In the lesson today we have been talking a lot about "family." Now let's talk about the family of Jesus.
First let's look at the words we need to know on the Student Study Guide (Section #B).
#B on Student Study Guide
live
Using a map of the village/town/city of the students as reference, say:
You live in [Name of city where you are]. In this story, Mary, the mother of Jesus, lives in Nazareth.
Show the map of Israel in the days of Jesus, calling attention to the town of Nazareth.
engaged
Show a picture of two people "in love." Call them (for example) Ken and Fran. Point to a future date on a calendar and say:
Ken and Fran will marry - will be husband and wife. Now Ken and Fran are engaged to marry.
love
Bring in three small and different pieces of candy. Hold each of them up and say, with exaggerated body language:
I like [name of candy you like]. I like [name of another candy you like]. But I LOVE [name of candy you love].
Show pictures of mother-child relationships (people and animals).
obey
Parents teach their child to obey. They say, "Wash your hands!"-and the child washes his hands. They say: "Eat your food!"-and the child eats his food. They say: "Shhhhhhh. Be quiet!"-and the child is quiet. The child obeys his parents.
send...to visit
Make three nametags for God, Gabriel (the angel), and Mary. Pin them on three students. You may need to wear God's nametag until students get the idea of "sending." Place Mary in a chair. Gabriel and God are several feet from her. God "sends" Gabriel to visit Mary. If Gabriel doesn't catch on right away, take him by his arm and escort him into Mary's presence. Then try "sending" again. (Have fun with this and your students will, too.)
say
Tell or speak. Gesture by touching your lips, then moving your hand - fingers together - as if blowing a kiss.
going to have a baby
[Name of a person] loves [name of a person]. In today's story, Mary loves God.
Show a picture or use hand motions to indicate the shape of a pregnant woman, then pantomime rocking a babe in arms. If more clarification is needed, illustrate on the chalkboard:
call his name
To or about several students, say:
I call your name [name of a student]. I call her name [name of a second student]. I call his name [name of a third student]. (etc.)
Note: Use the real names of the students in your class here.
hurry
Demonstrate the contrast between walking "in a hurry"/not "in a hurry"; reading a book or magazine "in a hurry"/not "in a hurry"; and drinking water "in a hurry"/not "in a hurry." Say (and pantomime):
I hear a knock at the door. I hurry to see who is knocking at the door.
Then put the "Mary" and "Elizabeth" nametags on two students and ask Mary to "hurry to see" Elizabeth. (If need be, take her by the hand and "hurry" with her!)
praise
Provide several examples:
virgin
A person who has never had a sexual relationship.
good news
Hold a newspaper as if reading and say:
Some news is good and makes us happy. Some news is bad and makes us sad.
Pause-then say:
Mary has good news for Elizabeth!
also
Provide examples (with hand motions as needed):
Say, with a lot of hand motions and facial expression:
Let's look at the JESUS story now and answer one question: Is Mary happy or sad when the Angel Gabriel says, "Mary, you are going to have a baby!"
Let's look at the story again to answer more questions. First, let's look at the questions.
Read the questions with emphasis on the most important words:
Circle your answer. The first one is done:
After seeing the film clip again, encourage students to work together to answer the questions or to compare their answers. As soon as several students have finished, proceed with a discussion of the answers with the entire class. Then direct attention to the next section (#E) and say:
Now let's read this story! First I read a sentence. Then you read it with me.
Concentrate on pronunciation, stress, and intonation in this reading. Speak a bit more slowly than usual. Make the second reading "up to speed."
Go over directions and demonstrate what to do with the first blank. Allow time for students to do the Cloze in class or assign this as homework. When students are finished, you may ask them to compare their answers with other students before going over answers with the whole class.
Answer key: 1-a, 2-she, 3-angel, 4-says, 5-to, 6-Jesus, 7-cousin, 8-is, 9-tells, 10-praises
Be sure that students understand what to do before beginning this activity. You may choose literally to cut the story into strips, giving one sentence strip to each student (in some cases doubling up, pairing a strong student with one who needs a lot of help). This is the most communicative approach, since all the students must interact and use English in order to put the strips in the correct sequence. Once this is accomplished, have students line up, placing themselves in the right order to read the whole story.
If your class is small you may still cut the story into sentence strips and give one story "set" to each pair of students who will work together. If working in pairs, the students may alternate turns reading the story once it is complete.
One other option is to leave the story as it is and let a student simply write a number beside each sentence in order to indicate the proper sequence. In any case, have the story read once more after the task is completed.
Answer Key: a-11, b-10, c-4, d-6, e-7, f-2, g-8, h-5, i-9, j-l, k-3, l-12
1. The names for Jesus have important meanings: "He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21) and "God with us" (Matt. 1:23).
Ask students in pairs or small groups to tell the story of their name:
Who chose your name? What does it mean?
2. Mary wants to share her "good news" with her cousin Elizabeth. Do you remember having "good news" that you wanted to share with someone? Tell your partner (or small group) about this good news.
3. Ask for volunteers to tell the story in their own words. Students who need the practice will get much needed practice, while others can learn from listening.
1. God knows our name! "Our names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20b, NLV)
2. When we give ourselves to God, He writes our names in the Book of Life.
3. God made each of us to be His child-to be a part of the family of God!
Song: "God Is So Good"
Note: Use the real names of the students in your class.
(1) Your teacher praises your work in class: "Wonderful, Teresa! Good work, Keita!"
(2) We praise a little boy when he learns to walk or catch a ball. "Good boy!"
(3) A husband praises his wife: "The dinner was delicious!"
(4) (Pause, then say:) "Mary praises God!"
Note: Use the real names of the students in your class here.
[Yunke], please stand up. [Raquel], you stand up also. [Luiz], go to the door, please. [Solange], you go to the door also.
#C on Student Study Guide
Show film clip from the beginning of the prologue to Elizabeth's embrace of Mary. After eliciting a response to your question, say:
#D on Student Study Guide
1. Does Mary live in NAZARETH? [Yes] [No]
2. Is Mary engaged to marry JOHN?
[Yes] [No]
3. Does Mary LOVE God? [Yes] [No]
4. Does Mary OBEY God? [Yes] [No]
5. Does God send an angel to visit ELIZABETH? [Yes] [No]
6. Does the angel say : "Mary, you are going to have a baby. Call his name JOHN."? [Yes] [No]
7. Does Mary hurry to tell her cousin RUTH?
[Yes] [No]
8. Is ELIZABETH going to have a baby also?
[Yes] [No]
9. Does ELIZABETH tell MARY the good news? [Yes] [No]
10. Does MARY praise GOD?
[Yes] [No]
Show film clip again.
#E on Student Study Guide
1. Mary lives in Nazareth.
2. Nazareth is a town in Galilee.
3. Mary is engaged to marry Joseph.
4. Mary loves God.
5. Mary obeys God.
6. God sends the angel Gabriel to visit the virgin Mary.
7. Gabriel says to Mary: "Mary, you are going to have a baby. Call his name Jesus."
8. Mary hurries to tell her cousin Elizabeth.
9. Elizabeth lives in Judah.
10. Elizabeth is going to have a baby also.
11. Mary tells Elizabeth the good news.
12. Mary praises God!
#F on Student Study Guide
(On separate page following the Student Study Guide)
#G on Student Study Guide
If students need a little help, you may show small increments of the film clip,
then ask the class about what they just saw. Students may enjoy an "add-on"
approach also, i.e., the first volunteer provides the first sentence, a second volunteer adds what comes next, etc. Everyone benefits! The risk-takers are challenged. The less confident students hear a good model and eventually have courage to try.
#H on Student Study Guide
Not only does He know our name, but even the very hairs on our head are numbered! "God knows how many hairs you have on your head." (Matt. 10:30,NLV)
"Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be in the city (in heaven)." (Rev. 21:27, CEV)
"He gave the right and the power to become children of
God to those who received Him. He gave this to those who put their trust in His name. These children of God were not born of blood and of flesh and of man's desires,
but they were born of God." (John 1:12-13, NLV)
Back to the Top- Home