Dec 16
Student Awareness
and the Signs of Christmas
by Maryann Ziemer
During the four weeks of Advent, our senses are sometimes overwhelmed with the sights, sounds, and fragrances of Christmas. We can help our students find deeper meaning in the signs of Christmas and to make associations between these signs and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus with some simple activities.
Colored lights twinkle, and there’s sparkle and glitter everywhere. Music fills the air indoors and out with everything from “Jingle Bells” to Handel’s “Messiah.” Department store counters overflow with bottles of perfumes, their cases aglow with gold and jewels, and kitchens are filled with the unique aromas of holiday baking. Everywhere during the countdown to Christmas Day there are reminders of the gifts to be given.
Throughout Advent, we can help our students find deeper meaning in these ubiquitous signs of Christmas and to make associations between these signs and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. We can connect the sparkle and shine of the season to the brilliant star of Bethlehem; the sounds of holiday music to the voices of celestial choirs filling the sky that first Christmas night; and the delightful aromas of the season and the joy of giving gifts with the special fragrances of frankincense and myrrh that the magi brought as gifts to the Newborn King.
Light
Light is a form of energy. Light reflected from an object enters our eyes and we see the object. Without light we cannot see. We refer to Jesus as the Light of the World. Tradition tells us that at his birth, the magnificent light of the Christmas star shone over the stable in Bethlehem.
Talk about the many ways that lights are used during the Christmas season and why we refer to Jesus as the Light of the World.
Make a star ornament
You will need a white 3” x 5” index card for each student; pencil; ruler; scissors; glue; silver glitter; cord.
To make a star ornament, use a ruler to draw random slanting lines on an index card and cut along the lines. You now have various shapes of triangles. Glue the triangles together at their bases with points radiating outward. Glue glitter to the star and glue a hanger (a piece of looped cord) to the back. Set the stars aside (or decorate your learning space with them) until it’s time to wrap them as gifts.
Sound
Sound is also a form of energy. When trumpets play or voices sing, vibrations move the surrounding air, sending waves of sound to our listening ears. Musical sounds celebrate the birth of Jesus, as did the celestial voices that filled the air that first Christmas night singing “Glory to God in the highest.”
Talk about the different kinds of music we hear during this time. Point out the difference between a Christmas lullaby (“Away in a Manger”), an oratorio (Handel’s “Messiah”), and a contemporary song of the students’ choice.
Make a jingle-bell bracelet
You will need small jingle bells and craft beads for each student (the number depends on the size of the bells and the beads); elastic cord; ruler; scissors.
To make a jingle-bell bracelet, cut an 8-inch length of elastic cord. String bells and beads on the cord and securely knot the ends together. Set the bracelets aside until it’s time to wrap them as gifts.
Scent
Perfumes, oils, and incense have long been valued and used in the most meaningful rituals of many cultures. Frankincense and myrrh were among the gifts that the magi brought to the Infant Jesus.
Talk about the times we use oils and incense in our worship rituals. Does a sniff of pine or peppermint (or cookies baking) make you think of Christmas?
Make a fragrant ornament or sachet
You will need an 8” x 8” fabric square (one for each ornament/sachet); ¼ cup of pine-scented potpourri; 8” cord or ribbon; scissors.
To make a fragrant ornament or sachet, put the potpourri in the center of the square piece of fabric cloth, bring the four corners together, and tie securely with the cord. (This usually takes more than one set of hands; have students help each other.) Set the ornaments/sachets aside until it’s time to wrap them as gifts.
Gifts
Students enjoy Christmas gift-giving (yes, and receiving). Expand their sensitivity toward gift-giving by relating their generosity to that of the magi who followed the star from the East to Bethlehem carrying gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor the Infant Jesus.
Talk about why the three kings may have chosen those particular gifts for the Newborn King. Then invite students to share their thinking about to whom they plan to give the gifts they made.
Wrap the gifts. Each student will need three sheets of plain white gift-wrap and a white 3” x 5” index card cut into thirds (each piece of the index card serves as the “to/from” tag for a gift). You will also need tape, markers, and scissors.
To wrap each gift, have students decorate sheets of white gift-wrap with symbols and messages that reflect the love and joy of the season. Have them decorate the “to/from” tags in the same way. Wrap each gift and tape the appropriate gift tag to each.
As Advent comes to a close and students leave for the Christmas break, they take with them both the gifts they have made in class and an awareness that our traditions of lights, sounds, scents, and gift-giving at Christmas are rooted in the light of a star, the song of angels, and the gifts of kings to a baby in a stable.
Maryann Ziemer is a published author with teaching experience in pre-K, kindergarten, and seventh-grade religious education. She writes about subjects related to health, science, and education.
Source: CATECHIST Magazine, November/December 2008
Copyright 2009, Peter Li, Inc. All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, redisseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Peter Li, Inc.
