Jj is for Jesus!

 

This week we are looking and listening for the letter Jj and talking about Jesus and His birth which is the focus of our Christmas celebrations!! We are also having fun with candy canes which make the letter J and can be used to tell about Jesus!

Our KDI this week is community- Children participate in the community of the classroom. As we learn about how much Jesus loves us, we can also learn to love and forgive each other. We learn to treat our fellow students as brothers and sisters in Christ! We will put that love into practice!

Table Activities- This week's table activities will include a candy cane bin, ribbon and Christmas paper cutting, wrapping gifts, making an ornament sun catcher, Christmas clay mats, light printing, candy cane pipe cleaner shapes and candy cane exploration.

Small Group- This week our small group activities include making a beaded candy cane, cookie decorating, adding Jj is for Jesus to our journal and making a 2-D nativity scene.

Large Group- Dancing with Candy Canes and with some Christmas lights are our large group activities.

Books of the Week- "Bright Star, Bright Star, What Do You See?" by Cassandre Maxwell is our book this week, along with other Christmas story books about Jesus birth.

Bible Story- This week our story is the account of Jesus birth. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth. Caesar Augustus, the ruler of the entire Roman World, wanted to count his citizens, so he ordered them to return to the city or town of their forefathers. Since both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David, they had to travel to Bethlehem. This was a long, dangerous journey. Because Mary was close to delivering her child, they probably had to travel even more slowly than usual. By the time they arrived in Bethlehem, there were no rooms to stay in. An innkeeper gave them his stable for shelter. And there baby Jesus was born and laid in a manger or feed trough. There is a lot we don't know about his birth- Did they travel alone? Were there others in the stable?  I don't think it was a peaceful, quiet time. Stables around Bethlehem were mostly caves. A young wife has her first child far from home in a damp, animal filled cave. Mary knew and remembered and eventually told them to Luke as God inspired words for his gospel. Imagine what Jesus gave up for us- Angels praising and worshipping, streets of gold and precious jewels. No crying or pain. He came down to save us because of his great love for us. Ponder these things and treasure them in your heart and rejoice!!