God’s Lamb—The Birth of Jesus Children’s Story Retold
 
The birth of Jesus lesson that children learn every Christmas is a familiar one. Shepherds at the birth of Jesus were keeping watch over their flocks by night. Jesus’ birthplace, Bethlehem, is the familiar setting. The birth of Jesus children’s story learned in Sunday School is a good foundation for middle school students to build on as they dive deeper with this lesson guide to understand their Christian faith. “God’s Lamb,” unfolds the story of Eban, a shepherd who has a boring job in a small town where nothing happens until the night a baby is born in Bethlehem, Jesus. Born, not in a stable as is depicted in our Christmas pageants, but more probably at Migdal Eder, the tower near Bethlehem where lambs were bred specifically to be the sacrifice for sins. Students will easily engage with the characters of this story, young shepherds who were the first to learn the gospel, the good news of Jesus.
 
No Preparation Needed
The 29-page Teacher’s Guide contains everything a busy teacher needs to present a familiar biblical story in a new way. No need to spend hours of preparation with this Teacher’s Guide. All the information needed to teach the lesson is in the guide. Links in the Table of Contents make accessing pages in the guide quick and easy.
 
Written for grades 6-8, before, during, and after activities for guided reading ensure students learn grade-level vocabulary, establish appropriate background knowledge, engage comprehension, and think deeply about the story and its biblical principles. Lightly scripted blue text in the Think Deeper questions help teachers guide students to think about their faith. Also appropriate for stronger readers in Grades 4-5.
 
 
Optional Extension Activities give students opportunities to respond to the passage using different learning modalities: a hands-on project, research on Jewish feasts, or letter writing.
 
Suggested Pacing Guide
Given a 45-minute class period, the lesson could cover 5 days.
Day 1                    Complete Vocabulary worksheet (self-directed), and
                                read “God’s Lamb” Sections 1-3.
Day 2                    Read Sections 4-6.
Day 3                    Read Sections 7-8.
Day 4                    Read Section 9 and complete Comprehension
                                worksheet. Discuss student Comprehension answers
                                and Think Deeper questions as a class.
Day 5                    Begin optional Extension Activities to present to class.
 
Included in this Package:
The 29-page PDF is ready to print 2-sided in color on regular copy paper. Copies of the student worksheets and the story can be made separately in black-and-white. The guide includes the following:
Teacher’s Guide
Table of Contents
Vocabulary Worksheet
Comprehension Worksheet
Answer Keys
Story Map graphic organizer
“God’s Lamb” an original 11-page story