The Birth of Jesus Christ Christian Religious Studies JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 1
Lesson Plan for Christian Religious Studies
Subject: Christian Religious Studies
Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 1
Age: 12-13 years
Topic: The Birth of Jesus
Sub-topic: I. Narrate the Annunciation of the Birth
II. Discuss the Story of the Birth of Jesus
III. State the Importance of the Visit by the Wise Men and their Gifts
Duration: 80 minutes
Behavioral Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
- Narrate the annunciation of the birth of Jesus.
- Discuss the story of Jesus’ birth.
- State the significance of the visit by the Wise Men and their gifts.
Keywords
- Annunciation
- Birth
- Wise Men
- Gifts
- Jesus Christ
Set Induction
The teacher begins by asking students if they know how people announce the birth of a baby in their families or communities. This will get them to think about the joy surrounding a newborn.
Entry Behavior
Students are familiar with stories of birth announcements and celebrations in their communities.
Learning Resources and Materials
- Bible (New Testament: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, and Matthew 2:1-12)
- Pictures of the nativity scene
- Drawing charts showing the Wise Men and their gifts
- A replica of the gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh)
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge
Students have learned about the prophets of old foretelling the coming of a Messiah. This lesson connects with that prior knowledge.
Embedded Core Skills
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Listening comprehension
Learning Materials
- Bible passages (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 2:1-12)
- Lagos State Scheme of Work
- Visuals of the nativity scene
Reference Books
- Lagos State Scheme of Work for Christian Religious Studies
- Holy Bible (New International Version)
Instructional Materials
- Bible
- Visual aids (pictures, charts)
- Writing board and marker
Content Outline
- Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus
The annunciation refers to the announcement made by the angel Gabriel to Mary, informing her that she would give birth to a son, Jesus, who would be the Son of God. Gabriel also tells her that her cousin Elizabeth is expecting a child, despite her old age. - The Birth of Jesus
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in a manger, because there was no room at the inn. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem due to a census ordered by the Roman governor. Jesus’ birth was a humble event, celebrated by shepherds who were informed by angels. - The Visit by the Wise Men and Their Gifts
Wise Men (Magi) from the East followed a star that led them to Jesus. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.- Gold: Represented Jesus’ kingship.
- Frankincense: Symbolized His divinity.
- Myrrh: Acknowledged His future suffering and death.
Examples Relevant to the Topic
- Angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary.
- Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem.
- Jesus’ birth in a manger.
- The star leading the Wise Men.
- The gifts from the Wise Men: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Evaluation: Fill-in-the-blank Questions
- The angel who visited Mary was called ___ (a. Michael, b. Gabriel, c. Raphael, d. Uriel).
- Jesus was born in the town of ___ (a. Nazareth, b. Jerusalem, c. Bethlehem, d. Galilee).
- The Wise Men followed a ___ to find Jesus (a. moon, b. star, c. sun, d. light).
- The Wise Men came from the ___ (a. West, b. East, c. South, d. North).
- One of the gifts the Wise Men brought was ___ (a. silver, b. frankincense, c. pearl, d. ivory).
- Jesus’ mother was named ___ (a. Ruth, b. Sarah, c. Mary, d. Rachel).
- Jesus’ earthly father was called ___ (a. Jacob, b. Peter, c. Joseph, d. John).
- Jesus was placed in a ___ after His birth (a. crib, b. manger, c. bed, d. palace).
- ___ appeared to the shepherds to announce Jesus’ birth (a. Angels, b. Kings, c. Soldiers, d. Fishermen).
- The Wise Men gave Jesus gifts because they recognized Him as a ___ (a. king, b. warrior, c. fisherman, d. priest).
- Frankincense symbolized ___ (a. kingship, b. divinity, c. death, d. life).
- Myrrh represented ___ (a. kingship, b. wealth, c. suffering, d. joy).
- The angel Gabriel also told Mary about ___ being pregnant (a. Elizabeth, b. Martha, c. Ruth, d. Esther).
- Jesus was born during the reign of ___ (a. Caesar Augustus, b. King David, c. Herod, d. Solomon).
- The census that took place was ordered by ___ (a. Pilate, b. Caesar Augustus, c. Herod, d. Gabriel).
Class Activity Discussion: FAQs
- Who told Mary about the birth of Jesus?
Answer: The angel Gabriel. - Where was Jesus born?
Answer: Bethlehem. - Why did Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem?
Answer: For a census. - What was Jesus placed in after birth?
Answer: A manger. - Who followed the star to visit Jesus?
Answer: The Wise Men. - What gifts did the Wise Men bring?
Answer: Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. - What does gold symbolize?
Answer: Kingship. - What does frankincense represent?
Answer: Divinity. - What does myrrh symbolize?
Answer: Jesus’ future suffering. - Who appeared to the shepherds?
Answer: Angels. - What message did the angels bring to the shepherds?
Answer: The birth of Jesus. - Who was Joseph?
Answer: Jesus’ earthly father. - Where did the Wise Men come from?
Answer: The East. - What does the star represent?
Answer: The guiding light to Jesus. - Who was Mary?
Answer: The mother of Jesus.
Presentation
- Step 1: Revising the previous topic, which was “The Prophecy of the Messiah.”
- Step 2: Introducing the new topic: “The Birth of Jesus” by reading from the Bible (Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 2:1-12).
- Step 3: Allowing pupils to share their knowledge about the nativity story, correcting them where necessary.
Teacher’s Activities
- Read relevant Bible passages aloud.
- Display visual aids showing the nativity scene and the Wise Men.
- Guide class discussions and correct misconceptions.
Learners’ Activities
- Listen to Bible passages.
- Participate in discussions.
- Ask questions and provide answers based on their understanding.
Evaluation Questions
- Who told Mary about the birth of Jesus?
- Where was Jesus born?
- What was Jesus placed in after birth?
- What gifts did the Wise Men bring?
- What does frankincense represent?
- Who followed the star to visit Jesus?
- Why did Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem?
- What does myrrh symbolize?
- Who appeared to the shepherds?
- What does gold symbolize?
Conclusion
The teacher goes around, marks students’ answers, and provides feedback on the topic, reinforcing key points about the birth of Jesus.