lesson plan
The story of Jesus' birth
A lesson plan by ATMT
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Target audience:
High school students, upper grades.
Duration:
3 lessons of 45 minutes.
Includes a test.
Lesson 1: The Message of the Angel: The Beginning of a Miracle
Learning Objectives:
- The student can identify and highlight key words and phrases in the announcement of Jesus' birth.
- The student can explain which parts of the text resonate with them and why they are important.
- The student can ask questions about parts of the text that they do not understand.
- The student can creatively process the Christmas story by creating a birth announcement card for Jesus, using symbols and colors that align with the Christmas message.
Key Concepts:
- Monotheism: The belief in one God.
- Influence: Emphasizes the role of Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
Content:
Key Terms:
- Bethlehem: The birthplace of Jesus.
- The Census: The event that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
- Shepherds: People who heard the good news of Jesus' birth from the angels.
- Angels: Messengers who announced the birth of Jesus.
- Star: The constellation that led the wise men to the birthplace of Jesus.
- Manger: The place where Jesus was laid after His birth.
- Shepherd's Staff: A symbol of the shepherds who spread the news of Jesus' birth.
Lesson 2: The Key Figures of the Christmas Story: Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds
Learning Objectives:
- The student can describe the key figures in the Christmas story (such as Mary, Joseph, the angels, and the shepherds).
- The student can explain what the message of the angel to Mary was and what the significance of this message was.
- The student can explain what it meant for a woman at that time to be unmarried and pregnant, and the social consequences this had.
- The student can describe the role of Joseph and explain why his decision to support Mary was important in the culture of that time.
- The student can explain the role of the shepherds in the story and understand why they were the first to hear the news of Jesus' birth.
- The student can describe the message of the angels to the shepherds and explain why this message was important for the shepherds and for us.
Content:
- Key Figures: Description of Mary, Joseph, the angels, and the shepherds.
- Message of the Angel to Mary: Explanation of the announcement of Jesus' birth and His role.
- Unmarried and Pregnant: What it meant for a woman at that time to be pregnant without being married.
- Role of Joseph: Explanation of Joseph's decision to support Mary and its cultural significance.
- Role of the Shepherds: Why the shepherds were the first to hear the news of Jesus' birth.
- Message to the Shepherds: What the angels said to the shepherds and the importance of their message.
Lesson 3: The Wise Men, Herod, and the Flight to Egypt
Learning Objectives:
- The student can retell the story of the wise men from the East in broad outline.
- The student knows who the wise men were and what their role was in the Christmas story.
- The student can explain who King Herod was and what role he played in the story.
- The student can explain why the wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and what these gifts symbolize.
- The student knows to which country Joseph fled with his family and why this was necessary.
- The student knows where Jesus grew up and what this means for His childhood.
Content:
- Story of the Wise Men: The wise men followed the star to Bethlehem and brought gifts for the newborn Jesus.
- Who were the Wise Men?: Explanation of the origin and role of the wise men in the Christmas story.
- King Herod: Explanation of the cruel king who felt threatened by the birth of the "King of the Jews."
- Gifts of the Wise Men: Gold (for kingship), frankincense (for divinity), and myrrh (for suffering and death).
- Joseph’s Flight to Egypt: Why Joseph fled to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape Herod.
- Jesus’ Childhood: The place where Jesus grew up, namely Nazareth, and its significance.
