Christmas, Religious: Day Two

Symbols of Christmas~
Tree, Lights (candles), Ornaments, Star, Bell

Tree:

Sing O Christmas Tree.

Read Luke 2:52, II Peter 3: 17-18

Read The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt. The Christmas tree is a symbol that God is eternal and it also has reference to the cross.

How do we "grow" as Jesus did?

Color a picture of a Christmas Tree.

Put up a Christmas tree without ornaments for a day or so. Talk about the evergreen being a symbol of eternal life.

Lights:

Our home glows with light during this time of year to remind us that Christ is the light of the world. The lights also remind us to be a shining example of Christ, as to light the way for the Christ Child. How can we let others know that Jesus is the Light of the World? What kind of example should be be?

Read: Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12

Color a picture of a candle.

Do a light project: gather different sources of light (candles, lamps, flashlights, lanterns, etc. ) and show how they work. Discuss which is the brightest, most convenient, etc. Go into a dark place, such as a bathroom or closet and turn out the lights. Show how a single light can overpower the darkness, just like the light of Christ in our examples.

Put the lights up on your Christmas Tree.

Ornaments:

Natural ornaments (apples, pinecones, etc) are examples of God's love for us and that He will provide. They represent the earth, creation, that each one of us is different and special.

Read James 1:17, John 5:24

Color a picture of an ornament.

Make ornaments to give to family and friends.

Add the ornaments to your Christmas Tree.

Star:

God proclaimed the birth of His Son by lighting a new star in the sky. Wise Men followed the star to find Christ.

Sing Do you Hear What I Hear?

Read Matthew 2:10, 2:1-2.


Add the star to the top of your tree or make star ornaments:
Cut out a star shape out of cardboard. Have children wrap it in foil and decorate with glitter.

Make sugar cookies shaped like stars.

3D Star Craft


Bells:

Sing I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

Read Psalm 100.

Bells are joyful sounding and they call us to worship.

Color a picture of a bell.

Ring, Ring, Ring the Bells
(Tune: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")
Ring, ring, ring the bells,
Ring them loud and clear.
Tell the people everywhere
That Christmas time is near

Sing "Jingle Bells."

Five Little Bells
Five little bells hanging in a row.
The first one said, "Ring me slow."
The second one said, "Ring me fast."
The third one said, "Ring me last."
The fourth one said, "I'm a chime."
The fifth one said, "Ring me at
Christmas time."
The sixth one said, "Ring me with the
others."
The seventh one said, "Ring me for the
mothers."
The eighth one said, "Ring me with a
song."
The ninth one said, "Ring me all day
long."


Collect all the bells in your house and play a song with them. Teach that whenever you hear a bell ring, you should think about being an example of Christ. Have your children shake the bells to see if size affects their shape. You can also put out socks, boxes etc. have your children place the bells into the containers to see how they sound once they are covered up.

Tie bells onto ribbon and string them on your Christmas tree.

Make necklaces with bells to remind you of the joyful news of Christ's birth.

Jingle Bell Painting

Materials:

• Jingle Bells
• Box Lid
• Red and Green Paint
• Construction Paper
• Spoon

Directions:

• Place a sheet of white construction paper in a box lid. Have you children scoop out bells from red and green paint and drop them onto the paper. Sing Jingle Bells with your children while they shake their boxes to spread the paint and make a jingly sound.