Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
Jesus was born.
Jesus left His home with Heavenly Father to be born on earth so He could be our Savior. How can you help the children remember the story of Christ’s birth?
Possible Activities
As you read the story of Christ’s birth, invite the children to act out the story themselves, or use this week’s activity page to review the story. (See also “Chapter 5: Jesus Christ Is Born,” in New Testament Stories, 13–15, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)
click on the picture
If you have one, bring a Nativity set, and invite the children to set the pieces in appropriate places as you tell them the story of Jesus Christ’s birth. You could also show a picture of the Nativity (see, for example, this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Point to different people in the Nativity, and invite the children to share what they know about each person.
If you are like me you just put your naïvety set away, deep in the attic. Attach the people to pieces of a toilet paper rolls.
This is from the Christmas lesson, so you don't need to cut out everything, or follow the instructions(:
UPDATE:
Birthday's are important to children. I suggest setting up the lesson area, like you are celebrating a birthday party. Tell them that we just celebrated Jesus Birthday, it was called Christmas. But today we want to have a Birthday party for Jesus that is like a birthday party you would go to for a friend. What would we normally do at a birthday party for a friend? Would you give gifts? What kind of gifts would Jesus like? Show the video of the wiseman, and then go into teaching about the gifts we could give Jesus.
Here is a Birthday hat:
If you are worried about the fringed whistle, there are lots of other party options at Dollar Tree.
Sing together the children’s favorite songs about Jesus’s birth. As you do, look for opportunities to bear your testimony of the Savior. Invite the children to share why they love Jesus.
I can give good gifts to Jesus.
The Wise Men gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. How can you use this story to teach the children that they can give gifts to Jesus too—gifts like love, service, and obedience?
Possible Activities
Show a picture of the Wise Men as you review their story, found in Matthew 2:1–12, with the children. You could show the picture Wise Men Present Gifts (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Gift wrap pictures or objects that represent gifts we can give to Jesus. Invite the children to help you open the gifts, and discuss how we give these gifts to the Savior.
Put the pictures inside and let the children open the box, and pull out the pictures as you talk about each gift you can give the Savior. Put the pictures back in the box and have the children help you write Jesus name in the label.
Or/And
have a box for each child, let them choose what pictures or gifts they would like to give the Savior. (Have multiple copies of pictures) Have them close their box and write To: Jesus, From: (Child’s name).
(Print on card stock)
Help each child draw or write a list of gifts they can give Jesus, such as “being a good friend” or “praying.” Invite the children to share their lists with the class and choose one “gift” they will give Jesus today.
Jesus was once a child like me.
Learning about the Savior’s childhood may help the children you teach relate to Him. Ask the children what they can learn from these verses about how they can be like Jesus now.
Possible Activities
Invite one of the youth in the ward to visit your class and share the story of Jesus teaching in the temple when He was a young man.
Ask several children ahead of time to bring pictures of themselves as babies to share. Ask them how they have grown. Share some of the ways Jesus grew (see Luke 2:40, 52). Sing with the children “Jesus Once Was a Little Child” (Children’s Songbook, 55) or another song about the Savior.
Read Luke 2:52, and explain what “wisdom” and “stature” mean. You might ask the children to perform actions that show what it means to increase in wisdom and in favor with God and other people. For example, they could act out reading a book or helping someone in need.
The black and white cards you can cut out and put in bag or bowl. The children can pick one out and talk about whether it is spiritual, social, physical or Intellectual. Then use the sorting page for them to place the card on.
If your children are too young to understand this kind of sorting you can use the picture as a visual for the children to act out the different categories, or to understand them better.
There are a lot of options for this weeks gift tag, so make sure you look through all the pictures on the listing on Etsy. Just click on the picture to take you there.
Gift tags for the new year.
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
Ancient prophets foretold the Savior’s birth.
Prophets and believers had been looking forward to the Savior’s birth for centuries. Understanding this truth can help the children gain a deeper appreciation for the Savior’s life and mission.
Possible Activities
Ask the children to talk about things they look forward to, such as a birthday or holiday. Have the children read Helaman 14:2–5 to find something prophets were looking forward to.
Read together some prophecies of the Savior’s birth (see Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 1 Nephi 11:18; Helaman 14:5). Help the children list details these prophecies contain and find their fulfillment in Luke 2:1–21 and Matthew 2:1–12.
Make a graph like this:
Have the children read the scriptures and fill in the blanks.
Invite the children to draw a picture of something from Matthew 2:1–12 or Luke 2:1–21 and share why they are grateful Jesus was born.
Jesus grew “in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
Like Jesus, the children you teach have an important mission to prepare for. What can they learn from Jesus’s example?
Possible Activities
As you read Luke 2:40, 52, tell the children to listen for the things Jesus did. Invite the children to share ways in which they have grown since they were little. Share your own experience of learning the gospel little by little. Bear your testimony of the Savior.
Complete activities that illustrate phrases in Luke 2:40, 52. For example, you could measure each child’s height (“Jesus increased in … stature”) or ask the children to share their favorite scripture (“waxed strong in spirit”). Help the children notice ways they are growing and share these with their families.
After reviewing Luke 2:40, 52, invite the children to share what they think Jesus would have been like when He was their age. How would He have treated His mother? His brothers and sisters?
There are a lot of options for this weeks gift tag, so make sure you look through all the pictures on the listing on Etsy. Just click on the picture to take you there.
I can follow Jesus’s example.
Even as a young man, Jesus was teaching the gospel in the temple. Similarly, the children in your class have much to teach those around them.
Possible Activities
Invite a child to come prepared to summarize the story in Luke 2:41–52. To help the children understand the story, teach what the “Father’s business” (verse 49) means. For example, you could tell the children what you or your parents do for a job. What was the job or “business” of Joseph, Jesus’s earthly father? (see Matthew 13:55). What is the business of His Heavenly Father? (see Luke 2:46–49; see also Moses 1:39).
With the children, read Luke 2:46–49, and ask, “How was Jesus doing His ‘Father’s business’?” Help the children list or draw on the board ways they can help do Heavenly Father’s business too.To help the children build their confidence that they, like the boy Jesus, can teach the gospel, help them practice teaching each other a principle from For the Strength of Youth.