Year 4 Christianity. Why do Christians think about Incarnation at Christmas? What is the Trinity? (Autumn 2)

• Session 1 - How do different Bibles tell the story of the Nativity?

  KEY WORDS Incarnation; Good News; Prince of Peace; Nativity

  Have a look at the range of religious Christmas Cards and Stained Glass Windows which tell the story of the nativity. Each pack should include different scenes from the story. Nativity Christmas cards

  Definition of the word Incarnation

  In your group create a road along your table. Together can you work out the order of the story and place them along the road.

  • Look at the texts from the Bible remembering the bible is a source of authority for Christians

  • Place the texts alongside the cards at the different parts of the journey.

• Explain there are some really important concepts which we need to think about.

• Explore where Incarnation and Good News will be added into the journey. Each group should know their character to focus on. Follow that journey talking through the emotions and events according to that character. If the character was on social media doing updates, what might they have written.

• Explore the story of the Nativity from ‘The Glorious Impossible’ by Madeleine L'Engle emphasising the wonder of the incarnation for Christians.

BIG QUESTION - Why was Jesus called the Prince of Peace?

Session 2 - What is a Christingle and how does it help us develop our understanding of the Incarnation?

KEY WORDS - Light of the world; Darkness; Jesus

 

Lesson Starter - Play class Pictionary using the key concept words – World, Jesus, Light, Love, Blood, Creation, Darkness, God.

Write these words, taking it in turns with a partner, in a few sentences to show that they know what they mean.

 

Write some enquiry questions about the Christingle and see if your partner can answer them.

Make your own illustrated drawing of a Christingle.

Reflect on Jesus bringing light to the world or how you can bring light to others.

Whilst illustrating the Christingle listen to some modern Christian Christmas Carols

Session 3Why is the incarnation an important concept in Christianity?

KEY WORDS Incarnation; Word; Flesh; God; Jesus; Trinity

Focus on Biblical verses to unpack together as part of a class discussion.

This session we are looking at some special words for Christians from the bible which is a source of authority.

We are going to look together at some verses from the New Testament and in particular the Gospels.

Look at John 1 verses 1 and 2, John 1 verse 14 and Luke 2 verses 1-20. (Listed below)

ACTIVITY - Have an outline of a Christmas Tree on a board with some baubles cut out.

As we go through each of the verses, write on a bauble why that verse is important for a Christian.

Some examples include “Jesus is God”, “God became a person”, “Jesus was born a baby and became the Saviour”, “Jesus lived with people who weren’t perfect”,

QUESTION - What is the best way to start a story? It is to start at the beginning. This is what John does.

He is describing Jesus as “The Word” and is telling Christians about Jesus as God.

DISCUSS the concept of the Trinity.

Can you explain the term Incarnation to a partner? If time compare the text from different Bible translations using the website, Bible Gateway.

FINAL ACTIVITY - Write a star for at the top of the tree explaining why the Incarnation is important for Christians.

Session 3 How do Christians around the world celebrate the Incarnation?

KEY WORDS Nativity; Church as a worldwide family

On tables look at the range of nativity sets from around the world.

In a carousel style, look at the different nativities and investigate them in detail.

Record on the A3 sheets of paper on the table any unique features of this nativity set.

 

By looking at the clues, can you identify the country the nativity set came from?

Session 5 How can we think more deeply about incarnation using Christmas Carols?

KEY WORDS - Message; Carols; Community; Incarnation; Bethlehem; Pilgrims

• What Christmas Carols or songs do you know?

• Which do they think people will be singing in 50 years’ time, 100 years or even 500 years?

• What is the difference between a Christmas song and a Christmas Carol?

We are going to be encountering some sacred songs as we look at each one, make a note of any descriptions of Jesus or words which are about Incarnation.

You will need A5 paper, a pencil and some colours! Good listening ears!! Great recording skills!!!

• Can they find any references to the Trinity?

Think back at the songs we have looked at this lesson...

Which ones have helped us to learn more about Incarnation?

Which have you preferred?

Which have made you wonder?

Session 6 How do Christians worship at Christmas?Which words from the Bible about incarnation may be read in church at this time?

KEY WORDS Worship; Carol Service; Incarnation

Look at some clips of traditional Lessons and Carols services looking at the format of a Bible reading, a song and some prayers.

The service usually consists of hymns about Christmas and readings from the gospels telling the Christmas story. Many candles are lit around the church and sometimes the congregation hold candles to see by. A carol service is the name for a Christmas church service. [1]

Carol service - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_service

In groups children to design their own Carol Service to tell the story of the Nativity.

• Which readings should you include for Christians and how to reference them as book, chapter and verse,

• What about those with a non-religious view who want to participate or those of a different faith?

• What sort of reading could you use to be inclusive?

Look at adverts in the press or on websites from local churches to say what services they have coming up.

If possible, arrange for a chat with local church representatives to explain how they will be worshipping during the Christmas season

OR

Email the churches themselves with your questions, they may be able to record and answer or type you an emailed response.

Look at a map of your local town and mark the different Christmas services in the area onto it.

Contact your international partnership schools to find out how Christians there will worship this Christmas.

• What do you think is an important Bible reading for Christians at Christmas?

http://www.grahamkendrick.co.uk/songs/item/386-song-for-christingle-can-you-see-what-we-have-made

Christingle Prayer - Graham Kendrick

Why is the incarnation an important concept in Christianity? 

Looking at the Biblical verses to unpack together as part of a circle time discussion.

We are looking at some special words for Christians.   

Incarnation     Word     Flesh     God     Jesus

John 1 verses 1 and 2 - 

John 1. 1. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1 | KJV Bible | YouVersion

John 1 verse 14 -  

John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh — That very person who was in the beginning-who was with God-and who was God, John 1:1, in the fulness of time became flesh-became incarnated by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin.

John1:14 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org

Luke 2 verses 1-20  - 

Luke 2 v1-20 by Saddleback Kids   (any questions Mrs H-S will try and answer next week)

An outline of a Christmas Tree which you each have. You will need to draw large baubles to place your words inside as you go along.

Listen to each of the verses and write in the bauble why that verse is important for a Christian

Can they explain the term Incarnation to a partner? 

How can we think more deeply about incarnation using Christmas Carols? 

Working with a partner, come up with a deep thinking enquiry question about Christmas Carols. Look at the questions together as a class, are there any which the children can answer straight away from their own personal experiences.

• Listen to ‘O Come o come Emmanuel’, around 700 years old and still sang at Advent. Who can explain what Advent is? 

What is the message that Christians want to tell other people? 

Gaudete - Sing ‘Gaudete’ together (the chorus is quickly learnt). Do you think this carol is older or younger than ‘O Come’?

• Look at some photos of Bethlehem today.  Why do Christians visit the Church of the Nativity? Is it a pilgrimage? Then go back in time and look at reconstructive photos of what Bethlehem looked like at the birth of Jesus. 

• Look at a photo of the shepherds from the film Nativity. Children to reflect on how they would have felt to have been a shepherd in that scene.

Hark the Herald.  Which words mean something to you?

• Finally look at Silent Night. Explore the history of the song, sing verse one in German then look at its WW1 links.  

How do Christians worship at Christmas?  

Bible Gateway passage

O Come, O Come Emmanuel