Christmas Lesson Plan LEVEL: High Advanced

Transcription

1 Christmas Lesson Plan LEVEL: High Advanced Pre-Lesson (the day before) Go over vocabulary the day before and assign them to read the poem before class. Vocabulary: (from Twas the Night before Christmas) The words and definitions should be in their workbooks. stirring, nestled, sugar plums, visions, kerchief, lawn clattered, breast, luster, miniature, rapid, coursers, obstacle, mount, twinkling, prancing, pawing, chimney, tarnished, soot, ash, peddler, dimples, droll, encircled, elf, dread, down of a thistle, shutters, sash, VOCABULARY: (visuals are in those lessons) Beginner: Santa Claus, Father Christmas sleigh, reindeer, Rudolph, presents, Christmas tree, decorate, Stocking, Christmas carols, Merry Christmas Intermediate: legend, gifts/presents, wreath, traditions/customs, holiday, wrap, Christmas lights, North Pole, chimney Lesson 1 INTRODUCTION: I am going to tell you about an American holiday today. It is one of my favorite holidays. Show pictures of you and your family at this holiday, if you have pictures. Show pictures of your family having Christmas INSTRUCT AND MODEL THE VOCABULARY: Review (teach if necessary) the vocabulary from the beginner and intermediate lessons and teach the vocabulary that students do not know. Show the pictures while they say the words. Work on the pronunciation. Quiz them by holding up pictures and having them say the word. Have students tell you what they know about Santa Claus. Tell them he is referred to by many names: Santa Claus, St Nick, Santa, Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle. Read the poem aloud to the class. Go over the poem to ensure they understood what was read. Have individuals read it a second time. Find the description of St. Nick. How is he described? As a class or in small groups make your own list of words / phrases to describe Father Christmas. What are the reindeer s names? PRACTICE: Start the flow chart together as a class. Break into pairs or small groups to finish the flow chart. INDEPENDENT: Break into pairs and tell your partner what happened in the poem. They may use their flow chart. In small groups summarize what happens at Christmas.

2 Other activities you can do with the poem: Can you find all the rhyming words in the story? Could you add a new verse to the poem? In your groups, take the first 2 or 3 lines from the poem The Night Before Christmas, and create new verses. Then have each group present their verses to the class. Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house OR Lesson 1 VOCABULARY: Beginner: Santa Claus, Father Christmas sleigh, reindeer, Rudolph, presents, Christmas tree, decorate, Stocking, Christmas carols, Merry Christmas Intermediate: legend, gifts/presents, wreath, traditions/customs, holiday, wrap, Christmas lights, North Pole, chimney INSTRUCT AND MODEL THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS: The teacher can present the story in various ways. Traditions and Customs Christmas is the biggest holiday in the United States. More money is spent on this holiday than on any other. What is your biggest holiday here in China? (New Year s Festival) Many people think of Christmas as a time of love, family, and giving. All of these are true but these still don t tell you the real Christmas story. I will tell you later! Before I do, let me tell you some common traditions or customs in America. Perhaps the most popular Christmas tradition is having a Christmas tree. Families will buy a tree from the store or cut one down and take it home and decorate it. Families and friends will buy gifts or presents for one another and place them under the tree to be opened Christmas morning. Then, Christmas morning, everyone runs to the tree to open their gifts and see what they have gotten. Do you like presents? Americans decorate the house. They put a wreath on the front door. Most people also put up lights outside to show their Christmas spirit. Many families have parties and special food much like your New Year s Festival. Parents often tell a legend about Santa Claus, a happy, fat old man who lives at the North Pole. Santa is very happy- he often says Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas! (Have students repeat saying) He is dressed in red and has a white beard. If a child is good, he gets gifts. If he s bad, Santa will not bring him anything! He rides a magic sleigh pulled by reindeer that flies through the air. He travels all over the world on Christmas Eve and leaves gifts for everyone. Children also enjoy hanging up a Christmas stocking. Now, this is not a real stocking you put on your foot, but one that you hang up by the fire place. Parents put small gifts in these and children get to open them up on Christmas morning also. Families also send Christmas cards. It is time for a break right now. I will put these cards on the desk. If you would like to look at them you may, and also look at my Christmas pictures.

3 #1 Tell the story as you act it out or draw pictures on the board to help with understanding. Try to be very animated and entertaining while you do this. The pictures might be how you introduce the vocabulary also as you tell the story. As you are telling the story continually ask questions to check understanding. #2 (Very popular with the students) Tell the story as you bring students up front to play the various parts (people and animals) in the story. When you say that a character says something have the student repeat it. As you are telling the story continually ask questions to check understanding. This gives students a visual as well as auditory method for understanding the story. It also is very entertaining to see the students being various characters. Make sure they are clear on the content (who, what, when, where, why, and how) of the story. Ask various questions to students from the story. What did? Where did? A) Model making who, what, when, where, why, and how questions (Beginners may only be able to do what, where, and when questions) Write What on the board and see if anyone can help you write a question. Repeat for each of the types. Come up with a few examples. Have them call on someone to answer the questions. Depending on the level have the students repeat the questions and answers for pronunciation and understanding. OR B) Model retelling the story using the pictures. (With beginners one sentence for each picture and add sentences and details as the class level goes up) Point to the picture and say a sentence. You can have the class repeat it for pronunciation. Ask questions about different pictures. PRACTICE: A) Break them into small groups with a teacher. Have them write down three questions of each type that they will ask each other. Help them come up with the questions. OR B) Point to the pictures and have various students help you retell the story using the pictures. (If your class would need to write the sentences down to be able to do this, let them) INDEPENDENT: A) When they have their questions have them ask each other a question and the other will answer the question. You can go around the circle or have the questioner toss a ball to the person who will answer the question. Or this can be done in partners and then switch partners. Keep asking until all have asked and answered questions. If time have a few pairs come up front and demonstrate or an individual come up to ask the class. OR B) Retell story to partners or in small groups using the pictures or phrases that they have come up with. Take turns so that both get a chance to retell the story. If time present retelling to the class. CLOSURE: Break the class into small groups. These groups are to plan a skit that retells the story. If the class is capable they could also choose to do a news report, song, original stories with similar theme, commercials, TV shows, etc., instead of an ordinary skit.

4 LESSON 2 INSTRUCT AND MODEL: Write the following words on the board: Group 1: Snowflake, joy, Santa Claus, decorations, toy, Christmas tree, Merry Christmas, North Pole Group 2: Candy cane, Christmas, wreath, stocking, mistletoe, carols, wrap, Father Christmas, Merry Christmas Group 3: St. Nick, Rudolph, gift, holiday, Christmas lights, Chimney, Stockings, wrap, sleigh Review (teach if necessary) the vocabulary and pronunciation of the words. Making sure they understand the meanings. Show pictures and have students use them in sentences. If you have not talked about the traditions of Christmas give a brief explanation now. PRACTICE AND INDEPENDENT: Break students into groups of 3 or 4. Tell them which group of words they will use. The students will have 15 minutes to write a dialogue/skit/or story about the tradition of Christmas using the words from their list. They will then present them to the class. Bah Humbug Role Play: Briefly explain the character of Scrooge. As a class brainstorm all the possible reasons why Christmas should be cancelled this year. Write them down. Break into small groups and brainstorm why Christmas is a wonderful holiday. Share with class Break into groups of 4. Two will take the part of Santa and the other two Scrooge (who hates Christmas). They will then role play an argument between the two characters taking turns. Do some Christmas Tongue Twisters or Sing some Christmas Carols. LESSON 3 Vocabulary: Beginner: Mary, Joseph, God, Jesus, engaged, angel, Bethlehem, stable, manger, Shepherds, wise men, worship, birth Intermediate: The Christmas Story, Bible, Israel, miracle, tax, Creator God, Judge, Sin, angel, Punishment, Jesus Christ, inn, God s Son, innkeeper Advanced: Nazareth, cousin, Caesar Tell the story of the first Christmas. The teacher can present the story in various ways.

5 True meaning of Christmas Now I want to tell you the real Christmas story how Christmas really began. It began over 2,000 years ago here in the East n the land of Israel in a town called Bethlehem- across the world from the United States, over here closer to China. The Creator God had the plan for Christmas even before He made man and woman thousands of years ago. God is good and right. He is the judge of all people, and He is not pleased with sin, the bad and wrong things that we all do. He must punish our sin because He is good and right-just like a good judge her on earth cannot let a bad person go unpunished. But, God loves us, so His Son, Jesus Christ, said, I will take the punishment of all the world. God knew that men and women, boys and girls, all of us everywhere need a Savior, a Person to save us from the punishment for our sins and wrongdoing. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to become completely man, but He was also completely God. Jesus Christ was born as a human baby, grew up, lived as a Man so that He knows our pain and our suffering, and then He died to take our punishment. I guess you could say He was born to die this is the true story of Christmas. Let me show you how it happened. Show story cards More than two thousand years ago. God chose a young woman named Mary to be the mother of His Son, Jesus Christ. Mary was not married but was engaged to a man named Joseph. By a miracle of God, she was going to have a baby. This baby was the Son of God. The king gave an order that all people had to return to the city where they were born to be counted and pay tax. Joseph and Mary who are now husband and wife, had to travel to a city called Bethlehem to pay a tax. While they were there, Mary gave birth to God s Son Jesus Christ. This is how God chose to send His Son into the world. You would think that the Creator God s Son would be born in a big beautiful house. May be you would think that many rich and famous people would be there, and all of the world would have a big party. But no, that night when Jesus was ready to be born, Mary and Joseph could not find a room to stay in. The town was full there were no rooms. Joseph went from place to place to place, asking for a room to stay. So that night, the Son of God, was born in a stable. The Bible says that Mary laid her Son in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. God sent His angels to announce to poor shepherds that His Son had been born. They came and found the stable and worshipped Jesus. What a special story Jesus Christ, God s Son, born in a stable to poor parents. He was not born in a palace or a big house to a rich important family. In this way, Jesus knows what it is to be poor, to work hard, to suffer and to finally die in our places to take our punishment that we deserved for the wrong things we have done. Christmas is a celebration of God s gift of His Son to us. It s Jesus birthday, the Son of God. #1 Tell the story as you act it out or draw pictures on the board to help with understanding. Try to be very animated and entertaining while you do this. The pictures might be how you introduce the vocabulary also as you tell the story. As you are telling the story continually ask questions to check understanding. #2 (Very popular with the students) Tell the story as you bring students up front to play the various parts (people and animals) in the story. When you say that a character says something have the student repeat it. As you are telling the story continually ask questions to check understanding. This gives students a visual as well as auditory method for understanding the story. It also is very entertaining to see the students being various characters.

6 #3 You may read the story to the students a couple of times, asking them questions about the content. PRACTICE: Read through the Christmas Alphabet. As you read explain and clarify. Then have students read it to the class. A is for Angels, appearing so bright, telling of Jesus that first Christmas night. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host." Luke 2:13. B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." Micah 5:2. C is for Cattle, their manger His bed, there in the trough where He laid His head. "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger." Luke 2:7. D is for David and his ancient throne promised forever to Jesus alone. "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David." Luke 1:32. E is for East, where shone the bright star which Magi on camels followed afar. "Behold, there came wise men from the east asking 'Where is the king of the Jews?'" Matthew 2:1,2. F is for Frankincense, with myrrh and gold, brought by the Wise Men as Matthew has told. "And when they had opened their treasurers, they presented unto him gifts gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:11. G is for God, who from heaven above sent down to mankind the Son of His love. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. H is for Herod, whose murderous scheme was told to Joseph in a nocturnal dream. "The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt... for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." Matthew 2:13. I is for Immanuel, "God with us," for Christ brought man back to the Father's house. "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14. J is for Joseph so noble and just, obeying God's word with absolute trust. "Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife." Matthew 1:24. K is for King. A true king He would be, coming in power and authority. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, the King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation." Zechariah 9:9.

7 L is for Love that He brought down to earth God enfleshed in lowly birth. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9. M is for Mary, His mother so brave, counting God faithful and mighty to save. "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Luke 1:38. N is for Night, when the Savior was born for nations of earth and people forlorn. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Luke 2:8. O is for Omega, meaning "the last;" He's eternal present, future and past. "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13. P is for Prophets, when living on earth foretold His redemption and blessed birth. "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17. Q is for Quickly, as shepherds who heard hastened to act on that heavenly word. "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." Luke 2:16. R is for Rejoice. The sorrow of sin is banished forever when Jesus comes in. "And you will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth." Luke 1:14. S is for Savior. To be this He came; the angel of God assigned Him His name. "She will bring forth a son, and you will call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21. T is for Tidings of joy, not of danger, telling of Him who was laid in a manger. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. U is for Us, to whom Jesus was given to show us the way and take us to heaven. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11. V is for Virgin, foretold by the sage, God's revelation on prophecy's page. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23. W is for Wonderful, His works and His words, the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

8 X is for Christ. It's X in the Greek, Anointed, Messiah, mighty, yet meek. "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." Acts 10:38. Y is for Yes, called God's Yes in His Word; God's answer to all is Jesus the Lord. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." 2 Corinthians 1:20. Z is for Zeal as it burned in Christ's heart. Lord, by thy Spirit to us zeal impart. "And his disciples remembered that it was written, the zeal of your house has eaten me up." John 2:17. INDEPENTDANT: Put students in partners or small groups. Have the students retell the real story of Christmas in partners. Put the following words on the board as prompts: angel, star, three wise men, magi, Mary, Joseph, stable, Bethlehem, no room at the inn, shepherds Sing Silent Night RELATED ACTIVITIES: CHRISTMAS DISCUSSION: Put students in pairs. Give one student A questions and the other B questions. STUDENT A s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B) 1) What is Christmas? 2) Is Christmas the same today as it was 100 years ago? 3) What s the best Christmas you ve ever had? 4) Is there anything stressful about Christmas? 5) What do you usually do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? 6) What is your favorite Christmas song? 7) What do you know about Santa Claus? CHRISTMAS DISCUSSION STUDENT B s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A) 1) What does Christmas mean to you? 2) Is Christmas too commercial nowadays? 3) Is it important to buy presents at Christmas? 4) What do you usually eat at Christmas? 5) Do you think Christmas is the best holiday of the year? 6) What do you want for Christmas? 7) What do you dislike about Christmas? Conversation Starters or Discussion Questions: How many different Christmas words can you think of? Do you like Christmas? Why is Christmas special to you? Are you good at choosing presents? Are you good at wrapping presents? Do you look forward to receiving presents or giving presents? What problems do you have at Christmas? Do you think Christmas is a religious occasion or holiday occasion or both? If you could as Santa for a gift, what would you ask for? How many different Christmas songs can you think of? How many words can you find using only the letters in the word Christmas?

9 Write a song: Using the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb make up a Christmas song and sing it to one person or the class if you wish. Play "Flashcard Pass the parcel" Before class prepare the parcel. Make sure you have enough candies for each student and a picture / flashcard of the Christmas vocab for each student. The idea is for each layer of the parcel to have a candy stuck to vocab picture (e.g. Santa, Christmas tree, etc.). When each wrapping paper is removed the student will have to correctly say the word of the picture in order to keep the candy. Wrap up the first candy / picture and then for each layer add another picture / candy. Play the game sitting in a big circle. Play Christmas music and have everyone pass the parcel around the circle until you stop the music. The student who unwraps the first layer has to say the word for the picture to get the candy. Keep going and make sure every student has a chance to remove a layer and get a candy. Spiders & Candy Game Place all of the small flashcards face up in the middle of the group. Students must turn around and cover their eyes. The teacher places one marker under each card (either a piece of candy or a spider) I usually do it in a ratio of about 2:1 candy and spiders. You might want to have more candy for younger students. Students turn around and one by one call out a vocabulary word or make a sentence using the word. The teacher lifts the card to reveal what's underneath. If it's a candy card, the student takes the card and keeps it as one point. If it's a spider card, don't make the student take the card. Leave the spider on top of the card and proceed to the next player. The person with the most candy wins! You can turn over cards after they have been opened. That tells the students not to guess that card again. For larger classes, play in groups of 4 and let one of the students play the role of the teacher. Play "Musical Chairs" or "Musical Cushions" Put enough chairs or cushions in a circle for each student, less one (e.g. if you have 10 students put out 9 chairs or cushions). Play the music and have the students walk, skip around the circle of chairs. When you stop the music the students have to scramble to sit down on a chair. The student remaining is out. For the next round remove a chair. Finally, the game will have 2 students and one chair and the winner is the only one remaining. Candy Game: Turn on the music. Students begin to pass a gift around the circle. Teacher stops the music whenever he/she wants. At that moment, the student who has the gift stands up. The student must answer the question the teacher asks. They then can remove a treat. Snowman: Build a snow man with balloons Make "Paper Chain Decorations" You will need strips of colored paper and glue or tape. In groups have students use glue to create chains. Give everyone about 5-10 minutes to make their chains. Finally, help your students decorate the classroom with the chains. If you can, keep these decorations in your classroom for the next lesson.

10 Make Christmas Cards. Christmas cards are easy and fun to make in class with some construction paper and common craft supplies. Before class, you'll need to cut out enough card for each student. Tell your students they are going to make a Christmas card for one of their classmates. Either assign a classmate for each student to make a card for or let them chose themselves. Then have students draw, paint or use felt to make a Christmas scene on the card (Santa, holly, a Christmas Tree, etc.). Students can then decorate the cards with glitter, cotton wool for snow, shiny stickers, etc. Stockings: Make stockings either make it out of paper or socks, decorate, and fill with candy, stickers, prizes, etc. Have students tell about the decorations they have put on their stocking. Could decorate with puffed paint. Christmas Tree: Have a real tree, or a tree on the wall or chalkboard. Each student makes an ornament to put on the tree. Blindfold the student and listening to directions from a partner, the student hangs/tapes the ornament on the tree. Cider: Have spiced cider. Bring packets of spiced cider that required just hot water and cups. Stocking Hunt: For this game you will need three pairs each of two different colors of Christmas stockings or clean socks. Number 1-6 stockings or socks of both colors. Hide stockings around room, house, or school. Inside stockings 2-5, place a note giving a hint to the location of the next stocking (i.e. "Stocking #2 is under something large" or "Stocking #4 might be enjoying a good book."). Divide players into two teams. Hand both teams cards hinting at the location of the first stocking. The first team to find all six stockings wins. Candy Cane Relay: Divide players into two teams. Give each player a chopstick. Each team forms a line, and each player holds his or her chopstick in front of him or her. Place a candy cane on the chopstick of the first student. At a given signal, the player must turn and pass the chopstick on to the next player who in turn passes it on down the row. Players may touch the candy cane only with their chopstick. If the candy cane falls to the ground, and players cannot retrieve it with their chopsticks, the player who was passing it may pick it up and put it back on his or her chopstick, but a ten-second penalty will be assessed. When the candy cane reaches the last player, the player must run to the front of the line with the candy cane on his or her chopstick. The first team to get the candy cane back to the front of its line wins. Christmas Charades: Divide group into two teams. Each team should brainstorm a list of as many words related to Christmas as possible, write each of these on small slips of paper, and fold papers in half. Each teams papers should then be placed in two separate containers. Call on one player at a time to draw a paper from the opposite team's hat and act out the word given. If the player's team guesses the word, it receives one point. If it does not guess, no points are assigned (since the opposing team which wrote down the word being demonstrated would have an unfair advantage were they to guess). Pin the Star on the Tree: From a sheet of heavy green paper, cut a large tree. Cut one or more stars from heavy yellow paper. Blindfold one player at a time. The player must try to pin the star to the top of the tree. As an ESL/EFL activity, you may divide students into groups of two. One player attempts to stick the star in the appropriate spot while the other player gives directions in English. For classroom play, it is best to laminate playing pieces.

11 Christmas Circle: Players form a large circle with one player in the middle. Players on the outside skip around the circle singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" while the player in the middle stands motionless. When players sing the word "Christmas," the circling players rush to sit down while the player in the middle runs to the edge and tries to tag another student before he or she can sit down. The Memory Game: Divide students and sit in 2 or 3 circles The teaching assistant begins by saying, My name is Chris and I want candy for Christmas. [The gift must begin with the first letter of the teacher s name] The first student repeats: Chris wants candy for Christmas and my name is Bill and I want a ball for Christmas. The next student must remember and repeat what the first 2 want and add his, and so on. As it continues and students forget they must drop out and see who is left. The Memory Game 2: Divide students and sit in 2 or 3 circles. The teaching assistant begins by saying that in his/her Christmas stocking he/she found a. The first student repeats and adds what he/she found in the stocking, and so on around the circle. As it continues and students forget they must drop out and see who is left. Candy Game: Turn on the music. Students begin to pass the gift around the circle. Teacher stops the music whenever he/she wants. At that moment, the student who has the gift stand up. The student must answer the question the teacher asks. They then can remove a treat. Teach simple carols: We wish you a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells, Away in the Manger, Deck the Halls, Silent Night. Plan with other teachers to come to their room and sing Christmas Carols. JINGLE BELLS Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh, Over the fields we go Laughing all the way; Bells on bob-tail ring, Making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing, A sleighing song tonight! O! Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way! O what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh!(repeat) WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy new year AWAY IN THE MANAGER Away in a manger, No crib for His bed The little Lord Jesus Laid down His sweet head The stars in the sky Looked down where He lay The little Lord Jesus Asleep on the hay.

12 Jazz Chant Christmas Colors, Christmas Sounds Bright red, dark green. These are the colors of Christmas Red stocking, green trees. These are the colors of Christmas Gold ribbon, silver bells, colored lights on the Christmas tree. Silver, gold, red, and green. These are the colors of Christmas. Bells ringing, children singing These are the sounds of Christmas. Children playing, Santa laughing. These are the sounds of Christmas. Bells ringing, children singing. Santa laughing, children playing. Ringing, singing, laughing, playing. These are the sounds of Christmas. Christmas Poem Once upon a time, A long, long time ago. Begins the story of a baby, That most of you should know. His daddy's name was Joseph, And Mary was His mom, This babe was very special He was God's only Son. Mary rode a camel, And Joseph walked along, While angels watched from afar Celebrating in song. When they arrived in Bethlehem, The couple was turned away, By keepers of the inn Telling them of no place to stay. Now Joseph- he insisted That his wife has someplace to stay, The keeper told him of a stable With animals and hay. Mary and Joseph's journey ended In a stable filled with hay, It was there that Mary gave birth, To our King on this day. Some angels came from heaven, And they began to sing. To the shepherds in the fields below, "Glad tidings do we bring!" Word of the King's arrival Soon spread very fast, The Angels told Shepherds That a Savior was born at last. A bright star lit the heavens, To light the magi's way, To the baby in the manger Who was born on Christmas day. And all who gathered round Him, Rejoiced and praised His birth. For the babe, the King, named Jesus, Is our Savior here on earth! So as we celebrate Christmas With Candy and presents and more Remember we have a Savior, Giving us life evermore.

13 Christmas Tongue Twisters Crazy kids clamor for candy canes and Christmas cookies. Prancer presents pumpkin pies and presents. Chilly children cheer and chant. Red-nosed Rudolph romps readily 'round ruby wreaths. Blitzer bobbles a billion brilliant bells. Santa's super sleigh slips so swiftly through the snow. Ten tiny toy soldiers tinker with twenty toy trains. Santa's stuffed sack sags and slumps. Seven Santas sang silly songs. Tiny Timmy trims the tall tree with tinsel. Santa's sleigh slides on slick snow. Bobby brings bright bells. How many deer would a reindeer reign if a reindeer could reign deer? Running reindeer romp 'round red wreaths. Kris Kringle chose to climb the chimney at Christmas. Chilly chipper children cheerfully chant. Eleven elves licked eleven little licorice lollipops. Kris Kringle clapped crisply. Silly Santa sleeps silently on the sleigh. Eight elves elegantly ate everything. Sammy saw Santa on the snow slide. Rudolph runs rings 'round Rover Silly smelly snowman slips and slides Santa sat slowly on a soft chair with his sack on his back.

14 VOCABULARY: Santa Claus Father Christmas sleigh reindeer Rudolph presents/gifts Christmas tree decorate stocking Christmas carols Merry Christmas legend wreath traditions/customs holiday wrap Christmas lights North Pole chimney Vocabulary for Twas the Night Before Christmas: Ash: what is left of wood after a fire Breast: curved top of the hill Chimney: the part of the house that lets smoke from a fire out Clattered: a rattling sound Coursers: his reindeer Dimples: small indentation on the side of the mouth down of a thistle: fluffy seeds from a weed that can float on the wind dread: fear droll: funny elf: small lively creature encircled: to pass around kerchief: scarf lawn: grass area in front of a house luster: seem to glow from within miniature: small

15 mount: get up on something nestled: lie in a comfortable spot obstacle: something that gets in your way pawing: to hit something with a foot or paw peddler: someone who sells things he/she carries around prancing: to move by taking high steps rapid: fast sash: covering on the inside of a window shutters: covering on the outside of a window soot: black powder left after a fire stirring: moving sugar plums: type of candy tarnished: lost its shine twinkling: short time visions: something you see in your mind

16 Twas the Night before Christmas Poem Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

17 The Christmas Story VOCABULARY: Mary Joseph God Jesus engaged Angel Bethlehem stable manger Shepherds wise men worship birth Bible Israel miracle tax Creator God Judge Sin angel Punishment Jesus Christ inn God s Son innkeeper Nazareth cousin Caesar A is for Angels, appearing so bright, telling of Jesus that first Christmas night. B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold. C is for Cattle, their manger His bed, there in the trough where He laid His head. D is for David and his ancient throne promised forever to Jesus alone. E is for East, where shone the bright star which Magi on camels followed afar. F is for Frankincense, with myrrh and gold, brought by the Wise Men as Matthew has told. G is for God, who from heaven above sent down to mankind the Son of His love. H is for Herod, whose murderous scheme was told to Joseph in a nocturnal dream. I is for Immanuel, "God with us," for Christ brought man back to the Father's house.. J is for Joseph so noble and just, obeying God's word with absolute trust. K is for King. A true king He would be, coming in power and authority.

18 L is for Love that He brought down to earth God enfleshed in lowly birth. M is for Mary, His mother so brave, counting God faithful and mighty to save. N is for Night, when the Savior was born for nations of earth and people forlorn. O is for Omega, meaning "the last;" He's eternal present, future and past. P is for Prophets, when living on earth foretold His redemption and blessed birth. Q is for Quickly, as shepherds who heard hastened to act on that heavenly word. R is for Rejoice. The sorrow of sin is banished forever when Jesus comes in. S is for Savior. To be this He came; the angel of God assigned Him His name. T is for Tidings of joy, not of danger, telling of Him who was laid in a manger. U is for Us, to whom Jesus was given to show us the way and take us to heaven. V is for Virgin, foretold by the sage, God's revelation on prophecy's page. W is for Wonderful, His works and His words, the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords. X is for Christ. It's X in the Greek, Anointed, Messiah, mighty, yet meek. Y is for Yes, called God's Yes in His Word; God's answer to all is Jesus the Lord. Z is for Zeal as it burned in Christ's heart. Lord, by thy Spirit to us zeal impart.