Dr. Pat's Orthodox Super Sunday School Curriculum

THE ANNUNCIATION

Objectives:

1. Children should know that Mary was the mother of Jesus.
2. Children should be able to say the word “Theotokos” and know its meaning.
3. Children should be able to say “annunciation” and know it means announcement.
4. Children should be able to identify the angel Gabriel and Mary in the icon.

    

Possible Lesson Plan:

1. Open with prayer. Set up the classroom ahead of time with a large pot for the well in one corner, with dipper and cups, filled with water. Have a “house” in another corner of the room, perhaps an overturned small table or chair

2. Read the story of the Annunciation in the Beginner’s Bible, pages 266-270, the Children’s Bible Reader, pages 164-165, or Read with Me Bible, pages 252-255. Supplement, if desired, with the Golden Children’s Bible, pages 348-349. Review the story with the icon, identifying Mary and Gabriel. What is Mary holding? She is shown holding a spool of thread because she was spinning thread when the angel appeared to her. Remind children that the Prophet Isaiah from the Old Testament had predicted the events about to occur. The scroll is seen in the icon. Remind them also that Mary was a miracle child, in the old age of her parents Joachim and Anna and was raised in the temple. The Temple is also in the icon.

3. Feed the Elephant True/False Questions:

                            True                                                          False

            The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.              The angel Michael appeared to Mary

            Mary was spinning thread.                              Mary was playing tag.

            Mary was the mother of Jesus                          Anna was the mother of Jesus.

            Annunciation means announcement.              Annunciation means birthday.

Add the Annunciation to your timeline. 

4. Ask these questions: What was Mary doing when the angel came to talk to her? What would you want to be doing if an angel came to your house? Arguing with your sister or brother? Disobeying your parents? How do you think Mary felt when she saw the angel? How would you feel? Have any of you seen an angel? Why did the angel come to talk to Mary? Who would be the father of Mary’s baby?
5. Make finger puppets, one of Gabriel and one of Mary.  Print the patterns on cardstock, cut out for the children, with holes for fingers. Now retell the story: Story of the Annunciation – a very special day for a very special girl!
   • Early in the morning, a young girl named Mary went out to fetch water from the well, likely in a clay jar. (Everyone go to the well with Mary puppet to get drink of water)
   • She heard the voice of the angel with the 1^st greeting but saw no one. (Mary and Angel puppets but angel hidden)
   • Mary went back into the house and began weaving. She was weaving cloth for the holy altar in the temple. (Mary puppet leaves the well and goes to the house.)
   • There the angel appeared and spoke again. He told her she was to have a baby, the Son of God. (Mary and angel puppets at the house)
   • The angel also told her that her mother’s cousin Elizabeth was also going to have a miracle baby. He told Mary to go and visit Elizabeth. (Mary and angel puppets)
   • The angel appeared later to Joseph, who was going to be her husband. Joseph was a carpenter. Joseph also obeyed the angel and soon Joseph and Mary were married. (Stop the show for a bit of white wedding cake or cupcake and punch)
   • When the baby was about to be born, Mary and Joseph would take a donkey and travel to Bethlehem, where a star would also ANNOUNCE the birth of someone. Who?

6. Close with prayer.