Bible Reference: Matthew 2:1-15
DECLARATION AT EH CLASSROOM DOOR (Gates of Praise):
- In today’s story, the Magi brought gifts to the child Jesus. They knew the star in the sky meant a very special King had been born. They found Jesus and worshiped Him!
- Let’s declare together…“JESUS IS THE KING OF KINGS!”
WORKTABLES / WORKSHEET pdf:
- Printing: JESUS IS THE KING OF KINGS (gifts for the God-King)
- Coloring: Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh
CIRCLE SONGS FOR ADVENT / CHRISTMAS / EPIPHANY: (pick one)
- Transition: Criss Cross Applesauce
- Call to worship: I Hear the Blowing of the Shofar Calling me to Worship God!
- God Sent a Savior for the World
- Jesus is Emmanuel… God With Us! (Sung to the tune of “This is the way we brush our teeth”)
- FEATURED SONG: Jesus Christ is The King (by Kay Berry) pdf
BIBLE STORY: Manipulatives / Story Sequence Pages
- WISE MEN: When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a new star appeared in the sky. Wise Men from the East saw this special/new star. The star meant a new King had been born to God’s people. So they followed the star. They wanted to worship the newborn KING OF THE JEWS (JESUS is not only the KING OF THE JEWS but KING OF ALL KINGS and KING FOREVER!)
- KING HEROD (OUTWARDLY): When the Wise Men reached Jerusalem, they went to see King Herod (who was the King of the land). When Herod heard that a new King had been born, he called for the chief priests and scribes. He asked them, “WHERE does the Word of God say the Messiah King will be born?” So they answered King Herod, “In Bethlehem.” King Herod smiled and told the Wise Men, “Go and search carefully for the young Child. When you find Him, come back and tell me where He is so I can worship Him too.”
- KING HEROD (INWARDLY): But on the inside, Herod felt jealous of the newborn King. “I’m the King!” Then Herod made a wicked, sneaky plan. ‘Hmmmm….When the Wise Men tell me where He is, then I will send soldiers to destroy Him!’ Oh no! The young King Jesus is in danger. It’s that sneaky snake again. He put that wicked idea into King Herod’s head. Satan wants to destroy the Son of God!
- GIFTS: When the Wise Men left King Herod, they kept following the special star in the sky until it stood over the place where Jesus was, in the Town of Bethlehem. The Wise Men were so happy. They came into the house and found JESUS the Child with Mary, His mother. The Wise Men fell down and worshiped JESUS. They gave gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh… gifts for JESUS who was God’s Son, who was KING OF ALL KINGS and KING FOREVER, who was the SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
- WARNING: God warned the Wise Men NOT to go back and tell Herod where Jesus was. They went back to their home country another way.
- ESCAPE TO EGYPT: When Herod discovered that the Wise Men were gone, he became VERY angry! He sent soldiers to find Jesus and destroy Him. But God warned Joseph in a dream. “Get up, Joseph. Take Jesus and Mary and escape quickly to the land of Egypt!” Joseph obeyed. While it was still night, Joseph took Jesus and Mary to Egypt where they stayed until Herod was dead. When it was safe, an angel visited Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, Joseph. It’s safe to go back to Israel now.” Joseph took Jesus and Mary home to the City of Nazareth (follow the journey).
PRAYER: pdf
FREE PLAY IN CENTERS:
- Release children one at a time, with their play cards, to choose a center.
- Dry Table Nativity:
- Train Table set up as a Carpenters Workbench:
CLEAN-UP:
Students must tidy up the centers where they were playing when the timer rang. Teachers/Helpers oversee this activity. Students learn to sort and return items to their proper place. In so doing, they are learning to take care of the classroom. It also helps them be prepared for dismissal. Once the centers are tidy, students move to the BOOK NOOK and quietly look at books.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLASSROOM BOOK NOOK:
GAME:
If parents have not arrived after 5 minutes of quiet reading, lead the children in a game (such as Bean Bag Toss, Duck Duck Goose, Doggie Doggie Who Has My Bone, I Spy, etc). Featured Game: Memory using Advent Cards (print 2 and cut) pdf1 pdf2
DISMISSAL:
Assign an adult to greet parents/guardians.
Call students ONE AT A TIME when families arrive. Prompt the remaining student to call out, “GOODBYE (student’s name).”
Families check mailboxes. Today’s TAKE HOME: Magi Gifts worksheet;