Birth of John the Baptist

BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Objectives:

  1. Children should be able to tell the story of Elizabeth, Zachariah , and the angel.
  2. Children should be able to identify John as the child of Elizabeth and Zachariah.

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.
  2. Read the story of John’s birth in the Childen’s Bible Reader, pages 162-63 and 166-68, or the Golden Children’s Bible, pages 346-350. We also have the Arch book “Elizabeth’s Story”.

 

  1. Feed the Elephant/True/False Questions:

                           True                                                               False

            Elizabeth and Zachariah were very old.         Elizabeth & Zachariah hated children

            Zachariah was a priest.                                 Elizabeth was a priest.

            The angel Gabriel spoke to Zachariah.          The angel spoke to Elizabeth.

            Zachariah couldn’t speak.                             Elizabeth couldn’t see.

            Elizabeth & Zachariah’s baby was John.        Elizabeth & Zachariah’s baby was

                                                                                                Mary.

 

  1. First review the stories of other “gift babies”: Mary to Joachim and Anna, Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, and Samuel to Hannah and Elkanah.  You can even review the stories in the Read with Me Bible or Children’s Bible. What gift did God give to Elizabeth and Zachariah? How did they feel? What did Zachariah say to the angel? Did he believe God? Do you always believe God? Is it hard sometimes to do what God says? Why couldn’t Zachariah speak? What were his first words? Did he obey God in the end? Who visited Elizabeth before John was born? Remind the students that Mary and Elizabeth were cousins.

 

  1. Have another birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to baby John. Can you make up words like a Troparion to go with “Happy Birthday” about John?

 

  1. Make Baby John. Use a half walnut shell with a tiny piece of cotton ball for bedding. A little circle of fabric for the gown, tiny piece of cotton inside tied with a ribbon for the head. Draw on face. Add tiny piece of fabric for bonnet. OK, so, walnuts hard to come by? You can use a coffee filter for the baby with a cotton ball inside the head, rubber band or pipe cleaner around the neck, and toilet paper tube cut in half longways to make a "cradle". Decorate the cradle with birthday or baby stickers. 

 

  1. Close with prayer. Use the prayer that Elizabeth prayed when she saw Mary coming: “Rejoice, O Birthgiver of God, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb. For you have borne the Savior of our souls!”