This lesson plan is designed to teach children about the angels who announced the birth of Jesus and the good news it brought to the world.
Lesson Objectives:
- Students will learn about the role of angels in the Bible.
- Students will be able to identify the message the angels brought about Jesus’ birth.
- Students will understand the significance of Jesus’ birth for Christians.
Materials:
- Bible (children’s version recommended)
- Pictures of angels (optional)
- Construction paper
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Glitter (optional)
Lesson Plan:
Introduction (10 minutes):
- Begin by asking the children if they have ever seen an angel. Discuss what angels typically look like in pictures and stories (wings, white robes, halos).
- Explain that angels are messengers from God who often appear in the Bible.
Story Time (15 minutes):
- Read the story of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary (Luke 1:26-38) from a children’s Bible.
- Discuss the details of the story:
- Who is Mary?
- What message does the angel bring?
- How does Mary react?
- Read the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) from a children’s Bible.
- Discuss the details of the story:
- Who are the shepherds?
- What message do the angels bring?
- How do the shepherds react?
Activity (20 minutes):
- Divide the children into pairs.
- Provide each pair with construction paper, markers, scissors, glue/tape, and glitter (optional).
- Ask them to create a picture of an angel announcing the good news of Jesus’ birth.
- Encourage them to be creative and include details from the stories they heard.
Wrap-up (10 minutes):
- Have each pair share their artwork with the class.
- Discuss why the news of Jesus’ birth was good news.
- Briefly explain the significance of Jesus’ birth for Christians (the arrival of the Son of God).
Extension Activities:
- Sing songs about angels or Jesus’ birth.
- Make angel ornaments for Christmas decorations.
- Read other stories from the Bible about angels.
Additional Tips:
- Adapt the difficulty level of the lesson to the age and understanding of your students.
- Encourage participation by asking questions throughout the lesson.
- Use visuals like pictures or videos to enhance the learning experience.
- Most importantly, keep the lesson fun and engaging for the children.
This lesson plan provides a basic framework for teaching children about the angels who announced the good news about Jesus. Feel free to adapt it to fit your own teaching style and the needs of your students.