Dr. Pat's Orthodox Super Sunday School Curriculum

Annunciation

THE ANNUNCIATION

 

Objectives:

  1. Students should know that Mary was the mother of Jesus.
  2. Students 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. Students should be able to identify the angel Gabriel and Mary in the icon.
  5. Students should know that this feast is celebrated March 25.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer. Set up the classroom ahead of time with an overturned table for puppet theater in another corner.

 

  1. 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.  Mary was spinning and weaving at the time of the angel's appearance, making a veil for the temple. What’s on the scroll in the center?  Whose prophecy does it depict? (Isaiah)

 

  1. Scripture reading: Luke 1: 26-56

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

6. Make paper bag puppets. We’ll need Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, donkey.  Color scenery background. Be SURE to include well and house. You can make the puppets with construction paper and paper bags OR print the patterns of the characters, cut out, color, and glue the face to the bottom of the bag and the body to the front of the bag. Mary and Elizabeth are the same puppet but with different colors for their clothing.

Now retell the story: Story of the Annunciation – a very special time 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.

(Mary puppet)

  • She heard the voice of the angel with the 1st greeting but saw no one.

(Use Mary and Gabriel puppets, but Gabriel is not seen.)

  • 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.)

IF YOU WANT, take a break now for weaving, either Placemat Altar Cloth or God’s Eye Spindle.

  • There the angel appeared and spoke again. He told her she was to have a baby, the Son of God.

(Mary and Gabriel puppets at 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 donkey meet Elizabeth. )

  • The angel appeared later to Joseph, who was going to be her husband. Joseph was a carpenter.

(Joseph and Gabriel puppets)

  • Joseph also obeyed the angel and soon Joseph and Mary were married.

(Mary and Joseph puppets. Next, Take a break for a minute for a wedding feast snack – white cake or cupcakes 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?

(Donkey and Mary and Joseph puppets)

 

 

Mary and Elizabeth puppets: Mary is usually pictured in blue and dark red and Elizabeth in green and orange.

Gabriel

Joseph

Donkey

 

  1. Close with prayer.

 

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