Gifts

Children love to tell what they received for Christmas.  This activity allows the children to share a favorite gift they received for Christmas, then ask them to either share a gift that Christ has given them or a gift they can give to Christ.  Example:

• I got a very special art set that I have wanted for a long time.
• Christ has given me a loving family.
• I can share my testimony with someone.

If you have a large primary, time will not permit to have each child share, so choose names from a jar as time allows.  After a child shares his thoughts, ask another child to choose her favorite song from the past year and sing it.  Or you can have a list of songs that you know are favorites and sing one.

Events of Christ's Birth

Gather 5 or more pictures of Christ's birth - Samuel predicting His birth, Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, the stable, shepherds, kings, angels, etc.  Choose songs that go with each picture.  Mix up the pictures and place them on the board.  Ask the children to put them in order.  Choose one child to find the first picture (Samuel).  Sing Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus.  Continue putting the pictures in order and singing a song to go with the picture.  (Choose songs that the children are familiar with.)  Be sure to watch your times so you can complete the activity in your allotted time.

God's Christmas Gift

Every month The Friend magazine has great stories and ideas for talks, sharing time and singing time.  This month, on p. 21, there is a beautiful Christmas song, God's Christmas Gift.  It has two short verses and a chorus.  Below is an idea for teaching this song.

You will need a picture of:
First verse:

•  baby Jesus
• Bethlehem
• a gift/present
• Christ

Second verse

• a Wreath - optional: Christmastime written below the wreath
• Christmas tree with presents beneath
• a different picture of Christ
• a gift/present

Chorus

• Christ on a cross
• Children doing service
• a heart
• a gift/present
• Jesus with children

Use colored paper (red and green) or Christmas wrapping paper to cover each picture.  Arrange the pictures in order: 1st verse, chorus, 2nd verse then tape them to the board and cover them with the colored paper or wrapping paper.

Have the pianist play through the song while you recite the words.  Ask a child to uncover the first "gift".  Sing the phrase 2 or 3 times.  Do the same thing with the rest of the song uncovering the picture and singing the phrase a few times.  As you add a phrase, be sure to sing from the beginning until you come to the next new phrase.  This helps the children hear the continuity of the song and it's great repetition which is how children learn.

*Note: You can use this idea for any Christmas song.

Compare Songs

Sing the following songs (you may have to sing them more than once) and list all the things that tell about Christ's birth.

Away in a Manger p. 42
Mary's Lullaby  p. 44
Who Is the Child?  p. 46
Sleep, Little Jesus  p. 47

Compare the things that are the same and the differences.  For instance: Do they all tell about the manger, shepherds, the animals, Mary and Joseph, etc.  This is a great way for children to learn and understand what they are singing about.

Christmas Pageant

This year we will be preparing a Christmas Pageant that we will sing during Primary singing and sharing time at the end of this month. It's just for us in the Primary so it's not a big fanfare.  By singing about Christ's birth, the children learn about and come to love the true meaning of Christmas.  The following is a list of the songs that we will be singing that talk about the birth of Christ.

• O, Hush Thee, My Baby  p. 48
• Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus p. 36
• When Joseph Went to Bethlehem  p. 38
• Stars Were Gleaming  p. 37
• Once Within a Lowly Stable  p. 41
• Mary's Lullaby  p. 44
• Picture a Christmas  p. 50
• Christmas Bells  p.54

We will gradually put up a manger scene after each song.  The children will tell about Christ's birth in their own words as we sing each song.  The only thing that we will rehearse will be the songs during singing time throughout this month.

There are other Christmas activities in earlier posts for more ideas.