Celebrating the Nativity Celebrating the Nativity of Christof Christ

A Lesson for A Lesson for

ChristmasChristmas

Daily Agenda:Daily Agenda:

Welcome studentsWelcome students

Begin with prayer that enhances the lesson Begin with prayer that enhances the lesson

themetheme

Light kandili in front of icon in classLight kandili in front of icon in class

Write theme on board/create essential Write theme on board/create essential

question with studentsquestion with students

ObjectiveObjective

–What do I want my students to know

by the end of this lesson-bottom line

•

what question do you want the

students to be able to answer

by the end of your lesson

vocabulary-words/phrases

graphic organizers/visual

representations

Essential Question

Begin with a PrayerBegin with a Prayer Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined

the light of knowledge upon the world; for the light of knowledge upon the world; for

thereby they that worshipped the stars thereby they that worshipped the stars

were instructed by a star to worship Thee, were instructed by a star to worship Thee,

the Sun of Righteousness, and to know the Sun of Righteousness, and to know

Thee, the Dayspring from on high, O Lord, Thee, the Dayspring from on high, O Lord,

glory be to Thee.glory be to Thee.

Develop Your QuestionsDevelop Your Questions::

What is the Nativity of Christ?What is the Nativity of Christ?

Who are the important people Who are the important people in the Nativity of Christ?in the Nativity of Christ?

Why is the Celebration of the Why is the Celebration of the Nativity of Christ so Nativity of Christ so important?important?

Choose Vocabulary for the Choose Vocabulary for the LessonLesson nativity -Jesus -Mary -Josephnativity -Jesus -Mary -Joseph

Wise Men -shepherds -starWise Men -shepherds -star

mangermanger - stable - Bethlehem- stable - Bethlehem

Herod Herod -angels -angels -gold-gold -myrrh-myrrh

frankincense -donkey -camels -sheepfrankincense -donkey -camels -sheep

Teach a lesson with the Teach a lesson with the Icon of the NativityIcon of the Nativity

The icon of the The icon of the

Nativity lends itself Nativity lends itself

to your lesson.to your lesson.

In this icon, there are In this icon, there are

many important many important

aspects which help aspects which help

students understand students understand

this Holy Day.this Holy Day.

The story of the The story of the

Nativity is found in Nativity is found in

Matthew1:18-25 and Matthew1:18-25 and

Luke 2:1-20.Luke 2:1-20.

The icon of the

Nativity

stresses the

importance of

the Theotokos,

the Holy Mother

of Jesus.

In this part of the In this part of the

icon, we see the icon, we see the

Christ child Christ child

wrapped in wrapped in

‘swaddling clothes ‘swaddling clothes

and lying in a and lying in a

manger’. The icon manger’. The icon

also shows that the also shows that the

Christ Child was Christ Child was

guarded by the ox guarded by the ox

and donkey.and donkey.

Here we see the 3

Wise Men riding

towards the Star in

the East, which

guided them to the

Christ Child.

The The

shepherd shepherd

boy plays boy plays

music for his music for his

flock of flock of

sheep.sheep.

An angel is An angel is

seen giving seen giving

glory to God glory to God

and and

announcing announcing

the good the good

news of news of

Christ’s birth.Christ’s birth.

The old man in the The old man in the

icon represents icon represents

Satan, who attempted Satan, who attempted

to convince Joseph to convince Joseph

not to believe in the not to believe in the

virgin birth of our virgin birth of our

Lord.Lord.

• The two women seen

in the right hand

corner of the icon

represent the two

women Joseph

brought to take care

of the Christ Child.

The icon also depicts the terrain as

rocky and the tree in the middle of

the lower part of the icon

represents the Tree of Jesse (Isaiah

11:1-2)

This Holy Icon of the Nativity

reminds us to praise and glory the

Birth of our Lord and to remember

the importance of Christ’s Birth.

Craft Ideas…..Craft Ideas….. As the lesson ends, students may create a ‘flip book’. As the lesson ends, students may create a ‘flip book’.

Students will use the ‘flip book’ to name the Holy Family Students will use the ‘flip book’ to name the Holy Family

and give 5 facts about each.and give 5 facts about each.

Students may create ‘box’ to show different aspects of Students may create ‘box’ to show different aspects of

Nativity.Nativity.

Students may use picture of The Theotokos and Christ Students may use picture of The Theotokos and Christ

and create a mosaic using rice.and create a mosaic using rice.

etc.etc.

Complete the LessonComplete the Lesson

Review Essential Question to determine is Review Essential Question to determine is

students reached your objective.students reached your objective.

Review vocabulary used throughout lesson.Review vocabulary used throughout lesson.

Display student workDisplay student work

Leave completed crafts in room-to review what Leave completed crafts in room-to review what

has been learned.has been learned.

Ask students what they feel they learned=KWLAsk students what they feel they learned=KWL

End with a PrayerEnd with a Prayer Today, the Virgin bears Him who is Today, the Virgin bears Him who is

transcendent, and the earth transcendent, and the earth

presents the cave to Him who is presents the cave to Him who is

beyond reach. Angels, along with beyond reach. Angels, along with

shepherds glorify Him. The Magi shepherds glorify Him. The Magi

make their way to Him by a star. make their way to Him by a star.

For a new child has been born for For a new child has been born for

us, the God before all ages.us, the God before all ages.