A great lesson for the season of advent. sample planning : Begin the lesson by sharing the learning objective with the children. Give each table two different coloured post it notes and ask the children to write what they already know about advent, on one coloured post it, and anything that they would like to know about advent on the other. Children to share ideas and keep post its. If the question is not answered in the lesson they should put it in their RE book to inform the next RE lesson’s teaching. CT and children to discuss the liturgical seasons of the year. What are they? How many are there? What is the first season of the liturgical year? Do we use colour with the liturgical seasons? Ask the children to work on netbooks to research the meaning of the word Advent. Can they find out which language the word originates from? What does it mean? http://projectbritain.com/Advent.html Bring the children back together and ask them to feedback their findings to create a class mindmap. Children to then draw and complete a mind map in their books illustrating what they already know about the liturgical season of Advent. Explore the duel meaning of the season: to prepare for the birthday of Jesus and to prepare for Jesus to come again. Set up prayer partners for the period of advent

Two great powerpoints and some planning. Nice powerpoint on Epiphany. Sample : Share the new targets with the children and explain that this is a short unit – two double lessons. Read the story of Jesus’ birth from Matthew’s Gospel – Mt 1: 18-2: 23. Who are the main characters in this story? Concentrate on Mary, Joseph and King Herod. Talk through the story. God had promised a saviour to free us all from our sins and he sent His only son into the world for us. Talk about the priorities for any family when a baby is expected. (safety and comfort of the mother) . Activity One Come back together and watch scene featuring King Herod. Fear gripped King Herod, his mighty power was threatened. He gathered all the chief priests and scribes to see what they knew – they confirmed that Bethlehem had been foretold by the prophets. Herod launched his plan to locate the baby so that he could destroy him. What was Herod’s mistake? (look for the children to understand that Herod thought that Jesus would be an earthly King with a throne and a crown who was overthrow Herod). What were Mary and Joseph’s feelings about the birth of the baby? Do you think they were scared? Happy? Relieved? Children to TTYP and discuss – What does the birth of Jesus mean for us? Jesus truly God and truly human has come down to Earth. He brings peace, love and true freedom to those who seek him. He opens the way to heaven for us. He has come to save all people. What does the birth of Jesus teach us? God seeks those with an open heart to receive him. If you truly seek God, He will find you. It’s not money, wealth or knowledge that matters because God seeks the lowly and the humble who are looking for Him.

3 rounds. Answers at end. Handy filler at very busy time of year. Please look at my other Christmas resources. Merry Christmas!

Loads of fun planning for Christmas around the World. Most is French. But a good chunk of German. And a nice sprinkling of Italian and Spanish. Highlights are short Christmas plays in French, German and Italian. And a lovely short Spanish powerpoint on the Nativity. plus fun songs, quizzes, powerpoints, games etc You get well over 100 files so great value. sample French play Petite pièce de théâtre pour Noël – Christmas play Personnages Trois bergers Un ange Les Trois Rois Mages Marie Joseph L’aubergiste Les animaux (enfants masqués) Un choeur Deux narrateurs Narrateur 1: Il est tard. Trois bergers gardent leurs moutons sur une colline. Berger 1: Brrr! Il fait froid! Passe-moi une couverture! Berger 2: Voilà! Berger 3: Regardez! Qu’est-ce que c’est? Berger 2: C’est une étoile? Berger 1: Ah non! Ce n’est pas une étoile! Berger 3: Aïe! J’ai peur! Qu’est-ce que c’est? Ange: N’ayez pas peur! Cette nuit, à Bethléhem, est né un enfant. Il s’appelle Jésus. Partez tout de suite et trouvez l’enfant! Narrateur 1: Alors les trois bergers partent. Ils vont chercher l’enfant à Bethléhem. Marie et Joseph arrivent à Bethléhem. Marie attend un enfant. Elle est très fatiguée. Marie: Je suis fatiguée, Joseph. Joseph: Trouvons une auberge. Narrateur 1: Marie et Joseph cherchent une auberge mais il n’y a pas de place à Bethléhem. Ils arrivent enfin à une petite auberge. Ils frappent à la porte. Toc, toc, toc! L’aubergiste: Oui? Je peux vous aider?