YEA Lesson Library
A Son is Given
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches about Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. It encourages the student to praise God for sending His Son.
Scriptures
Isaiah 7:10-16
Isaiah 9:6
Matt 1:18-23
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2:11
Words to Know
SAVIOR - one who saves or rescues
SWADDLING CLOTHES - long, soft strips of cloth used to wrap a baby
TAXES - money paid to the government
MANGER - a box where animal’s food is put for them to eat
The Lesson
Having a new baby around is always exciting. Every baby is a special gift from God. Did you know that your parents and grandparents were very happy when you were born? They probably told their friends about you. Maybe they sent out cards to tell how much you weighed, your name, and how tall you were. They may have even sent their friends a picture of you!
Most babies are born in hospitals. They have tiny baby clothes. They have their own special beds. Mothers usually rock them to sleep and sing to them. Babies are always a joy to have in a home. They make the family happy.
A long time ago a young woman named Mary had a surprise visit. An angel came to say she would have a baby. Do you know who that baby was? His name was Jesus. He would grow up to be the Savior of the world. This news made Mary very happy.
Mary and her husband, Joseph, had to go on a long trip. They were going to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. There were no cars to ride in. There were no trains or planes. Mary had to ride on a donkey all that way. Joseph walked along leading the donkey.
They were very tired when they got to Bethlehem. It was almost time for the baby to be born. Mary needed a place to rest. But, Bethlehem was very crowded. The only place they could find to sleep was in a stable with the animals.
That night was very exciting for everyone in the stable. The sheep and cows gave up their straw so Mary would have a soft place to rest. Baby Jesus slept in a box where the animal’s food was placed. Imagine that!
Mary and Joseph were excited as they placed Jesus on the hay. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Jesus was a very special baby. He was born to be our Savior!
Some shepherds were out in a field nearby. They were taking care of their sheep. All of a sudden they saw a big, bright light in the sky. They were very afraid! An angel told them, “Don’t be afraid. I am bringing you good news!” The angel told them about the baby Jesus and how they could find Him. Jesus was lying in a manger in Bethlehem. “What a strange place to find a baby,” they thought. Then there were many, many angels in the sky. They were all singing praises to God.
The shepherds were too excited to wait for morning. They left their sheep and went to Bethlehem.
They found Mary and Joseph in the stable. And there was Jesus, in a manger, just like the angel said! The shepherds praised God for sending Jesus to be their Savior. They told everyone they saw about this special baby.
Are you like the shepherds? Are you very happy that Jesus was born to be our Savior? You can sing songs and praise God for sending Jesus to be your Savior, too!
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for giving us Jesus to be our Savior. Thank you for letting Him be our friend. Help us to learn more about Him every day. In His name we pray. Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Matthew 1:18-20
Monday - Matthew 1:21-23
Tuesday - Luke 2:1-6
Wednesday - Luke 2:7-12
Thursday - Luke 2:13-18
Friday - Isaiah 7:10-16
Saturday - Isaiah 9:6
YEAH — At-Home Activity
1. Birth Announcement: After telling the story of Jesus’ birth from the lesson, have the students fill in birth announcement cards. But that’s only half of it! They need to plan to whom they will give the announcement and retell the story.
2. Play Acting/Play Dough: If you have several students, give each student a character in the story to create out of clay/play dough. If you only have one or two, you may want to have made most of them ahead of time. Then use the characters to retell the lesson.
3. In Their Own Words: Using a large flip chart, have your students retell the story. You write down the story as they tell it. Then go back and clarify details. Most students this age love to see their own words in print.
4. Point of View Interview: Tell the story of Jesus’ birth from the perspective of Mary, Joseph, the animals in the stable, the angel, the shepherds, the sheep in the field, and/or the donkey Mary rode to Bethlehem. Getting started is always the most difficult. You may need to tell the story from Mary’s point of view to get them started. As you tell the story from Joseph’s point of view, the students will start to understand how the story may vary a little because of the point of view. By the time you get to the sheep in the field, they should be into the retelling fun.
5. Brainstorming: Using a flip chart or large dry erase board, brainstorm with the students different ways to get the news out about Jesus’ birth. Remember: in brainstorming, don’t comment on their suggestions. This stifles the willingness of the rest of the class to make suggestions. And at this age, some of these will be outlandish!! This age is often more willing than adults to share, but they are also, therefore, more likely to get really burned by sharing. Help them pick a good person to share the good news with: a parent, an older sibling, someone in church. You don’t want them to get burned.
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Tell the name of Jesus’ mother and her husband.
2. Name the town where Jesus was born.
3. Repeat that Jesus was born to be the Savior of the world.
4. Recognize that Jesus was born to be their Savior too.
Topics & Themes
Angels
Bethlehem
Fulfillment of Prophecy
Jesus, Birth of
Mary and Joseph
Shepherds
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA student’s and teacher’s book, cassette tape player and tape, attendance and memory verse charts, adhesive stars, crayons, pencils, marker pen, poster board, glue, pictures of family members for the poster and a sheet of butcher paper for the time line
Preparation
Before class, attach a long sheet of butcher’s paper to the wall, low enough for the children to draw on. Divide the paper into four sections. Label the sections: 1. Angel announcement; 2. Long trip; 3. Animals share; 4. Surprised shepherds.
Cut out a number of pictures of children, babies, moms and dads. Write the word “Families” at the top of a poster board. Allow the children to glue the pictures to the poster board while they tell you about their families.
Purchase or make two charts that can be used to record each child’s attendance in class and to keep track of their memory verse recitation. Have enough colored stars for the children to place on their charts each week. Hang the charts low enough so that the children can reach them.
Children like to receive praise and recognition for participating in class. Tell the children that they will receive a special award ribbon at the end of this unit for perfect attendance. There will also be an award for everyone who can recite their memory verse every Sabbath. This will encourage the children to keep coming back for more, and will make your Sabbath Schools something children look forward to.
In addition to the weekly memory verses, you can assign Psalm 119:9-16 to be recited at the end of this unit. A small award should be given to those who have memorized as much as they can.
How to Teach This Lesson
This is an exciting age group to teach! Most of them have begun to read and write. Encourage them to read their lessons before they come to class so that they can enjoy participating in class.
Read the lesson in the student’s book and the teacher’s guide early in the week. You will have time to think about how you can be most effective in telling the story. You may want to use flannel graph figures, or a simple nativity set that can be purchased at your local Christian book store to aid in making the story come alive. These can also be used during your review time. As the children see the different people (Mary, Joseph, the angel), and recognize the place that Jesus was born as a barn where animals slept, it will help them remember the story.
The birth of Christ was an event that God’s people had anticipated for many years. It was one of the greatest moments in history. You will want to convey the significance, the joy and happiness that we feel because Jesus was born to be our Savior!
We want the children to begin to experience the joy of knowing that Jesus is their friend and Savior too! So be excited and enthusiastic. Let your voice and mannerisms help the children “catch” the wonder of this fantastic event!
Review Questions
These questions are designed to reinforce the lesson in the children’s minds and help them remember the story.
1. Do you remember the name of Jesus’ mother?
2. What was the name of Mary’s husband?
3. Can you tell me the name of the town where Jesus was born?
4. What kind of place was Jesus born in?
5. Where did Mary put Jesus to sleep?
6. Why was Jesus born?
7. Is Jesus your Savior, too?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Make a time line of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. Divide your class into four groups. Assign each group the task of drawing the following events: Angel announcing Jesus’ birth to Mary; Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem (Be sure to include the donkey Mary rode on.); The stable scene (including the animals and manger); Shepherds tending their sheep and the angel making the announcement. Tell the children to make their picture interesting by adding grass, stars in the sky, the road Mary and Joseph traveled and any words that might have been spoken.
REACH Activity
Special Materials: Glitter, ink stamps, stickers, baby pictures/birth announcement, toothpicks, adhesive stars, small paper stars, card stock
1. Drawing: Divide a piece of drawing paper into four parts. In the first section, draw Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem with Mary riding on the donkey. In the second section, draw them coming into the stable and seeing the animals. In the third section, draw the angel announcing Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. In the fourth section, draw the shepherds coming to the stable to see Baby Jesus. Be sure to put a caption on each section of the drawing.
2. Write the memory verse with glue on a large piece of construction paper. Sprinkle with glitter. Decorate with ink stamps or stickers.
3. Students can ask parents to see their baby pictures and/or birth announcements. Don’t let the other students see the pictures as they are brought in. Make a collage for, or frame, the pictures. Can the students match each person with the correct baby picture?
4. Ask where each student was born. Were they born at home or in a hospital? Do they know their birth story? Help them write it. Bind it into a book and then wrap it as a gift for their parents.
5. Design a birth announcement for Jesus.
6. Write: Imagine you are a shepherd settling the sheep for the night. When the angel brings you the news about Jesus’ birth, how do you feel? Write about it. Then, still pretending you are the shepherd, write a letter to a relative telling them what the angel said and what you saw in the stable.
7. Point of View: As a shepherd, write the news of Jesus’ birth. Give it a title (headline), byline (watchful shepherd, for example), and details from the YEA lesson.
8. Sing: “Go Tell It On the Mountain” on page 61 of the Kids Classics Collection. This is a good song to sing after doing the shepherd activity (#6).
9. Do a sword drill with the Daily Devotional Scriptures. (See Notes section for directions.)
10. Sing: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” on page 124 of the CEM Hymnal.
11. Sing: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” on page 140 of the CEM Hymnal. Read through the words with the child(ren) before singing. Talk about what the words mean.
12. Provide Bible maps for students to locate Bethlehem in Israel. Provide clay, sturdy paper, toothpicks, small star-shaped paper (any color), and small adhesive stars. Have the students form the clay into the shape of Israel on the sturdy paper. Then have them put the name Bethlehem on the star-shaped paper and decorate with the adhesive stars. Stick a toothpick carefully through the star and then stick it in to a small mound of clay. Put the star in the middle of the map. Share the lesson story using the map.
13. Ask what kind of clothes babies wear. Discuss what they wore when they were babies. They can ask their parents if they had a favorite outfit and what it looked like.
14. Have students write a list of ten words from the lesson and use them to create a word search.
15. Students can choose five parts of the story and create a picture sequence on 11 x 17 paper that they can use to tell the story to family or friends. Use any type of color tool.
16. Memory verse: Fold an 81⁄2 x 11 piece of paper into four separate panels in an accordion shape. Luke 2:11 should be written on the outside fold/panel. Divide the memory verse and write it on the inside of the panels: Today. . . a Savior; has been born to you; He is; Christ the Lord; They can use this as a memory card to carry in their Bible to practice for memorization or use later as a bookmark.
Song
“Go Tell It On The Mountain” is on page 61 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the children in prayer for the first week or two and then start asking for volunteers to lead in prayer.
Printable Pages
