Celebrating the Nativity of Christ A Lesson for Christmas

Daily Agenda:  Welcome students  Begin with prayer that enhances the lesson theme  Light kandili in front of icon in class  Write theme on board/create essential question with students

Objective –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 Prayer  Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high, O Lord, glory be to Thee.

Develop Your Questions:  What is the Nativity of Christ?  Who are the important people in the Nativity of Christ?  Why is the Celebration of the Nativity of Christ so important?

Choose Vocabulary for the Lesson  nativity -Jesus -Mary -Joseph  Wise Men -shepherds -star  manger- stable - Bethlehem  Herod -angels -gold-myrrh  frankincense -donkey -camels -sheep

Teach a lesson with the Icon of the Nativity The icon of the Nativity lends itself to your lesson. The icon of the Nativity lends itself to your lesson. In this icon, there are many important aspects which help students understand this Holy Day. In this icon, there are many important aspects which help students understand this Holy Day. The story of the Nativity is found in Matthew1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20. The story of the Nativity is found in Matthew1:18-25 and 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 icon, we see the Christ child wrapped in ‘swaddling clothes and lying in a manger’. The icon also shows that the Christ Child was guarded by the ox and donkey.

Here we see the 3 Wise Men riding towards the Star in the East, which guided them to the Christ Child.

The shepherd boy plays music for his flock of sheep. The shepherd boy plays music for his flock of sheep.

An angel is seen giving glory to God and announcing the good news of Christ’s birth. An angel is seen giving glory to God and announcing the good news of Christ’s birth.

 The old man in the icon represents Satan, who attempted to convince Joseph not to believe in the virgin birth of our 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….. AAAAs the lesson ends, students may create a ‘flip book’. Students will use the ‘flip book’ to name the Holy Family and give 5 facts about each. SSSStudents may create ‘box’ to show different aspects of Nativity. SSSStudents may use picture of The Theotokos and Christ and create a mosaic using rice. eeeetc.

Complete the Lesson Review Essential Question to determine is students reached your objective. Review Essential Question to determine is students reached your objective. Review vocabulary used throughout lesson. Review vocabulary used throughout lesson. Display student work Display student work Leave completed crafts in room-to review what has been learned. Leave completed crafts in room-to review what has been learned. Ask students what they feel they learned=KWL Ask students what they feel they learned=KWL

End with a Prayer Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages. Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages.