The Birth of Jesus: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Luke 2:1-20
An interactive 45-minute lesson on Luke 2:1-20. Children act out the story, play a good news relay, make a star with the memory verse, and learn that Jesus the Saviour is good news for all people.
Memory verse
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell the events of Jesus' birth in order, using the words and names of Luke 2.
- Explain that Jesus is the Saviour, and that the good news is for all people.
- Practise sharing the good news by telling someone about Jesus this week.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Big News! (5 min)
Say: Good morning! Has anyone ever had exciting news they couldn't wait to tell?
Let 2 or 3 children share.
Say: Today we hear the best news the world has ever heard.
Game: "Freeze and Listen." Children walk slowly in place. When you say "Good news!", they freeze and cup a hand behind one ear. Play three rounds.
Say: In our story, some people got news so big that an angel came to tell them.
Say: Now let's hear the story from God's Word.
Hear the Story (8 min)
Say: Listen for what happens, and do the motions with me.
Read or tell Luke 2:1-20 from the KJV in order, pausing at each motion:
• A decree from Caesar Augustus (hold up one hand like a stop sign)
• Joseph goes from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, with Mary (walk fingers on your lap)
• Jesus is born and wrapped in swaddling clothes (rock arms like a baby; show the cloth)
• Laid in a manger (lay hands flat together)
• Background: a manger is a feeding box for animals.
• Shepherds keep watch by night (hand over eyes)
• An angel appears, and the glory of the Lord shines (stretch arms wide)
• "Fear not" (shake head, then smile)
• A multitude of the heavenly host praises God (wave hands up high)
• Shepherds go with haste and find the baby (quick tiptoe on your lap)
• Mary keeps all these things in her heart (hand on heart)
• Shepherds return, glorifying and praising God (arms up)
Say: That's our story! Now let's find out why it matters.
Why This News Is So Good (7 min)
Say: The angel said, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
Ask: Who was the news for? (All people.)
Say: The first people to hear it were shepherds, ordinary workers out in a field at night.
Say: God did not send the news only to kings or important people. It was for everyone.
Say: The angel gave three names for the baby: Saviour, Christ, and Lord.
Explain simply: A Saviour rescues. Christ means God's promised King. Lord means Jesus is in charge and worth worshipping.
Say: The angel gave a sign: a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. God's Son came in a small, humble way.
Say: The shepherds did not keep the news to themselves. They made it known, and everyone who heard wondered.
Say: We can do the same. Now let's play a game about passing on good news.
Have children repeat Luke 2:11 twice with you, once whispering and once loudly.
Game: Pass the Good News (7 min)
Setup: Before class, write Luke 2:11 on index cards, one card per team. Make teams of 4-5 children sitting in a row on the floor. No running.
Steps:
1. Show the first child in each row the verse card for 10 seconds, then take it back.
2. That child whispers the verse to the next child, and it is passed down the row.
3. The last child stands and says the verse aloud.
4. Check it against the card. Cheer for every team, because the goal is to get it right, not to win.
5. Play again, with a different child starting each round.
Say: The shepherds told others what they had heard. Passing on the news right is important.
Time: about 7 minutes.
Say: Now let's make something to help us remember.
Craft: Good News Star (8 min)
Setup: Pre-cut one cardstock star per child. Print or cut verse strips. Put out crayons and glue sticks. Safety: supervise scissors and glue, and use safety scissors only. Check for any allergies or sensitivities to craft supplies.
Steps:
1. Glue the verse strip (Luke 2:11) onto the middle of the star.
2. Decorate the star with crayons or markers.
3. On the back, draw a manger with the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.
4. Write the name of one person you will tell the good news to, on the back or at the bottom.
5. Read your verse to a partner.
Time: about 8 minutes.
Say: Take your star home and tell your person why Jesus is good news.
Say: Let's talk about what we learned.
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask the questions below. Let several children answer.
1. Who did the angel tell first? (Shepherds who were watching their flock at night.)
2. How did the shepherds feel when the angel appeared? (Sore afraid. Then the angel told them not to fear.)
3. What did the shepherds do after they heard the news? (They went with haste, found the baby, and told others.)
4. Why is it important that the good news is "to all people"? (Everyone needs a Saviour, and God loves everyone.)
5. Who could you tell about Jesus this week? (Family member, friend, neighbour.)
Say: Great thinking, everyone! Let's close with a prayer.
Closing and Prayer (5 min)
Say: Let's say our memory verse together one more time. Say it twice: Luke 2:11.
Say: Jesus is the Saviour God promised, and that is good news for you.
Prayer: Lead the children in short phrases, and they repeat after you.
• "Thank You, God, for sending Jesus."
• "Thank You that Jesus is our Saviour."
• "Help us to tell others the good news."
• "Help us to praise You like the shepherds did. Amen."
Say: Take your stars home, and don't forget to tell someone the good news this week.
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Small blanket or cloth
- Index cards with the memory verse written on them
- Pre-cut cardstock stars (one per child)
- Crayons or markers
- Glue sticks
- Safety scissors
- Printed verse strips (Luke 2:11)
Teacher notes
- Stay with the text. Do not add details such as the number of shepherds or a donkey, because Luke does not mention them.
- Safety: the craft uses scissors and glue. Use safety scissors only, supervise, and check for allergies or sensitivities to craft supplies first.
- Adaptation: use picture cards for the story motions, pair children who read less easily with a buddy, and offer a quiet seat for the relay game.
- If time is short, shorten the discussion to three questions.
Send it home with parents
Today your child heard the story of Jesus' birth from Luke 2:1-20. An angel told shepherds that a Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born in Bethlehem. The good news is for all people, and the shepherds shared it. Your child made a star with the memory verse.
- Why do you think God told the shepherds first?
- What does it mean that Jesus is our Saviour?
- Who could we share the good news with this week?
Read Luke 2:1-20 together. Let each person act out one part, such as the shepherds, the angel or Mary. Then say Luke 2:11 together.
Tell one person this week that Jesus is good news, using your Good News Star. Say the memory verse each day.
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