Birth of Jesus Play

Ok so this post is copied and pasted from www.alljoinin.blogspot.com from last year, but thought it may be of interest (and since we have this stuff out again it just saves me pics)

Stable Craft

I'm not generally into pre-made craft ideas but occasionally and this one is rather adorable. Envelope with a triangle cut out of the flap to create a stable scene, children were provided with card cutout shapes to create the figures. No glue was needed to stick a star to the stable roof just a lick on the tope of the flap and hey presto.

Christmas Symbols Box

It is sometimes difficult for children to integrate the ideas of a baby being born a long time ago and the trappings of a modern Christmas celebration, well us adults too. But this little box was a nice talking point about many aspects of our current celebrations both religious and secular.

Clothes Peg Nativity

I love it when an activity/ resource serves a few purposes, so this is a lovely activity to be used creatively whilst developing finger strength. Made out of simple wooden clothes pegs and funky foam cut into appropriate shapes, of course you could use laminated nativity printouts, such a these from activity village. I just glued with pritt stick for speeds sake but for a longer lasting resource use a glue gun

Carol Service Quite Bags

I wonder how many churches will have their Carol Services tomorrow? Well here's an idea for next year. Quiet bags that can be given as a gift and will (hopefully) keep children engaged throughout service. The plain gift bag (wine bag was cheapest) contains

• Sewing star (laminated card, hole punched)
• Plastic bauble and stickers to decorate.
• Christmas colouring book (I created from my own drawings and google images)
• Crayons (a multi pack decanted into little sets held with card)
• Toy car
• Road map colouring for car to drive around.
• Stable picture with stickers to create the nativity.
• Chocolate coins

The annual nativity display has been set up, this year with a new nativity. We still have lovely wooden one but this was on offer and we liked it a lot. This year it is set up alongside a small tree to decorate making the connection between the Christmas story and the festival.

A simple set up with star netting hanging from picture hook from top of wall.

A photo when it was dark (it's dark far too early), with a small battery operated light behind stable.

The tree to decorate, small decorations kept in gift boxes and gift bags.

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Cup tree with bells on for easier decorating (they have tiny curtain rings on) or for playing and singing... jingle bells, jingle..