Why Was This Baby Special? aim To explore why this story is so important for Christians and others, by studying key Christian beliefs about the importance of Jesus, and using the symbolism in the gifts of the Wise Men. Objective Each pupil will have the opportunity to learn about the meaning of the gifts of the Wise Men, and to suggest their own gifts. Introduction Discuss: what do you think are good gifts for a baby or a small child? (Discuss examples, also asking why these are good gifts.) Explain that the story of the Nativity (the birth of Jesus), has a very strange moment when some visitors bring gifts. None of the gifts seem to be anything like the sorts of gifts we would give a baby now! Core Material Show the extract clip (DVD time code 21:53-23:18) of the moment when the gifts are presented. The film actually explains the meaning of each gift - a crucial point for this lesson! After viewing the film extract, write the words Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh on a display board, (ensuring the spellings are correct!) or print out and use Display Sheets 1-3. Then, ask the pupils to discuss in pairs what the Wise Men said was the special meaning behind each gift. Check the understanding of some volunteers, and then add the definition captions and pictures to your headings (See Display Sheets 1-9). Gold, a precious metal: (a gift for a king) Frankincense, a special perfume: (a gift for the Son of God who will be worshipped) Myrrh, a spice used to preserve a dead body: (to show that his life will be special from its beginning... to its end.) Discuss each one with the pupils, remarking on their apparent strangeness. Then explain that each gift is said to reveal something very special about Jesus when he grew up, as if the Wise Men had seen something of his future. Draw out from the children what they know of Jesus later life that could explain each gift: 1 of 5
Would Jesus be a King? How? (He refused a crown when he was offered one, but later was called King of the Jews by his enemies, although he said his kingdom wasn t something you could see. Christians now say he is King of their lives, and one day will come back to rule the whole world.) Would Jesus be worshipped and honoured? How? (His disciples worshipped him after they saw him come back from the dead. Christians worship him now both in church, and in their own lives. They pray to Jesus, and think of him as God with a human face.) Would his life be special from its beginning to its end? How? (He spent his adult life teaching and healing and helping people. Christians believe his death made it possible for everyone to be friends with God again.) Then remove the gift name labels and the pictures, leaving just the definition labels on display. Explain These were all special gifts with a meaning. Here s a hard question - if Jesus was born today, what sorts of gifts could people give that would say the same sort of thing about him? Pupils should discuss this in pairs, then volunteer suggestions for you to list on the board expect some wild answers from the More Able! Activities 1) Put all the 9 Display Sheets on display. Give each pupil a copy of Worksheet 1 to complete to reinforce the names of each gift from the Wise Men. 2) Use Worksheet 2 to reinforce understanding about the meanings of the gifts. 3) Using the last question on Worksheet 2 as a first draft, pupils should draw / construct a model of (and then label) their own gift that they would like to have given to baby Jesus. Why would they have given it? These gifts should be big enough to put on display around a picture or model of the Nativity such as most infant classrooms have at this time of the year! Differentiated Activities SEN pupils may need help with the cut-and-stick activity. Alternatively, ask them to sort your enlarged display labels. 2 of 5
More Able pupils could be set the extension task of thinking about possible modernday gifts for Jesus that would contain a similar message to any of the gifts of the Wise Men. Pupils could discuss this in pairs, and then write /illustrate some of their responses. Possible suggestions: (a gift for a king) : a credit card? a crown? a throne? (a gift for the Son of God who will be worshipped) How do people worship Jesus now? With a prayer? Or with a song? By lighting a candle in church? By dancing? By helping other people? By making something beautiful or useful? (a gift to show that his life will be special from its beginning... to his death at the end) Pupils might suggest a cross or crucifix to show what happened to him later. Plenary Share some pupil work. Point out that the gifts of the Wise Men might not seem to be very practical, but they were small and valuable something possibly quite useful when the family had to flee for their lives into another country. Those gifts might have bought them a lot of food and a place to stay! Discuss some of the responses of the More Able what would a modern-day version of these gifts be and why? 3 of 5
Worksheet 1 Gifts for Jesus Name... Cut out the gifts and stick them in the right places. gold a precious metal myrrh a spice used to preserve a dead body frankincense a special perfume 4 of 5
Worksheet 2 Gifts for Jesus Name... What the gift means a gift for a king a gift for the Son of God who will be worshipped a gift to show that his life will be special from its beginning... to its end Write the name of the gift in this row Draw the gift in this row If you were there, what gift would you like to give baby Jesus? Draw it here and say why you would give it. 5 of 5