Lesson 1: The Angel Visits Mary

• Religious education
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• BTEC, GCSE

Instructions

Rubric_Birth Announcement for Jesus .docx

Worksheets

The Family of Jesus.docx

The Angel Gabriel Visits Mary.docx

A Birth Announcement Card for Jesus.docx

Kerst

The angel comes to Mary

In this lesson, students will work with the Christmas story and explore the meaning of the birth of Jesus. By immersing themselves in this story, they will gain a better understanding of the cultural and historical context of Christmas.

This lesson provides students with an accessible way to explore and internalize the values of the Christmas story.

Moreover, creating a birth announcement card stimulates the students' creativity, empathy, and presentation skills.

With the attached rubric, teachers can assess the assignment in a structured way.

Learning Objectives

• You can recognize and highlight important words and phrases in the announcement of Jesus' birth.
• You are able to understand which parts of the text speak to you and can explain why they are important to you.
• You can ask questions about parts of the text you don’t understand.
• You can creatively interpret the Christmas story by making a birth announcement for Jesus, using symbols and colors that match the message of Christmas.

Leerdoelen

The big Christmas quiz!

Test your knowledge about Christmas!!!!!

The event we celebrate at Christmas is?

1. The begining of winter
2. The days becoming longer
3. The birthday of Santa Claus
4. The birth of Jesus

How long ago was Jesus born?

1. About 1000 years ago
2. About 2000 years ago
3. Not known
4. About 3000 years ago

Where was  Jesus born?

1. In the imperial capital Rome
2. In Nazareth, an insignificant place
3. In Bethlehem, the city of David
4. In Jerusalem, the city of peace

When was Jesus born?

1. In the middle of the winter night
2. On a lovely summer day
3. That is not in the Bible
4. On a beautiful spring day

What was the name of Jesus`mother?

1. Mary
2. Martha
3. Eve
4. Elizabeth

What did the angels sing at the birth of Jesus?

1. They sang "Glory to God and peace on earth."
2. They sang and played "Jingle Bells."
3. They sang "Silent night, holy night."
4. There were no angels present.

Who came to visit?

1. The president of The USA
2. Santa Claus
3. Three kings from the east
4. Three wise men from the West

What did King Herod do when he heard about the birth of Jesus?

1. He did nothing, why would he?
2. He visited this King-child out of curiosity.
3. Out of jealousy he let all the boys younger than two years be killed.
4. He went around boasting everywhere that he was the king.

Where was Jesus born?

1. In a hospital
2. In a stable
3. In a normal house
4. In a 5 star hotel

What do you think of when you hear the word 'Christmas'?

Religion

Without Religion

Word Web:

Ask the students to individually or in small groups fill out a word web with words and phrases they associate with Christmas.

Encourage them to consider both religious and non-religious elements. Provide examples to help them get started.

After the students have filled out the word web, together with the class, create a division into Religious and Non-religious categories.

We are going to talk about Christmas in the upcoming lessons. Everywhere you already see things related to Christmas.

Lights, Christmas trees, Santas, nativity scenes, and much more.

But do all those things actually have anything to do with Christmas?

What are we actually celebrating at Christmas?

Assignment 1

Read the text and do the following:

• Underline the most important words and sentences.
• Place an exclamation mark next to things you find very important.
• Place a question mark next to things you don’t understand.

Attached you will also find the text 'The Family of Jesus' that corresponds to this lesson.

You can also print out this text and give each student a copy. Together, you can work on the assignment with the students.

Assignment 2

Read the text and do the following:

• Underline the most important words and sentences.
• Put an exclamation mark next to things that you find very important.
• Put a question mark next to things you don’t understand.

In the attachment, you will also find the text "The angel visits Mary," which is part of this lesson.

You can also print out this text and give a copy to each student. Together, you can work on the assignment with the students.

In the Old Testament, angels often appear as messengers or servants of God with a specific task. They are sent by God to deliver important messages, protect people, punish, or offer help. The Hebrew word for “angel” is mal’akh, which literally means “messenger.” Here are some important roles and appearances of angels in the Old Testament:

Angels as Messengers

Angels are regularly sent in the Old Testament to deliver messages from God to people. A well-known example is the angel who appears to Abraham to tell him that his wife Sarah will have a son at an old age (Genesis 18). Also, in Genesis 22, an angel is sent to stop Abraham when he is about to sacrifice his son Isaac. The angel appears at a crucial moment to deliver God's message.

Angels as Protectors

Angels sometimes act as protectors of people in need. In the story of Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6), an angel is described as protecting Daniel by closing the mouths of the lions. Also, in Exodus 23:20-23, God promises to send an angel to protect the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land.

Angels as Executing Judgment

In some cases, angels carry out God’s punishment or judgment. In 2 Samuel 24, for example, an angel is sent to cause a plague as punishment for the sins of King David and the people. Similarly, in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, angels are sent to destroy the city because of the sins of its inhabitants, but they first rescue Lot and his family.

Angels as Worshippers of God

Angels are also often described as heavenly beings who dwell in God’s presence and worship Him. In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah sees a vision of angels, called seraphim, who stand by God’s throne and sing “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty.” These beings are also seen as the heavenly guardians of God’s holiness.

Angels and Prophecies

In the book of Daniel, angels play an important role in the revelations and prophecies that Daniel receives. The angel Gabriel appears to Daniel to explain visions and reveal future events (Daniel 8 and 9). Gabriel explains how God will fulfill His plans and provides insight into events that are yet to come.

Symbolism and Meaning of Angels in the Old Testament

Angels in the Old Testament often symbolize God’s power, protection, and nearness. They help people in distress, show the way, and demonstrate God’s care for His people. Angels symbolize God’s direct intervention in the world and His involvement in His creation. In every story where angels appear, they remind people that God is present and actively working in their lives.

Mary was probably familiar with stories of angels from the Old Testament. As a Jewish girl, she would have grown up with the sacred scriptures where angels often appeared as messengers and servants of God. She would have known that an encounter with an angel was an extraordinary event, usually with great significance.

Angels often brought messages that completely changed the lives of those they met—such as in the cases of Abraham, Moses, and Daniel. Furthermore, these encounters were often related to important events in God’s plan, sometimes even involving danger or judgment. The fact that Mary herself encountered an angel would have made her realize that something very special was about to happen.

Additionally, Mary knew that angels were often awe-inspiring beings that sometimes caused fear because of their holy, supernatural nature. This explains her fear and confusion at the appearance of the angel Gabriel.

Gabriel noticed her fear and immediately said, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." This shows that Gabriel wanted to reassure her and that the message was positive, despite the overwhelming appearance.

When Gabriel told her that she "had found favor with God" and that she would become the mother of the Messiah, Mary knew that her life was about to take a very special turn, a calling of great importance for her people and faith.

Mary’s response shows that she was aware of the seriousness and weight of this message. She was humble and perhaps also fearful of the great responsibility entrusted to her, which is very understandable in light of what she knew about angels and their role in God’s plan.

Her response, "How will this be?" and later her willing answer, "Let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38), testify to her trust in God, despite the enormous challenge ahead of her.

Whose descendant was Joseph?

What message does the angel have for Mary?

How will Maria get pregnant?

Assignment 3

Take something with you for the next lesson that is about a birth.

The best is if you can find something about your own birth

or about the birth of a family member.

Je mag ook een afbeelding van het kaartje maken (voorkant en achterkant). 

Deze kun je dan op de volgende dia uploaden.

Assignment for the students:

Preparation for the next lesson: Bring something related to a birth. Ideally, bring something related to your own birth, such as a birth announcement card, birth photos, or another object. This can also be about the birth of a family member.

Alternative: If you cannot or are not allowed to bring anything, you can take a photo of the inside and outside of a birth announcement card or another birth-related object at home. You can upload this photo to LessonUp on the designated slide in the teacher's presentation. 

Note: This can only be done at home if you, as the teacher, have shared the lesson with the class.

Uploading in class: If you were unable to upload the photo at home, you can add it to the LessonUp presentation during the lesson using your laptop or tablet.

Tips for the teacher: Make sure that the lesson presentation has already been shared with the students so they can add their photos at home.

Create a safe and open atmosphere where students feel comfortable sharing personal stories.

Consider discussing in advance with the class how to respectfully handle each other’s stories and objects.

Encourage students to briefly explain why they find the chosen object or image important.

Upload here the photo you have taken.

Assignment: Birth Announcement Card. 

Imagine that Jesus would be born today and that a birth announcement would be created for Him. You will design a birth announcement (card) for Jesus yourself.

Front:

Come up with a suitable image and a title for the front of the card.

Inside:

Write a text as if this were an actual birth announcement card.

Note: This assignment is also in the attachment in case it needs to be printed and distributed to the students.

Assignment: Make a Birth Announcement Card for Jesus.

Purpose of the Assignment:

Students will explore the Christmas story and use their creativity to create a birth announcement card for Jesus. Through this, they will learn about the historical and cultural significance of Jesus' birth and practice empathy by imagining how this event might have been announced.

Assignment Description for Students:

Imagine that Jesus is being born today and that a birth announcement card is being made for Him. You will design your own birth announcement card to announce this special birth. Use your creativity and knowledge of the Christmas story to do this in an original way.

Design your birth announcement card:

Front: Come up with an appropriate image and a title for the front of the card. Think of symbols such as a star, the stable, or the three wise men.

Inside: Write a text as if this were a real birth announcement card.

Include:

Name: Jesus

Date of birth: December 25

Place of birth: Bethlehem

Special message or wish for the world (for example, a peace wish).

Optionally, add other details such as the names of the “parents” (Mary and Joseph) and information about the visit from the shepherds or the wise men.

Materials to Use:

You can draw, paint, or design the card digitally. Use whatever works best for you and allows you to express your creativity.

Make sure the card looks festive and inviting, as a birth announcement card should be.

Optional:

Give students time during lessons to work on this.

How was your involvement today?

😒🙁😐🙂😃