Annunciation
THE ANNUNCIATION
Objectives:
- Students should know that Mary was the mother of Jesus.
- Students should be able to say the word Theotokos and know its meaning.
- Children should be able to say “annunciation” and know it means announcement.
- Students should be able to identify the angel Gabriel and Mary in the icon.
- Students should know that this feast is celebrated March 25.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Review the icon: See how much the students already know. There are only two participants, Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. Mary carries a spool of yarn, Why? Because just as sheep give their wool to clothe humanity, Mary gave her body to clothe the eternal Son of God in a garment of humanity. What’s on the scroll in the center? Whose prophecy does it depict? (Isaiah)
- Scripture reading: Luke 1: 26-56
- Discussion: What is a mother? Role? Why did Jesus, God Himself, need a
mother? (One cannot be born without one!) Who is the Mother of God? What do we call her? What does “Theotokos” mean?
What word does “annunciation” come from? (“announce”) What is announced? Who does the announcing? From Whom does the message come? Where is the announcement made? Is Mary free to make a choice to accept or not accept what God wishes from her? Would you have accepted and why or why not?
What is the Incarnation? (God taking flesh) In what way was it not only the work of the power of God, but also the work and will and faith of the virgin Mary? . Why is Annunciation exactly 9 months before Christmas? (Discuss the concept of pregnancy and how it occurs with older students; younger students may want to discuss their own mothers’ pregnancies with a younger sibling, etc.)
What is the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist? How long had Elizabeth been pregnant when the Annunciation occurred? Compare and contrast the responses of Mary and of Zachariah when each heard from the angel.
- Play a learning game: Write the letters of the alphabet on small pieces of paper, include at least 2 of each letter and 4 of each vowel. Scatter the letters in the center of the floor. Ask questions from the lesson that can be answered with one word:
Who was the angel who came to Mary?
Who is the Theotokos?
In which feast do we celebrate an announcement?
In which month do we celebrate the Annunciation?
When you say the word, “Go”, the students must sift through the letters to form the word that answers the question. The first to lay out the correct letters is the winner.
- Make a Bottle Angel: Take a small dish detergent or similar bottle. Add doily, feather, or paper wings, a strip of paper folded for a book, a Styrofoam head with yarn hair and chenille halo.
- Close with prayer.
