’ visits to 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)
HOVER OVER or ZOOM IN (to view)
TRAVEL THROUGH TIME TO LEARN OF JESUS
YOUTH CAN TEACH with 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
WHAT DO THESE TWO BRIGHT STARS TELL OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS?
YOUTH CAN TEACH children to appreciate that special star that shone bright that special Christmas night. Hang it on the tree to remember the Old Testament and Book of Mormon prophets that told of His coming to save the world from sin and death.
Holding this STAR BRIGHT ornament children and youth can stand and bear their testimonies of why Jesus is that “Bright Star” in their lives; and 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.”
TWO BABY COUSINS TO BE BORN TO SAVE THE WORLD
YOUTH CAN TEACH with this puppet show and match game. Explain that an angel appeared to Mary and told her she would be the mother of Jesus. Mary’s cousin Elizabeth would also have a baby named John. This was to be John the Baptist who later baptized Jesus, the Son of God.
Show the baptism activity to DOWNLOAD HERE showing John baptizing Jesus.
BEFORE TELLING THE STORY TALK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING
It was the angel Gabriel who appeared to Zacharias, Elizabeth’s husband, to Mary the mother of Jesus, and also Joseph who would be Mary’s husband. Gabriel explained the missions of John and Jesus. John would tell the people that Jesus was coming preparing 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.
BEFORE TELLING THE STORY TALK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING
It was the angel Gabriel who appeared to Zacharias, Elizabeth’s husband, to Mary the mother of Jesus, and also Joseph who would be Mary’s husband. Gabriel explained the missions of John and Jesus. John would tell the people that Jesus was coming preparing 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.
JESUS IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S SON, BORN TO AN EARTHLY MOTHER
YOUTH CAN TEACH children to feel love for babies, 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)
HELP THE ANGEL TELL THE SHEPHERDS TO FOLLOW THE STAR
YOUTH CAN TEACH children to feel the joy of Jesus’ birth. They 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.”
Section 2
AWAY IN A MANGER
Activities 9-13
A PRECIOUS BABY BOY WAS BORN TO SAVE US ALL
YOUTH CAN TEACH by creating this star background in a file folder to move the pieces around while telling the story of Jesus’ birth. They can assist the children in a play-act of the night Jesus was born with a manger scene, Mary and Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds with sheep, wise men carrying gifts, and cattle.
Some questions to ask might be:
• How would it feel to be a small shepherd boy there that night?
• How might you feel to suddenly see a new star in the sky?
• What would be some sights, sounds, and smells in that stable?
JESUS WAS BORN IN A HUMBLE STABLE
YOUTH CAN TEACH the children that when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem the city was crowded and there was “no crib for a bed.”
• Ask the children where could “the little Lord Jesus” lay down “His sweet head?” Tell them how Jesus wants to be “close by me forever, and love me I pray.” And they can pray to Father in Heaven, “Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.”
HOVER OVER or ZOOM IN (to view)
WHERE WAS JESUS, THE SON OF GOD BORN?
YOUTH CAN TEACH the children that Jesus was sent to earth born of a mortal mother. Heavenly Father is immortal and is Jesus’ father. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son.
• Tell the children that the stable and manger where Mary gave birth to Jesus shows the humble circumstances Jesus was in when He came into the world.
• He was raised and loved by Mary and Joseph. THE HOME ACTIVITY motivates them to learn of Jesus.
HOVER OVER or ZOOM IN (to view)
PROPHETS FORETOLD JESUS’S BIRTH HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO
YOUTH CAN TEACH the children that prophets had been telling the world for hundreds of years Jesus Christ would come.
• Tell the children that when Jesus was born the shepherds and wise men were told to follow the bright star.
• The children can place the star over the manger and match the stars (with the messages given) to tell their story of the Son of God born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
HOVER OVER or ZOOM IN (to view)
HEAVENLY FATHER GAVE US HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO BE OUR SAVIOR
YOUTH CAN TEACH the children as they roleplay Mary and Joseph putting baby Jesus in the manger (box).
• Ask the children what they know about Jesus’ birth. Why was Mary and Joseph chosen to care for baby Jesus? Why was He sent to earth? How can we show our gratitude to Him?
• Each child can lovingly place their own ornament on their Christmas tree or a doorknob at home to remember He is our greatest gift.
