The Early life of Jesus The Birth of Jesus Christian Religious Studies Primary 2 Second Term Lesson Notes Week 4
Lesson Plan Presentation
- Subject: Christian Religious Studies
- Class: Primary 2
- Term: Second Term
- Week: 4
- Topic: The Early Life of Jesus: Birth, Angel’s Message, Wise Men’s Gifts
- Duration: 40 minutes
Entry Behaviour:
- Quick review: Ask students to recall what they learned about prayer in the previous lessons.
Key Words:
- Jesus, Birth, Angel, Joseph, Wise Men, Gifts, Significance.
Behavioural Objectives:
- By the end of the lesson, students should be able to narrate the birth of Jesus.
- Students should understand the message the angel gave to Joseph.
- Students should name the gifts presented to Jesus by the wise men and know their significance.
Embedded Core Skills:
- Verbal communication (retelling stories)
- Listening comprehension (understanding messages)
Learning Materials:
- Pictures of the Nativity scene.
- Simple illustrations of the angel’s message and the gifts.
Content:
The Early Life of Jesus:
- Birth of Jesus 🌟
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a stable with animals.
- Example: Mary and Joseph were there, and angels sang about His birth.
- Message to Joseph 🤵
- An angel told Joseph in a dream that Mary’s baby was special.
- Example: The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Joseph. Mary will have God’s special Son.”
- Gifts from Wise Men 🎁
- Wise men from the East brought gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- Example: They followed a bright star to find Jesus and gave Him special presents.
- Bible Passages:
- Birth of Jesus: Luke 2:1-7
- Message to Joseph: Matthew 1:20-21
- Gifts from Wise Men: Matthew 2:10-11
Evaluation
- Jesus was born in __________. a) Jerusalem
b) Bethlehem
c) Nazareth
d) Egypt - Mary and Joseph were in a __________ when Jesus was born. a) Castle
b) Stable
c) House
d) Tent - Angels sang about Jesus’ birth in the __________. a) Desert
b) Mountains
c) Fields
d) Sky - An angel spoke to __________ in a dream. a) Mary
b) Jesus
c) Joseph
d) Wise men - The angel told Joseph not to be __________. a) Happy
b) Afraid
c) Sad
d) Angry - The angel said Mary’s baby was __________. a) Ordinary
b) Special
c) Small
d) Funny - Wise men brought gifts to Jesus from the __________. a) North
b) South
c) East
d) West - The gifts were __________, frankincense, and myrrh. a) Silver, gold, and bronze
b) Gold, silver, and diamonds
c) Gold, frankincense, and myrrh
d) Wood, silver, and gold - The wise men followed a bright __________ to find Jesus. a) Cloud
b) Star
c) Moon
d) Sun - Mary and Joseph were in __________ when the wise men visited. a) Jerusalem
b) Bethlehem
c) Nazareth
d) Egypt - The Bible passage about Jesus’ birth is found in __________. a) Matthew 3
b) Luke 2
c) Mark 1
d) John 4 - The angel told Joseph that Mary’s baby’s name would be __________. a) Isaac
b) David
c) Jesus
d) Elijah - Angels sang about Jesus’ birth in the __________. a) Night
b) Morning
c) Afternoon
d) Evening - The wise men presented their gifts to Jesus in a __________. a) House
b) Castle
c) Stable
d) Tent - The message to Joseph is found in the book of __________. a) Genesis
b) Exodus
c) Matthew
d) Luke
The Significance of the gifts
The gifts presented to Jesus by the three wise men hold symbolic significance:
- Gold:
- Significance: Symbolizes kingship and royalty.
- Meaning: Recognizes Jesus as a king, emphasizing His regal and sovereign nature.
- Frankincense:
- Significance: Represents divinity and worship.
- Meaning: Acknowledges Jesus as divine, worthy of adoration and worship.
- Myrrh:
- Significance: Symbolizes mortality and sacrifice.
- Meaning: Foreshadows Jesus’ sacrificial death, as myrrh was used in burial rituals.
Together, these gifts convey the profound aspects of Jesus’ identity – His royal authority, divine nature, and the sacrificial purpose of His life. The wise men’s offerings reflect their understanding and reverence for the unique significance of the newborn King.
Evaluation
- The gift of gold presented to Jesus by the wise men symbolizes His __________. a) Humility
b) Divinity
c) Ordinary nature
d) Playfulness - Frankincense represents the recognition of Jesus as a __________. a) Servant
b) Shepherd
c) King
d) Teacher - Myrrh signifies the __________ aspect of Jesus’ life. a) Eternal
b) Mortal
c) Playful
d) Joyful - Gold is a symbol of Jesus’ __________. a) Humanity
b) Divinity
c) Ordinary life
d) Earthly kingdom - Frankincense indicates the acknowledgment of Jesus’ __________. a) Mortality
b) Ordinary life
c) Divinity
d) Playful nature - Myrrh foreshadows Jesus’ __________. a) Miracles
b) Teaching
c) Sacrificial death
d) Resurrection - Gold emphasizes Jesus’ royal __________. a) Authority
b) Humility
c) Simplicity
d) Playfulness - Frankincense represents an attitude of __________ towards Jesus. a) Disrespect
b) Worship
c) Criticism
d) Indifference - Myrrh is associated with __________ in burial rituals. a) Celebration
b) Joy
c) Sorrow
d) Festivity - The wise men presented __________ as a gift to Jesus. a) Jewelry
b) Gold
c) Silver
d) Wood - The gift of frankincense signifies Jesus’ __________ nature. a) Ordinary
b) Humble
c) Divine
d) Earthly - Myrrh symbolizes Jesus’ __________ sacrifice. a) Joyful
b) Playful
c) Sacrificial
d) Ordinary - Gold is a representation of Jesus’ __________ as a king. a) Simplicity
b) Servanthood
c) Royalty
d) Ordinary life - Frankincense reflects the wise men’s __________ of Jesus. a) Critique
b) Worship
c) Disapproval
d) Indifference - Myrrh suggests a connection with Jesus’ __________ and burial. a) Birth
b) Teaching
c) Miracles
- Presentation (Step 1):
- Quick revision of the previous lesson on prayer hindrances, requests, and answers.
- Recap: What are some things that can hinder our prayers?
- Introduction (Step 2):
- Introduce the new topic: The Early Life of Jesus.
- Explain the sub-topics: Birth of Jesus, Message to Joseph, Wise Men’s Gifts, Significance of the Gifts.
- Teacher’s Activities (Step 3):
- Narrate Birth: Share the story of Jesus’ birth, mentioning the stable, Mary, Joseph, and angels.
- Explain Message: Discuss the angel’s message to Joseph about Mary’s special baby.
- Discuss Wise Men’s Gifts: Name the gifts brought by the wise men: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- Explain Significance: Share the symbolic meanings of the gifts.
- Learners’ Activities:
- Story Retelling: Have students retell the story of Jesus’ birth in their own words.
- Discussion: Ask questions about the angel’s message and the wise men’s gifts.
- Assessment:
- Drawing Activity: Ask students to draw a picture representing the birth of Jesus or the wise men presenting gifts.
- Questions: Pose simple questions about the topics discussed.
Ten Evaluation Questions:
- What is the topic of today’s lesson?
- Where was Jesus born?
- Who received a special message from an angel about Mary’s baby?
- Name one of the gifts brought by the wise men.
- What does gold symbolize among the wise men’s gifts?
- Why did the angel talk to Joseph in a dream?
- What does frankincense represent among the wise men’s gifts?
- Can you mention one person from the Bible who visited baby Jesus?
- What is the meaning of myrrh among the wise men’s gifts?
- Why do you think the wise men brought special gifts to Jesus?
Conclusion:
- Teacher’s Activity: Go around the class to mark drawings and answer any questions students may have.
- Feedback: Provide positive reinforcement and encourage students to share what they learned with their families.
- Homework: Ask students to tell someone at home the story of Jesus’ birth and the wise men’s gifts.