Mary and Joseph were betrothed. During the year of betrothal, a man and

Bible Story: Joseph s Story (Matthew 1:18-25) Bible Phrase: You will name the baby Jesus (Matthew 1:21). Bible Truth: Mary will give birth to God s Son, and His name is Jesus. Old Testament Unit 4: Christmas Lesson 3: Joseph s Story God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A Unfolding God s Story for Teachers When couples discover they are going to be parents, one thing they must decide on is the baby s name. Choosing a baby s name can be overwhelming. Parents can spend hours searching through name books making a choice, only to change their minds when they actually see the baby. Somehow he or she does not look like the name. Our names are important and perhaps play a role in the shaping of our self-image. In biblical times, names were even more important. Biblical names described the person or his character. At that time, Fathers chose names for their children. God had a special name picked out for His Son, and He wanted Joseph to know that name but God also knew Joseph would have questions and concerns about Mary and the baby she was carrying. Please read the account surrounding the circumstances of Jesus birth from Joseph s point of view in Matthew 1:18-25. Mary and Joseph were betrothed. During the year of betrothal, a man and women were considered married but did not live together. It was during this time that Joseph learned of Mary s pregnancy. The Scripture says, she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18). Joseph knew the child was not his, so he could only conclude that Mary had been unfaithful. Joseph knew the consequences of Mary s actions. The law said she could be stoned (see Deut. 23:23-24), but Joseph was a righteous man and wanted to do what was best for both of them. One of his options was privately divorcing her, and this is what Joseph had decided to do. One night as Joseph slept, God sent an angel to help him understand the divine significance of the child. The angel also told him to name the baby, Jesus. The name Jesus described One who would save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). Isaiah had prophesied the baby would be called Immanuel, meaning God with us (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23). Many Jews were anticipating a king to free them from the bondage of Roman rule, but God would send Someone far greater than they could imagine. Jesus came to save people from the rule of sin, and through Him, God Himself would dwell with us. Names are important to God. We are important to God. In fact, when God spoke to His chosen people, He said, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands (Isa. 49:16). The names of the preschoolers we teach should be important to us, too; and we should make every effort to call them by name. When someone knows your name, you feel valued and significant. For today s study, we want preschoolers to know, as the old carol goes, What did you say was the baby s name? His name is JESUS! Do you know His name? Do you value and cherish it in your life? Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT04 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 1

Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. other manipulatives What to Do: Invite preschoolers to work puzzles. Encourage children to finish puzzles before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than working a puzzle for a child. Peg boards and geo boards offer additional opportunities for problem solving and small motor development. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities to say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Care for the Baby Doll stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; doll items such as doll, doll bed, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles, and diapers. What to Do: Place the doll care items on the table. These items may encourage preschoolers to attend to the baby doll. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers play with the baby doll, talk about their parents naming them when they were babies and about God s telling Joseph to name His Son Jesus. Center Time Art Center: Craft Stick Picture What to Do: Invite preschoolers to experiment with placing the craft sticks on their papers to create different designs or objects. When a preschooler has settled on an idea, ask him or her to glue down the sticks. Preschoolers can add details with crayons or markers. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers work, express that God chose a man named Joseph to be the earthly father of Jesus. Comment that Joseph worked as a carpenter. A carpenter builds furniture and other useful items out of wood. Bible Learning Center: What s Different? Different? (Reproducible) What to Do: Ask children to use a crayon or marker to circle the picture in each row that is different. Link to the Bible Story: Express to children that the pictures are from the Bible story they will be hearing today. Talk about Joseph and the tools he may have used as a carpenter. Also talk about God s sending an angel to Joseph to tell him to name Mary s baby Jesus. Block Center: Build with Blocks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Encourage preschoolers to work together using the nativity figures. Link to the Bible Story: As children play in the Block Center, use the nativity set as a tool to share that in a dream, God sent an angel to Joseph to tell him he should name the baby Jesus. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT04 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Story (Reproducible) (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Express to the boys and girls that even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible actually tells one big story we can call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture represents a part of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each point of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Today s story is from the part fourth part, God Sent Jesus to Help Us. Has anyone gotten to help name a new brother or sister? Names are important. Names help us to know whom we are talking about. Each of you was given a name when you were born. Your mom and dad probably spent lots of time thinking of just the right name. You know, long, long ago, God sent His Son to be born to Mary. Does anyone know what God named His Son? Yes, His name is Jesus! Listen to our Bible story to hear how Mary and Joseph knew to name God s Son Jesus. Bible Story Joseph s Story (Matthew 1:18-25) Joseph was a man who lived in a town called Nazareth. He worked as a carpenter, which means he sawed and hammered wood to make furniture and other things that people might need. Joseph loved God and always wanted to do what was right. He and a young woman named Mary planned to be married. Then Joseph learned Mary was going to have a baby. He wondered about the baby, and he wanted to follow God s plan. One night as Joseph slept, he had a dream. In his dream an angel appeared with a message from God. The angel said, Joseph, you are to marry Mary; the baby she will have is God s Son. When He is born, you are to name him Jesus. The angel explained that Jesus would be born because of God s promise long ago and would grow up and help many people. Joseph was glad the angel had helped him to know more of God s plan. Joseph probably told Mary about his dream. Surely they also talked about the baby s name. Soon Mary and Joseph were married, and they waited for God s Son, Jesus, to be born. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story and ask these questions. What work did Joseph do? Who came to Joseph in his dream? What did the angel tell Joseph to do? What were Joseph and Mary to name the baby? 2. Read the Bible Phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together, You will name the baby Jesus (Matthew 1:21). Help preschoolers understand that God chose the name of His Son, and that later when the baby was born, Mary and Joseph named him Jesus. 3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Thank God for sending Jesus. 4. Direct children to Craft Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT04 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time: Make an Angel s Wing Ornament (Reproducible, cardstock recommended) What to Do: Cut out the angel s wings. Give children their angel s wings to color. After coloring, distribute cotton balls and invite children to glue cotton balls to their wings. Punch a hole where indicated and tie a small length of yarn for hanging. Suggest to children to use their angel s wings as a decoration. Link to the Bible Story: Talk about how Joseph may have felt when he awoke after the angel s visit. Express that Joseph obeyed the angel s message by marrying Mary. Say the Bible Phrase together as children work. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time / Dismissal A Name Game What to Do: Ask the children to join you in a circle in the Game Time area. Toss a beanbag to a child and sing the following to the tune of Farmer in the Dell. What is your name? What is your name? Your name is (child s name) that is your name. After everyone s name has been sung, ask, What did the angel say to name God s Son? Change the chant to, What is His name? What is His name? His name is Jesus that is His name. Try tossing the beanbag in the circle as you sing the verse. Remind children that in today s Bible story the angel spoke to Joseph and gave him God s message to marry Mary and to name the baby Jesus. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow your church s security procedures. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT04 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 4: Christmas Lesson 3: Joseph s Story Hour A Standard Art Supplies Standard Equipment (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page: What s Different? (1 copy per child) Angel s Wing Ornament (1 copy per child) Teaching Picture: Joseph s Story (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Coloring Page, Joseph s Story Additional Art Materials White construction paper (1 per child) Multi-colored craft sticks ( 6 to 8 per child) Additional Craft Materials Ribbon Cotton balls (4 or 5 per child) Additional Block Materials Child-friendly nativity set God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT04 Lesson 3 Hour A

What s Different? Circle what s different in each row. Activity Page: What s Different? Instructions: One copy per child. Use a crayon or marker to circle the picture in each row that is different. OT04 Lesson 3 Hour A Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

You will call the baby Jesus. Matthew 1:21 You will call the baby Jesus. Matthew 1:21 Craft Time: Angel s Wing Ornament Instructions: Copy 1 sheet for every 2 children. Cardstock recommended. Cut apart the angel wings. Color the wings and glue on cotton balls. Punch a hole where indicated and tie a piece of ribbon for hanging. OT04 Lesson 3 Hour A Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com