The below tasks would be useful in a junior cycle Religious Education classroom and appear most suited to First and Second Year students as helpful ways for them to learn about and understand the story of the birth of Jesus Christ and the meaning this brings to Christmas Day.
TASK 1
Copy and complete these sentences into your book, filling in the missing words. The words you might need are written below.
At Christmas time, Christians celebrate the birth of baby _______. Jesus was born in a town called _____________. He was born in a __________ because there was no room in the inn.
His parents ______ and ________ had to travel a long way before Jesus was born so they could register in Bethlehem.
Joseph Jesus Bethlehem Stable Mary
TASK 2
When Jesus was born, the shepherds were out on the hillside looking after their sheep. Suddenly hundreds of angels appeared to them telling them that Jesus had been born.
Imagine that you are one of the shepherds who saw the angels appear. Write a letter to your friend telling them what you saw and what happened when you went to see the baby Jesus.
How did you feel? Were you afraid? Excited? Happy? Amazed?
TASK 3
Answer these questions in full sentences
1. Why did Mary and Joseph have to travel all the way to Bethlehem?
2. What kind of dangers do you think Mary and Joseph might have faced on their journey through the desert on the donkey?
3. How do you think Mary felt when she was told she had to have her baby in a stable with the animals?
4. How do you think the three Wise Men felt after their long journey when they finally found the baby Jesus?
TASK 4
Draw 4-6 boxes in your book and create a picture timeline of the events leading up to Jesus’ birth. You could include Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, the visit of the three wise men, Jesus is born and the angels appearing to the shepherds.
Merry Christmas 🙂