This is the third lesson in "The Christmas Story" Series of 5 Lessons. In this series of five Christmas lessons children make Christmas tree decorations that will remind them about part of the Christmas story.

 

 

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Opening Activities

 

1. Print out the pattern for the Christmas Star Ornament and use it as a template to glue the craft sticks together to form a star shape. Place your craft sticks on top of the pattern matching them to the placement of the craft sticks on the pattern.

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Celebrate the joy of Christmas with this simply delightful craft. It takes less than ten minutes to complete, yet the results are truly amazing. Children will cut out the cross, paint it with oil, and watch as the paper becomes translucent. Finish by adding a red ribbon to the top to hang on a Christmas tree by lights so that it glows.

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Activities

 

Before class place a huge star covered with aluminum foil in one corner of the room hanging from the ceiling.

In class have one teacher sit in the corner of the room underneath the star holding boy doll to represent Jesus. Have the children dress up as wise men. Have another teacher guide the children around the room carrying their gifts for Jesus.

The teacher can explain that they know which way to go because a bright star is showing them the way to Jesus. When the wise men reach Jesus they bow down and worship him and leave him their gifts.

If you have older children, you can add more to the story. Have the wise men ask different children if they know where the "King of the Jews" is. You can also have a king that asks the wise men to come back and tell him where the find the "King of the Jews".

 

 

Before class cut out star shapes from thick paper and write the Bible verse on the stars, one word per star. Also write a number next to each word so that when you place the cards in order by number they will reveal the Bible verse. Place the stars face down on a table in front of the children.

Before you start the game say, "The wise men looked for Jesus and found him. They followed a star. Did you know that Jesus wants you search for him? He said, ' Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:' (Matthew 7:7) How can we seek God today? We can read and study his words in the Bible. And we can pray and ask him to help us find him and know him. Now we are going to play a game and seek his words. This will help us to know Jesus a little bit better."

Have the children take turns turning over a star card. They must first find the card with the #1 on it, then #2, and then #3. Keep playing until all the cards have been turned over in order. Read the verse and say, "We have looked for God's word and found them. Now we know a little bit more about God."

 

 

 

 

Before class place some treats in a box. Make sure you have enough for everyone in your class. Wrap the box with many layers of Christmas wrapping paper.

Tell your children that the wise men brought Jesus gifts to show him how much they loved him. We give gifts at Christmas to show others and God how much we love him too. Now we are going to play a game using a gift.

Play like Hot Potato but have the children pass the box. Play some Christmas music and stop the music randomly. The child who is holding the box when the music stops unwraps one layer of wrapping paper and then sits down. Keep playing until all the wrapping paper has been removed. The child who takes off the last layer of paper gets to hand out a treat to each child.

 

 

Play like "Follow the Leader" except have the leader hold up a large star on a stick. The leader should lead the children around and under tables and chair while jumping, sliding his or her feet, clapping, crawling, walking backwards, marching, swinging arms, twirling in circles, skipping, etc. The children should do exactly what the leader is doing. Let your children take turns being the leader and coming up with their own moves.

 

 

Before class cut out a bunch of star shapes making one bigger and brighter then the rest. Tape them to the back of the chairs. Place the same amount of chairs in a circle as you have children. Play like Musical Chairs, except the child who sits on the "Special Star" chair gets to sit down at the table and eat his or her snack. Remove one chair and play again. Keep playing until you only have the "Special Star" chair left.

 

 

Decorate Star-shaped Cookies

Before class make star-shaped sugar cookies. In class have your children decorate the cookies with icing and Christmas sprinkles.

 

Songs

 

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Christmas Star

Written by Carolyn Warvel
(Sing to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Star)

Twinkle, twinkle little star
The magi saw you from afar
They followed you to find the king
Some gifts for the Babe they did bring
Twinkle, Twinkle little star
The magi saw you from afar

Twinkle, twinkle little star,
The magi saw you from afar
Appeared on the day of Jesus' birth
Shining brightly above the earth
Twinkle, twinkle little star
The magi saw you from afar

Twinkle, twinkle little star
Very special Christmas star
Oh, how brightly you did glow
While the baby slept below
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Very special Christmas star

As you sing this song you have your children take turns holding up a star ornament or other decorative star that has been hung on a stick. Have them pass the star on the stick to the next child every time you sing "Twinkle, twinkle little star.&

 

We did the star to hang on the tree for the Christmas Story on the Wisemen. We used craft sticks, and then used tacky glue and, sprinkled silver or white glitter on the stars. I think the kids really enjoyed doing the tree ornaments for their Christmas lessons. We are still going to talk more on the shepherds and Wisemen after Christmas since we ran out of time and won't have Sunday school for a couple of weeks. I would have liked to have the cross and butterfly done before Christmas so they could hang them on the Christmas tree, but they can hang them on the tree next year if they remember where they put them. Maybe we can still do the Christmas Bingo cards after Christmas to review the story. I think the kids had fun doing that also. Denise

 

The Christmas Story Sunday School Lesson Series for Children

 

Each week children add their decorations to the classroom tree. They will enjoy seeing the tree changing and getting more beautiful each week as ornaments are added. Use the decorations each week to review previous Bible lessons.

If you don't have room for a Christmas tree in your room, you can send the ornaments home with your children, or make a large paper tree and tape it to your wall.

 

The following 5 lessons in this series are available to members on The Resource Room and as instant digital downloads.

Lesson 1 - The Prophets Tell About Jesus

Lesson 2 - An Angel Tells the Good News

Lesson 3 - The Shepherds Tell About Jesus' Birth

Lesson 4 - The Wise Men Search For Jesus

Lesson 5 - The Rest of the Story