Christmas Nativity

This is the activity I like to do on Christmas Sunday. I use this Nativity set for this activity--the Fisher Price Nativity, which I love, but which is also ridiculously overpriced (I think). Also, it only comes with one shepherd-looking guy, who I assume is Joseph. Luckily we have the Noah's ark set, too, and Noah makes a great substitute shepherd. You can use whatever Nativity you'd like, or just print out some pictures instead.

I have two variations on this activity--one for Junior (simpler), one for Senior (involving looking up scriptures). The instructions for each are below.

Supplies needed:

• Some form of Nativity including the following eight pieces: a stable with a star, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Wise Men, angel, shepherd, and donkey.
• List of eight corresponding songs (the ones I picked are listed below)
• For Senior: list of eight scriptures that correspond to each Nativity piece

List of Eight Pieces & Corresponding Songs:

  1. stable—I Am Like a Star (p. 163)

2.Mary—Silent Night (hymn 204)

3.Joseph—Shepherd’s Carol (p. 40)

4.Jesus—Away in a Manger (p. 42)

5.Wise Man—Wise Man & The Foolish Man (p. 281)

6.Angel—Child of God (p. 2)

7. Shepherd-- Picture a Christmas (p.50)

8.donkey—Do As I’m Doing (p. 276)

List of Eight Pieces & Corresponding Songs/Scriptures:
(This is what I use for Senior Primary. Note that some of the songs have changed because I often sing different songs with Junior than I do with Senior.)

1.      stable (Luke 2:7)—I Am Like a Star (p. 163)

2.      Mary—(Alma 7:10) Silent Night (hymn 204)

3.      Joseph (Matthew 1:20-21)—Shepherd’s Carol (p. 40)

4.      Jesus—(Isaiah 9:6)  Away in a Manger (p. 42)

5.      Wise Man—(Matthew 2:1-2)  Wise Man (p. 281)

6.      Angel (Luke 2:9-11) —Angels We Have Heard  (hymn 203)

7.       Shepherd (Luke 2:8) -- Picture a Christmas (p.50)

8.      donkey (Helaman 14:1-2—this has nothing to do with a donkey, but there’s no scriptural evidence for the donkey.  So just tell them to find it)—Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus (p. 36)

Set up:

1. Gather the eight Nativity pieces listed above.
2. Come up with a song to correspond to each piece (mine are listed above)
3. FOR SENIOR: Come up with a scripture to correspond to each piece (mine are listed above)

Game play:

1. FOR JUNIOR: Hide the eight Nativity pieces around the Primary room.
2. Call up a child and have them go find a piece of the Nativity (the other kids can help if they can't find one). 
3. When they bring the piece to you, have them tell you what it is and what it has to do with the Nativity. For example, "The stable is where Baby Jesus was born," or "Mary is Jesus's mother."
4. Sing the corresponding song, then repeat.
5. FOR SENIOR: Hide all the Nativity pieces around the Primary room (make it a bit harder this time).
6. On a table or board, have the eight paper with scripture references placed face down.
7. Call up a child and have them pick a scripture reference. Read it to the Primary.
8. Have the Primary look it up--the first one who finds it can read it out loud, then try to guess which Nativity piece it corresponds to (***note--this can be tricky, as the references often mention several things all at once. Make sure they pick the CORRECT Nativity piece).
9. Have the child who picked the reference go find the piece and bring it to you.
10. Sing the corresponding song, then repeat.