Celebrating the Birth of Christ
(Daily Activities to Celebrate Christmas and the Birth of Christ)

Daily Activity Guide
Other Ideas to Incorporate This Season
Additional Resources

Daily Activity Guide

Please note: Many of these activities overlap the Joyful Heart Curriculum for 2's (December) and the Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme Curriculum for 3's (Weeks 19 and 20).  Please be sure to check out those pages and plans as well! These activities were designed with preschoolers in mind, but could easily be adapted to work with older children.
Enjoy!

Day   1 Set up your Nativity set, but have the Baby Jesus wrapped in a special box. Set aside. Show the Old and New Testament portions of the Bible. Read Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9: 6-7. Explain that in the Old Testament of the Bible, many people were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the King spoken about in the Bible.  The Old Testament foretold the birth of God's chosen King and Savior. Have your child unwrap the small gift box. The Old Testament was telling us of Jesus!   Explain that the New Testament is the fulfilling of the prophesies and shows Jesus' ministry and love for us. Sing 'Jesus Loves Me.' Place Baby Jesus in the Nativity. Before bed, begin a 'Countdown to Christmas' (or wait until day 12 and do a shorter one!) Here are some options... Star Advent Chart (numerals) Star Advent Chart (shapes) Christmas Tree (numerals) - from Early Learning Activities by Shelley Lovett Angel (numerals) - from Bible Kids Fun Zone Make a 25 loop Patterned Chain, detaching one chain each day leading up to Christmas day.   2 Angel Tells Zechariah of John's Coming Birth Read Luke 1:5-25 Make an angel craft. Here are a few ideas... Shape angel - from DLTK Bible Tissue Paper and Glitter Glue Angel Feather on an angel Foot and Handprints Angel Feet and hands angel - Another version from DLTK Bible with cute poem! Lollipop angel - from DLTK Bible Cone angel - from DLTK Bible Spoon Angel - from DLTK Bible Bell Angel - from First School   3 Angel Tells Mary of Jesus' Coming Birth Read Luke 1:26-38 Make another angel craft   4 Mary Shares Her Good News and Joy Read Luke 1:39-56 Read Mary's First Christmas by Walter Wangerin Jr. - chapter 1 Cover a cardboard  paper towel roll with construction paper to create a whispering tube. Let your kids use various materials to decorate with, such as ribbons, glitter crayons, Foamie stickers and regular sticker hearts, crosses, stars, smiley faces, multicultural boy and girl faces, the name Jesus, etc. Brainstorm ideas for what we could tell other people about Jesus and the real meaning of Christmas. "What could we whisper through the tube to share with them?"  Consider whispering phrases such as 'God loves you', Bible memory verses, simple songs, etc. through the tube. (Idea from: www.daniellesplace.com)   5 John the Baptist is Born Read Luke 1:57-80 John the Baptist was born to prepare the people for who was about to come - Jesus! Matthew 3:3 states..."Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him." (In context, read Matthew 3:1-11) Play a matching game. Ahead of time, make cards, half with locusts and half with honeybees. Your kids must clear the way for Jesus by getting rid of all the bees and locusts that are in the way. Children turn any two cards over and see if they match. If they do match, they pick up those cards, clearing the way for Jesus! (Idea from: www.daniellesplace.com)   6 Angel Tells Joseph of Jesus' Birth Read Matthew 1:18-24 Read Mary's First Christmas - chapter 2 Draw a picture to share and/or help write the family Christmas letter and tell others the good news of Jesus!   7 Mary and Joseph Travel to Bethlehem and Give Birth to Jesus Read Luke 2:1-7 Read Mary's First Christmas - chapter 3 Make a nativity. Here are a few possible ways.... TLC type of project Edible         Print, Color, and Cut - from DLTK 8 Angels Tell the Shepherds of Jesus' Birth Read Luke 2:8-20 Do a Lamb Craft.     Some suggestions... Glue cotton balls onto a lamb printout.          Lamb Printable - free from Activity Village Handprint Lamb Styrofoam Lambs Read The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado   9 Read The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg or The Candy Cane Story by Joy Nell. Make a Candy Cane Craft.   Some ideas... Candy Cane Cookies Paint a candy cane with paint mixed with peppermint extract Glue red and white squares to a candy cane shape Tri-Bead Candy Canes - from Kids Domain Form with peppermint playdough.   10 Jesus is Named and Presented in the Temple Read Luke 2:21-38 and Luke 1:31-32 Decorate Jesus' name and hang (use confetti, glitter, small stickers, jewels, etc.) Printable Name 'JESUS' - with verse from DLTK Printable Name 'JESUS' - larger, but without verse   11 The Wise Men Follow the Star to Find Jesus Read Matthew 2:1-12 Read Mary's First Christmas - chapter 4, 1st half only Go on a treasure hunt - Write a series of clues on some star cutouts.  Each clue will lead them to the next star (and the next clue). Have the last clue state "The greatest treasure of all!" which will lead them to the baby Jesus in your nativity!   Discuss how Jesus truly is the greatest treasure and gift from our loving God. Make a Star Craft.       Ideas.... Paint a star printable with water colors Glue cut pieces of foil onto a star cutout Tissue Paper Star Patterned Star Ornament Glitter Star   12 Read Lift the Flap Nativity by Allia Zobel-Nolan Create another star craft or make and attach links on to the bottom of the star from yesterday (or glue the star to construction paper and attach the strips to the edges).  Use it to countdown the days until we celebrate Jesus' birth. Attach the following poem.   (shared by barb on the T- Net Kindergarten chatboard) Each evening when goodnights are said, Take off one link and hop into bed. When only the star is left to shine, Then you will know it's Christmastime!   13 Read Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats Make a Gift. These are just a few, simple ideas for gifts even the younger kids can make... Decorate a frame using sticker Foamies Help with a  fleece scarf or pillow Help prepare Christmas Gospel Cookies (Gift Jar Cookies)   Recipe and Printable Tags Decorate a flower pot Hand Paint an ornament      Cute example of a snowmen handprint ornament from Terry Maddox's K class! Make a votive holder using tissue paper, watered down glue and a small glass baby food jar Decorate a plastic food container and place special treats inside Paint and stamp handprints onto hot pads, dish towels, a decorative pillow, etc. Make a decorative bookmark   14 Read Three Presents for Baby Jesus by Joanne Bader or The Best Thing About Christmas by Christine Tangvald Make Wrapping Paper and Bow   15 Herod Becomes Angry; Jesus' Family Flees; Jesus Grows Read Matthew 2:13-23; Luke 2:39-40 Read Mary's First Christmas - chapter 4, 2nd half Sing Christmas Carols Wrap gift   16 Why Did Jesus Come? Read 1 John 4:9 and John 3:16 Read The Tale of the Three Trees Make Christmas Cards or Gift Tags   17 Read Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend by Julie Stiegemeyer or Santa, Are You For Real? by Harold Myra. Discuss who he was, how he relates to Christmas and Jesus, and why we see Santas everywhere this time of year.   18 Read The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne Make a Christmas Tree.     Here are some various ideas... Ice Cream Cone Tree Serrated Rectangle Christmas Tree Marble Painted Glitter Tree Handprint Christmas Tree Tissue Paper Christmas Tree Watercolor Trees- from Terry Maddox's K class   You may also have fun playing Roll A Christmas Tree - from Little Giraffes   19 Make Ornaments.    Ideas... Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree Tri-Bead Wreath - from Kids Domain) Jingle Bell Wreath Tissue Paper Ornaments - from ChildFun (scroll down once there) (We used 2 1/2 inch Styrofoam balls, liquid starch, glitter, and 1/3 of a pipe cleaner.) Shank Button -from ChildFun (scroll down once there) Cinnamon and Applesauce Ornaments (We mixed 1 cup of applesauce and 1 cup of cinnamon, rolled it flat, and cut approximately 16 ornaments using playdough cutters. Use the tip of a thin straw to make a hole, let air dry for a few days, and then string with a ribbon in order to hang.) 20 Read My Merry Christmas and the Real Reason for Christmas Joy by Sally Lloyd-Jones Make Christmas Cookies to Share (Angel, Trees, Stars, Candy Canes, Baby Jesus,  etc)   21 Read Baby Jesus Is Born by Gloris Truitt Deliver cookies and sing carols   22 Read This Is the Star by Joyce Dunbar or What Star is This? by Joseph Slate. Use the nativity characters to retell the Christmas story   23 Reread favorite Christmas books and sing carols Focus on God's great gift to us - Jesus!   24 Christmas Eve Make a Birthday Cake for Jesus Sing Christmas Carols Read The Real Night Before Christmas by Isabel Anders or 'Twas the Night: The Nativity Story by Melody Carson   25 Christmas Day - Happy Birthday, Jesus! Read the Christmas Story in Luke and Matthew Open Presents

Other Ideas

• Read the story of the first Christmas from Luke 2 and Matthew  Set up the tree on the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. Talk about the meaning of the star, angels, etc. and meanings behind special ornaments.
• Memorize related Bible verses, such as Luke 2:11, Acts 9:20b, and John 3:16
• At dinner, read Christmas Cards that are received each day.  Pray for those that sent the card.

Additional Resources

Christmas - Christ Centered Christmas Lesson Ideas, Crafts, and Calendar Clip Art from Christian Preschool Printables
Jesus' Birth - Links to color sheets, crafts, and lessons from MSSSCrafts
Christian Christmas Songs - from Preschool Education
Jesus Is Born Songs - from Perpetual Preschool
Advent Art - wreaths and countdown ideas from Perpetual Preschool
Christmas Symbols - 20 lessons regarding the symbols of Christmas
Christmas Coloring Pages - from Coloring.ws
Misc. Christmas Ideas - from PreK Fun