Homeschool Zoo Annex: Christmas Unit Study

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Christmas Unit Study

CHRISTMAS UNIT STUDY

This was originally written to be a four day unit study, so it may be intense but it can be done. However, you may wish to incorporate this into your curriculum in a different way. The vocabulary will be comprised solely of words related to the subject, so you won't find anything like phentermine or other modern or chemical terms.

OBJECTIVE: From Genesis on, the birth of the Messiah was prophesied. The goal of this unit is to discover those prophecies and to learn about the fulfillment of them - the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what we as Christians believe, and what we should share with others about it. This unit will not include math or science. Those subjects will need to be supplemented.

WEB RESOURCES:

__http://members.tripod.com/~lemmondrops/advent.html#TEXT

__http://www.execpc.com/~tmuth/st_john/xmas/advent.htm

__http://www.christiantech.com/ (Noah Webster 1828 online searchable

dictionary)

OTHER RESOURCES:

You may use your dictionary, encyclopedia, computer encyclopedia, Bible,

concordance, the web, or any other resources available to you.

VOCABULARY: Write the definitions for the following words.

__Prophecy

__Immanuel

__Census

__Messiah

__Christ

__Bethlehem

__Carol

__Advent

DAY 1:

1. What is an Advent wreath? Look this up on the internet or in an encyclopedia to learn its history and purpose. Find out if there are any traditional activities during Advent.

2. Make an Advent wreath, using natural materials you find in your yard. In place of real candles, use paper tubes, construction paper, and other craft items to make “candles”. Each week have a devotional and use the wreath you have made as the centerpiece.

DAY 2:

1. Using a Concordance or computer Bible software, look up verses which tell of a prophesied Messiah. Key words: a child, a son, virgin, son of God, redeemer, Bethlehem. You might think of others as well.

2. Re-write the verses in your own words, making sure to tell the address of the verses.

3. Using a printable map, locate and color the area around Bethlehem and Nazareth. Follow the trail of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, then on to Egypt. Then, retrace their journey from Egypt back to their home, as told in the Bible. (Matthew and Luke) Use a different color for each activity and note them in the map’s legend.

4. Determine how many miles each trip was, and how many miles total they had to travel.

5. How far might they have traveled in one day? How long could each trip have taken?

DAY 3: Answer the following questions. You may use your Bible, the internet, the encyclopedia, or any other resources necessary to learn the answers. Write in complete sentences, making note of proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

1. Why was there a need for a Messiah?

2. What sort of Savior did the Jews expect?

3. We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Where did the Pharisees think He came from?

4. Who was the Roman ruler when Jesus was born?

5. What government even preceded the birth of Jesus?

6. What did Herod have done after he learned of the birth?

7. Find the Old Testament verse that is referred to in the passage about this deed.

8. How is it that Jesus, born of a woman, could have pure blood with no sinful nature? (See Luke’s gospel.)

DAY 4:

1. Read the account of Jesus’ birth in Matthew 2. According to what you have read, try to determine how old Jesus might have been when the wise men visited Him. Citing verses, give reasons why you have come to this conclusion.

2. While the secular world sees Santa Claus in Christmas, what one thing that affects our daily lives is impacted by the birth of Christ?

While I have copyrighted this material, please feel free to print it out for your own use. Please, do not pass this around on the internet as your own work. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!