The Birth of Jesus: Preschool Sunday School Lesson (Ages 3-5)
Ages 3-5 · 30 minutes · free lesson plan · Luke 2:1-20
An interactive preschool lesson on Luke 2:1-20. Children act out the journey to Bethlehem, hear the angel's good news, learn Luke 2:11, and make a wrapped baby Jesus craft.
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
- Children will retell that baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger.
- Children will learn that the angel told the shepherds good news of great joy.
- Children will say that Jesus is the Saviour and that God sent him for everyone.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Good News! (4 min)
Setup: Spread the blanket on the floor. Have the children sit around it.
Greet each child by name.
Say: Good morning, friends! Today we hear a happy story about baby Jesus.
Say: When we have good news, we clap and shout, "Good news!"
Practice: Whisper "I have good news!" Children clap three times and say "Good news!" Repeat, getting louder each time.
Say: Our story has the very best news. Let's sit down and listen.
Now let's hear what happened in Bethlehem.
Bible Story: The Night in Bethlehem (6 min)
Hold the doll. Tell the story in order with the actions.
Say: A ruler named Caesar Augustus said everyone must be counted. (Walk fingers on your lap.)
Say: Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. (Verses 1-5)
Say: There Mary had a baby boy. She wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn. (Rock the doll. Verses 6-7)
Say: Shepherds were in the fields at night, watching their flock. (Hands over eyes.)
Say: An angel of the Lord came, and God's glory shone all around. The shepherds were very afraid. (Cover your face.)
Say: The angel said, "Fear not! I bring you good news of great joy. Today a Saviour is born, Christ the Lord!" (Arms up.)
Say: Then many angels praised God. (Wave hands.)
Say: The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem. They found Mary, Joseph and the baby in a manger. (Verses 8-16)
Say: They told everyone and praised God! (Verses 17-20)
Now let's act out the story!
Game: Walk to Bethlehem (5 min)
Setup: Clear a walking path around the room. Place the doll on the blanket at the end as the "manger."
Time: 5 minutes.
1. Children walk slowly (no running) in a line, following the teacher. Say: "We are shepherds going to Bethlehem!"
2. Call "Shepherds, keep watch!" Everyone freezes with hands over their eyes.
3. Call out in a big voice: "Fear not! Good news!" Children throw their arms up and cheer softly.
4. Walk to the blanket and look at the doll. Whisper, "Baby Jesus."
5. Repeat once. Let a different child lead.
Say: The shepherds were so happy, they told everyone!
Now let's learn a verse about this good news.
Teaching: A Saviour for You (4 min)
Say: The angel said baby Jesus is a Saviour.
Say: A Saviour is someone who helps and rescues us. God sent Jesus because he loves us.
Say: The good news was for the shepherds, and it is for you too!
Teach Luke 2:11 one phrase at a time. Children repeat each phrase with an action:
- "For unto you is born this day" (point to a friend, then to yourself)
- "in the city of David" (draw a roof with your hands)
- "a Saviour" (hug yourself)
- "which is Christ the Lord" (arms up high)
Say the whole verse together twice.
Say: Jesus is good news for everyone.
Now let's make a baby Jesus to take home.
Craft: Wrapped in Cloths (6 min)
Safety: Check for allergies and supervise glue. Only the teacher uses scissors. Keep loose scraps away from children under 3.
Setup: Pre-cut one baby shape per child. Cut cloth or tissue strips.
Time: 6 minutes.
1. Give each child a baby shape and crayons.
2. Children draw a face and hair.
3. Help them glue cloth strips across the body. Say: "Mary wrapped him in cloths."
4. Children lay the baby on a paper "manger" or a piece of yellow paper, using glue as needed.
5. Write the child's name and "Luke 2:11" on the back.
Say: You made baby Jesus! Remember, he is the Saviour.
Talk Time (3 min)
Sit in a circle. Ask each question and let several children answer.
1. Where did Mary lay baby Jesus? (In a manger.)
2. Who told the shepherds the good news? (An angel.)
3. What did the shepherds do after they saw Jesus? (They told people and praised God.)
4. How do we feel when we hear good news? (Happy!)
Say: God's good news makes us glad.
Now let's thank God together.
Closing Prayer and Song (2 min)
Say: Close your eyes and repeat after me.
Pray one line at a time. Children repeat:
"Thank you, God, for baby Jesus."
"Thank you for sending a Saviour."
"Help me tell good news too."
"Amen."
Sing or clap one more time: "Good news! Good news!" Say the verse together once more.
Say: Take your baby Jesus home and tell someone the good news!
Materials
- Baby doll or small bundle wrapped in cloth
- Blanket for the circle
- Paper with a pre-cut baby shape for each child
- Cloth or tissue paper strips
- Glue sticks and crayons
- Yellow paper star (optional)
Teacher notes
- Safety: Check for allergies and ask parents first about craft supplies. Glue and cloth scraps are small items, not for children under 3. Teacher only uses scissors.
- Adaptation: Use the doll and picture cues for visual learners. Offer a quiet option, such as sitting and doing the actions with hands only. Pair younger children with a buddy.
- Stay with Luke's wording. Background: swaddling clothes were strips of cloth to wrap a baby. Verse 4 calls Bethlehem the city of David.
- Keep the walking game slow and supervised. Keep the pace gentle for the youngest children.
Send it home with parents
Today we heard Luke 2:1-20. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. An angel told shepherds the good news of great joy, and they went to see him and told others. We learned that Jesus is our Saviour, sent for everyone.
- Who told the shepherds the good news?
- What good news can we tell someone this week?
Read Luke 2:8-16 together. Let your child act out the shepherds, freezing when the angel appears and cheering "Good news!" Then say Luke 2:11 together.
Each day, tell one person, "Jesus is born! He is our Saviour." Say Luke 2:11 together at bedtime.
Make this lesson your own: change the age, length or language · Printables to go with this lesson · Printables for this story
More teaching resources
More free lessons
See all free lessons