Lesson Cont...

Here are some interesting facts:

• During the Roman Empire, censuses were taken for assessing taxes and drafting men into the military. Since the Jews were exempt from serving, the only reason for Joseph's trip to Bethlehem was for taxation. He was required to go to the town of his birth. A census was held every 14 years.

• Joseph and Mary walked about 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

• The manger was a feed box in which a newborn lamb was placed to keep it warm.

• Swaddling is an age-old practice of wrapping infants in swaddling cloths, blankets or similar cloth so that movement of the limbs is tightly restricted.

Questions:

• Who made the law that required Joseph to go to Bethlehem? (Caesar Augustus)

• What did the law say? (A list was to be made of everyone in the Roman world - a census)

• Why did Joseph go to Bethlehem? (He came from the family line of David- 1 Samuel 6:1)

• Where was Jesus born (in a manger, or a feed box)

• What was Jesus wrapped in after he was born? (strips of cloth)

• Why was Jesus born in a stable? (There was no private room in the inn. The inns of Bethlehem would have been large common areas)

• Jesus is God himself, but he came to earth as a tiny baby so we can be confident that he knows what we go through as humans.

• Jesus cares about what is going on in your life. What do you need Jesus' help for?

Directions

1. This is going to be used for the game! Have the kids color and cut out their "Marys".
2. They are going to use them to play pin the Mary on the donkey.

Directions

For directions with pictures click here!

1. Cut paper to the following dimensions: Light Blue 8.5″ x 11″, Dark Brown 6.5″ x 9″, Dark Blue 4.5″x 5″, Light Brown 4.5″x 4.5″, Red 1.5″ x 1.5″. This can be prepped ahead for smaller kids or if time is a constraint.

2. Have kids cut the dark blue into an oval if age appropriate. Remind kids that ovals are longer on one side and shorter on the other.

3. Trace a circle onto the light brown paper and cut.

4. Draw on a baby face using Sharpie, crayon or colored pencil.

5. Color the paper plate with yellows and browns. Color from the center of the plate outward so that the color burst from the center.

6. Cut fringe along the outside the plate. Bend the edges a bit to give a more dimensional look.

7. Glue the brown paper, on angle, onto the light blue paper using a glue stick.

8. Using white glue, glue the paper plate onto the center of the brown paper.

9. Glue the dark blue oval, baby Jesus face and heart onto the paper plate as shown.

10. Finish off the craft by having kids write “O Come, Let us Adore Him.” For kids who are writing yet, you could have this phrase written or printed onto the corner of the blue paper. Alternatively, print it on white, cut it out and have them glue it in place.

Directions

1. Have the kids use their Mary craft that they did from craft 1.
2. Blindfold one child at a time and play traditional pin the tail on the donkey except using their Mary!

Directions

1. Have the kids line up and play follow the leader around the room.