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 and early elementary children 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.' ( printable My Merry Christmas Song Book ) Place Baby Jesus in the Nativity. Before bed, begin a 'Countdown to Christmas'  Here are some options... Star Advent Charts Star Advent Chart (numerals) Star Advent Chart (shapes) Star Advent Chart (easy sight words) Star Advent Chart (harder sight words) Christmas Tree (numerals) - from Early Learning Activities by Shelley Lovett Angel (numerals) - from Bible Kids Fun Zone Make a 25 loop Patterned Chain with verses and activities listed for each day, detaching one chain each day leading up to Christmas day. Read and meditate on the verse throughout the day.  Read the Scripture passages or story book mentioned and do the activity! 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 Shaped Tissue Paper Angels Variation 1 - More difficult. This uses a construction paper frame around the contact paper for the body. Variation 2 - My oldest daughter decided to use the body, made using variation 1, as the wings instead. She also added a taller halo =) Another 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 Choose one of the following crafts to share the good news and joy of Jesus' coming! Whisper Tube (easier) 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) Joyful Tambourine (more difficult) 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)  Cut and paint a 'Making Straight Paths' booklet. The zig zag line and black dots on the cover represent our sins and us going our own way. John taught the people to repent and turn away from their sins, preparing their hearts for Jesus.  The inside shows a straight path with the cross representing Christ and the heart representing God loving us so much that He sent His Son to save us from our sins.   Play a 'Prepare the Way' game. Ahead of time, gather all the family members clean socks. Mix them together and then spread them out on the floor. Your kids pretend to prepare the way for Jesus by getting rid of all the socks that are in the way. Children take turns finding a matching pair of socks, picking them up, and clearing the way for Jesus! 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 ; Anticipation of the Light of the World Read Luke 2:1-5 Discuss how Mary and Joseph probably had a 4-6 day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem (by foot, on a donkey, or by being pulled in a cart) in order to be counted in the census.  What might this have been like for Mary since she was so close to giving birth to Jesus? Also read John 1:1-9, and John 8:12 Once it is dark outside, turn off all your lights. Have your children gather around you and tell them to go to a certain location, once without the help of a flashlight and once with a flashlight lighting the way. We need the light to find our way in the darkness.  Compare this to God sending Jesus to be our Savior and the Light of the World. Another idea to demonstrate this (from Innovative Tools for Children's Ministry from Group Publishing) is to place a cross cutout on the inside wall of a shoe box. Cut a hole in the lid and then recover it with black paper.  Also cut a peep hole on the opposite end from where the cross is glued.  Have the child look through the peephole to see if he/she sees anything. Then remove the black paper and shine the light of a flashlight into the box.  The cross was there the entire time, but we could not see it until we had light! Make a candle, stressing that Jesus is the Light of the World! Here are some ideas... Make an edible candlestick. Mix white frosting with yellow food coloring (flame). Dip the tip of a pretzel rod (candlestick) into the food coloring. Place the pretzel rod in a no bake cookie (candle holder). Make a toilet paper roll candle. Decorate a baby food jar with tissue paper and place a real votive candle inside. Make a simple beeswax candle   8 Jesus is Born! Read Luke 2:6-7 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 9 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 with white fingerprints, dotted on the palm with white tissue paper, scrunched up   Styrofoam Lambs Read The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado   10 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. Marble Painted Candy Canes   11 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   12 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 Contact Paper and Tissue (easy) Glue and Tissue Paper (harder) Snowflake Star Patterned Star Ornament Glitter Star   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 (refer to how the paper protects the gift and how God sovereignly protected Jesus)   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 The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Christmas Story of Giving by  Dandi Daley Mackall, 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. Consider more ways to give and pray for those who are in need.   18 Read The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne (Discuss how the evergreen reminds us of eternal life in Christ!) 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 Sponge Painted Christmas Trees Watercolor Trees- from Terry Maddox's K class You may also have fun playing Roll A Christmas Tree - from Little Giraffes   19 Read The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs Make Ornaments.    Ideas... Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree Pipe Cleaner and Bead Ornaments 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 B is For Bethlehem by Isabel Wilner Use the nativity characters to retell the Christmas story   23 Reread favorite Christmas books and sing carols Make a wreath, a symbol of God's unending love.  Some ideas... Tissue Paper Wreath Handprint Wreath Edible Wreath Painted Wreaths Left to right: painted with a toothbrush, cotton ball, fingertips Toothbrush Cotton Ball Focus on God's unending love and His great gift to us - Jesus! Thank God for sending 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  - You may want to wrap a special present for everyone to open first.  Place a baby Jesus figurine and a small cross in a small box.  Wrap it and then place a second wrapped box around it, and then a third, etc. - one box for each member of your family to unwrap!

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
Christmas Stocking Stuffers - blog entry about the idea to have family members write a note to someone every day and place it in their stocking.  What a neat tradition!