I am creating projects for the 3-year-old class on Wednesday nights for this quarter, and I thought I would share what we did. These lessons for Jesus include Simeon and Anna seeing Jesus and the wise men visiting Jesus.
For Simeon and Anna, I created this foldable. The kids love their people on craft sticks! This has Mary & Joseph with Jesus in the temple for the inside. This can be used as a background if you decide not to use the outside of the temple. I printed a set-in color for a teacher's visual. I printed the foldable in black & white and Simeon & Anna in color for the students. I had Simeon and Anna cut and attached to the craft sticks before class for the students. This includes the color and black & white. Click here to print.
This Accordion is a simple timeline, accordion fun style for preschool. They love these! For the title page, I let the kids add a star sticker. This has Jesus as a young child and the gifts from the wise men. For the final page, they added smiley stickers. This includes the color and black & white in the download. Click here to download.
Please keep in mind that when Jesus was born and the shepherds came to see Him, Jesus is called a Babe or Child in Luke 2:12. Then continuing in Luke 2, after the days of purification, Mary & Joseph take Jesus to the temple. Simeon and Anna are so happy to see baby Jesus. After traveling, and stopping to talk to King Herod, the wise men visit Jesus. Going back to Matthew 2:11, some time has passed, and Jesus is called a young Child. According to the translation, He is a toddler when the wise men visit, about a year and a half, give or take about 6 months.
Also, tradition (and pictures, movies, books, whatever) show 3 wise men. We know there were at least two since the Bible states men. But we are not told there were 3 wise men. Just 3 gifts. There could have been more men bringing the same gifts and Matthew 2:11 lists the 3 gifts. And, reading the scripture, we see they were called wise men, not kings. And we are not told their names.
I used these simple gifts from the wise men. You can use bottles, treasure chest type boxes, or whatever you have. I found these and thought they would be easiest for visuals. I purchased the Frankincense and Myrrh on eBay, and the gold is just large flakes of glitter.
Click here to see the lesson, visuals, ideas and more printables.
Beautiful and thoughtful way to teach the children. Love your work. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteAmazing lesson, Debbie! My sons love doing characters on craft sticks as well. Glad to have you share with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week, and Happy New Year :)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! Anna is one of my favorite ladies in the Bible!
ReplyDeleteI love the accordion time-line. My little guys could do that!
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