Religious Education Modules Year 5 Advent to
Christmas - Religious Education Modules Year 5
Stage 3 Module
Advent to Christmas - Religious Education Modules
Year 5
Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious Education
Modules Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious
Education Modules Year 5 Advent to Christmas Religious Education Modules Year 5 Advent to
Christmas - Religious Education Modules Year 5
Advent to Christmas - Religious Education Modules
Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious Education
Modules Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious
Education Modules Year 5 Advent to Christmas Religious Education Modules Year 5 Advent to
Christmas - Religious Education Modules Year 5
Advent to Christmas - Religious Education Modules
Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious Education
Modules Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious
Education Modules Year 5 Advent to Christmas Religious Education Modules Year 5 Advent to
Christmas - Religious Education Modules Year 5
Advent to Christmas - Religious Education Modules
Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious Education
http://tomperna.org/2012/06/04/mondays-with-mary-the-magnificat/
Modules
Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious
Education Modules Year 5 Advent to Christmas Religious Education Modules Year 5 Advent to
Christmas - Religious Education Modules Year 5
Advent to Christmas - Religious Education Modules
Year 5 Advent to Christmas - Religious Education
Module Focus
For Advent: This module focuses on the role of Mary in the stories we hear during the readings of Advent. Students will explore
how Mary responded to God's call in faith and love and how we, as disciples of Jesus are challenged to do the same.
For Christmas: The students will study and reflect on the Season of Christmas, its place within the Church’s liturgical year and
the implications of this season for their lives today.
Outcomes
J S3.2a: Relates the stories of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus to the Church’s liturgy.
PS 3.4b: Explains how Catholics are nourished and sustained as they reach out in service to others
S S3.5b: Demonstrate how the message of Scripture can be applied to contemporary life.
Learn About
J S3.2a:

The significance of the birth narratives

Significant biblical characters and the role they played in
Jesus’ birth
PS 3.4b

The Church year: seasons, colours and readings
S S3.5b:
 God’s self-disclosure through the Scriptures
 Place of the Infancy narratives in the Scriptures
Learn To

Demonstrate creatively the relationship of the events of
Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection for Catholics

Describe the role of selected prophets in these
experiences

Articulate the value of participation in formal liturgical
celebrations

Describe the impact of these events on their lives today
PS 3.4b

Engage with the liturgies of the season of Advent
S S3.5b:
Read Scriptures for meaning
DISCIPLESHIP CHALLENGE

Students are challenged to celebrate Jesus through liturgy

Students are challenged to reach out and minister to others

Students are challenged to value the richness of the sacred Scriptures
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Catholic Discipleship
One of the challenges for Catholics is to make a space in their busy lives to be still enough to appreciate the main
celebrations of the Christian calendar.
In the scriptural stories of Advent and Christmas that are read in the liturgies of the church, the role of Mary is central. Mary’s
response to her call to be the mother of Jesus provides role modelling about responding to the unexpected. Her response
is not one of passive submission but of active acceptance.
Advent provides students with an opportunity to reflect on the ways they already witness to the presence of Christ in
their lives and challenges them to continue to do so.
The Christmas Season is always celebrated during the long summer holidays in Australia; many students would be unaware of
days of importance within the Liturgy of the Church other than Christmas Day. As disciples of Jesus, students are
challenged to think about the significance of Jesus’ birth and how it is celebrated with other feasts during the
Christmas season.
Students are challenged to apply the meaning of the infancy narratives to their own lives, finding ways of bringing about
peace, joy and love in their lives, and especially to people who are marginalised in any way.
Prayer Focus: The Magnificat
Mary’s Song of Praise, the Magnificat is the longest discourse of Mary in the Gospels.
Pronounced when she was pregnant with Jesus, it is a prayer of humility and worship. It has been part of the Church’s liturgy
since the very first centuries. It has been recited or sung daily by ancient monks and hermits and other Religious who have
consecrated themselves to God.
The Magnificat may be divided into four parts:
1. Mary expresses her gratitude to God
2. She praises God for God’s power, holiness and mercy
3. She compares how differently God deals with the proud and the humble
4. She recalls that all the ancient prophecies to the Jews are now being fulfilled in the Messiah, Who was at that moment
present in her womb.
The Magnificat is strongly linked to “Hannah’s Song” from the Book of Samuel (1 Sam1:18). As a faithful Jew, Mary would have
known this song and it would have strongly influenced her thinking.
Core Scripture
Micah 5: 2, 4- 5 God promises a ruler from Bethlehem
Bethlehem Ephrath
You are one of the smallest towns
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in the nation of Judah.
But the Lord will choose one of your people
To rule the nationSomeone whose family goes back to ancient times…
Like a shepherd taking care of his sheep,
This ruler will lead and care for his people
by the power and glorious name of the Lord his God.
His people will live securely
and the earth will know his true greatness,
because he will bring peace.
(Contemporary English version)
Stories of Mary
Luke 1:26-38
The Annunciation
Luke 1:39-56
The Visitation (including Mary’s Song of Praise, known as the Magnificat).
Luke 1:57-80
The birth of John the Baptist, Zechariah’s prophecy ***Read this as a story from a
good children’s illustrated bible***
The Nativity and the Visit of the Men
Luke 2: 1-20
Jesus is born
Matthew 1:22-23- 2:1-11
Birth of Jesus
Scripture in Context
Micah 5:2, 4-5
Micah was a prophet who was probably a rural farmer. Much of his work is concerned with admonishing townspeople
for their ways of life, calling them things like thieves (2:2), false preachers ( 2:11) and greedy for wealth ( 3:2). This passage,
which is read on the fourth Sunday of Advent in Year C is a departure from the prophecy about the defeat of the
enemies of Israel, with particular focus on the Assyrians in which it sits.
The early Christian communities seized on this oracle from the Hebrew Testament as a sign that it was a prophecy that
Jesus was the messiah. The mention of Bethlehem would have reminded the Jews of their great king David who was
born in this town. Here Micah dreams of a time when the Assyrians will be defeated and the glory days of YHWH
restored.
(http://www.patheos.com/Progressive-Christian/What-Micah-Want-John-Holbert-12-17-2012.html )
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The Stories of Mary and Elizabeth
Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1: 39-56, Luke 1: 1-25, 57-79

Mary was God’s instrument to bring God’s son into the world. At the time of the ‘annunciation’ she was living in a small
village in Nazareth. With trusting faith Mary committed herself to becoming the mother of Jesus. This commitment means
that Jesus came as the ‘Son of God and as Son of man’: truly human and truly divine.

Luke tells the story of the Annunciation in the introduction to his Gospel. In doing so, he is proclaiming that Jesus is
the Messiah, God’s Promised One. Mary plays an important role in the introduction to Luke’s Gospel; she identifies the
child she is carrying as the Lord himself.

Luke introduces Mary as Jesus’ mother but also as a believing and trusting disciple. Even though Mary’s acceptance
of God’s offer to be the mother may well cause problems for Joseph and herself, Mary still says a resounding ‘yes’ to God’s
offer.

Mary travelled to visit Elizabeth in what must have been dangerous and rough circumstances and yet the love she
had for her cousin compelled her to assist an elderly pregnant woman in the time leading up to the birth of her child.
Elizabeth, upon hearing Mary’s news is delighted and sings her cousin’s praise, “Blessed are you who believed in
the Lord’s promise.”

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist and husband of Elizabeth, was startled by the angel’s message that
Elizabeth would give birth to a child. Zechariah initially was consumed with bitterness and disbelief; both he and
Elizabeth were considered far too old to have a child. But as Zechariah waited for the birth of John his doubt
disappeared and God took the discordant response to His message of Christmas and changed it into a song of
praise.

The readings remind us that the fulfilling of the promise is not completed in the birth of Jesus but in the bringing of
justice to the world. Christmas challenges us to be part of that action.
Luke 2: 1-20: The Nativity story
Jesus’ birth took place in a stable: the event as it has been handed down is told as one of warmth and simplicity. The
birth itself reads as if a routine event- a peasant couple on an arduous journey retires for the night in the only available
accommodation. The woman is heavily pregnant and her labour begins, a son is born to the couple. What is less ordinary about
the event is the curiosity and visitors attracted to witness the event. The Angels announce Jesus’ birth, the Good News,
preaching that the Promised One has been born;
This very day in David’s town your Saviour was born-Christ the Lord!
And this is what will prove it to you:
you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.
In response to the angel’s announcement the shepherds desire to see that ‘which the Lord has made known to us’ and
set out to find the baby. Luke’s gospel states that once the shepherds had seen Jesus, ‘they made known the word…and all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds had told them’. This language suggests that the shepherds are models for
what every Christian should do in the world today-spread the Word. The Gospel writer captures both the divinity and
humanity of Jesus in the images of angels (divine) and shepherds (human) announcing his birth. Because lowly
shepherds were the first people to visit Jesus, it is stated from eth beginning that Jesus was born to reach out to the
lowly and outcast.
Matthew 1:1-23
Birth of Jesus
Dealing with the idea that “she conceived a child by the power of the Holy Spirit” is not easy for adults, much less children! What
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is important here is that the children see that god acts in our lives to be with us, sometimes in a surprising way. Matthew
means to highlight here that Jesus is truly “Emmanuel…God with us” and he is our saviour.
Matthew tells of the star that guides the Wise Men (Magi) to Jesus just as the angels showed the shepherds the way to
Jesus. The Wise Men are ‘explorers’ looking for God. Their minds and hearts are open to God being revealed to them. The
Wise Men offer gold for a king, incense for a God and myrrh for a human being. The Wise Men are wealthy and Jesus came
for the wealthy as well as the poor. Most significantly however, they came from countries far away indicating that Jesus
came for everyone and was not there only for his immediate community. The visit of the Magi is celebrated on the feast of the
Epiphany on 6 January. ‘Epiphany’ means God being revealed.
( Adapted from Sundays, Feast Days & Solemnities Year A. Christiane Brusselmans, Sr Paule Freeburg, D.C., Rev Edward
Matthews& Christopher Walker: Treehaus Communications 1989)
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
nn. 273, 2030
Mary, an example and model
nn. 437, 525
Birth of Jesus
nn. 484-486
Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
nn. 485,509,723
Mary; conceived and gave birth to the son of God
nn. 487507
Mary
nn 522-524
God's preparation
nn 522, 571
The good news about Jesus Christ
nn. 524, 1095
Advent
nn. 525
Christmas
nn 1095,1171
The season of Advent.
nn. 26172619
The prayer of Mary
Background for the Teacher
Introduction
From the very beginnings of human civilisation, people have ordered their lives according to various divisions of time.
Even in a world governed by time and technology we still respond to the basic rhythms of nature: day and night, the cycle of
the seasons.
In the Church, patterns of time are reflected in the prayer and worship of the Christian community:


In the Liturgy of the Hours, also called the Divine Office, the day is divided by Morning Prayer, Prayer during the Day,
Evening Prayer and Night Prayer.
Each week, on the Lord's Day, the Christian community gathers to celebrate the saving work of Christ. 'Jesus rose
from the dead "on the first day of the week". Because it is the "first day", the day of Christ's Resurrection recalls the
first creation. Because it is the "eighth day" following the Sabbath it symbolises the new creation ushered in by
Christ's Resurrection. For Christians it has become the first of all days, the first of all feasts, the Lord's Day- Sunday'.
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
(CCC 2174)
In weekday liturgies and masses which celebrate the Proper of Saints.
'When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present the ancient expectancy of the
Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparations for the Saviour's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his
second coming.' (CCC 524)
The liturgy of the Fourth Sunday of Advent directs attention to the role of Mary in God's plan for the salvation of
humankind. Mary was chosen to become the Mother Jesus and accepted the invitation in faith.
Through events and circumstances people may become role models for others. Mary was first disciple and an
important role model for us. Many students today look for positive role models to emulate and from whom they can gain
inspiration. That is difficult in a culture that often puts forward role models who are not ideal. Mary is as an inspiration for
disciples to follow.
The role of Mary in our fulfilment
Through Jesus Christ we come to our fulfilment…coming to who God created us to be. Through Mary we see God’s promises
fulfilled, and also see that they can be fulfilled in us as well. “Mary…exemplifies the action of grace in a human life. It is a
mothering action which brings us to birth...the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins said “She never ceases to incarnate Christ in us
because being ‘full of grace, she shall yet conceive Him morning, noon and eve.” James Harvey SJ in “Thinking Faith: The
Online British Journal of the jersuits.”1 June, 2012.
Important events in the life of Mary leading up to the Birth of Jesus
Events in the life of Mary leading up to the birth of Jesus are to be found in the infancy narratives in the Gospels of
Matthew and Luke. 'At the announcement that she would give birth to "the Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the
power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that with God nothing will be impossible." Behold, I
am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be (done) to me according to your word" Thus giving her consent to God's word, Mary
became the mother of Jesus' (CCC 494)
'Called in the Gospels "the mother of Jesus", Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even
before the birth of her son, as "the mother of my Lord." In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit,
who truly became her Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of
God"'. (CCC 495).
By reflecting on Mary's example in her willingness to say “Yes" to God, Christians are challenged to discern God's call to each
of them to be bearers of the Word to each other and the world. Mary heard God's Word and kept it.
The readings of the Advent Season challenge us to ask ‘Why not me?’
The Church challenges us through the readings of the Advent season to be committed in our love of God and
neighbour. As Christians we have a particular way of life to follow in our communities, in worship and prayer and also in the
way we treat others each day.
During Advent we remember the presence of God with us in our world today. Christians realise that the Christ event in
history signals that the reign of God is at hand and that the Kingdom of God is among us. Evidence of this reality will be
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found where love, joy, peace and justice flourish. Christians work to promote truly positive human values in our world
today.
'The just man, mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, is distinguished by habitual right thinking and the uprightness of his conduct
towards his neighbour. "You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your
neighbour."' (CCC 1807)
During Advent we are often challenged to ask 'Why not me?' Students could be encouraged to identify or think of projects
that they could appropriately contribute to in helping others. A meeting between students and parish St Vincent de Paul
representatives, as well as strengthening the partnership between school and parish, is a forum to draw on the expertise of the
St Vincent de Paul members who are aware of the needs of the wider community. The students may decide to contribute
energy and resources towards an existing parish project and indeed answer the call, 'Why not me?'
Student Context
Please adjust tasks to suit the student context of your class.
Developing the Partnership
Please make connections between the learning in this module and parents and the wider community.
Curriculum Links
In your planning, please create links with other Key Learning Areas.
Planning a Quality Learning Sequence for your class
Quality religious education will be achieved only by deep thinking about where you are going and how you plan
the learning journey to get there. Begin with the end in mind and then consider how you will build field to meet your
goals. Remember that you cannot expect children to develop deep knowledge and understanding, unless you as
teacher have deep knowledge and understanding yourself. According to the Quality Teaching Framework,
quality teaching will occur when you ask yourself four questions:

What do you want the students to learn?

Why does the learning matter?

What are you going to get the students to do (or produce)?

How well do you expect them to do it?
The suggested learning sequence has been planned through such a process. However, it cannot be written with the
understanding of the student context of each class and relationship to other learning that is happening in the class. It
is therefore necessary for you as teacher to plan your own unit, using this module as a support. Doing so is
part of your role as an “activist professional” (a teacher who actively works to improve their professionalism).
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Suggested Teaching, Learning and
Assessment Experiences
These are suggested teaching and learning experiences. The essential part of teaching this module is that you, as teacher
have deep knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. Reading in depth the “Background for the Teacher” and
“Scripture in Context” will give you the basic understanding you need.
It is essential to use the whole module to plan your own unit. You might like to change the questions to suit your class. Your
unit should be written in acknowledgement of the student context of your class. The suggested learning experiences are meant
to be adapted for this purpose. You should design learning experiences for the purpose of formative and summative
assessment. When designing quality learning experiences and assessments, they must address the outcomes, learning
intentions and success criteria based on the enduring understandings of the module.
Key Concepts
Annunciation
call and
response
commitment
Nativity
motherhood
visitation
Advent
disciple
Messiah
journey
prophet
Christmas
trust
model
challenge
Bethlehem
preparation
announcement
faith
celebration
What is Important for Students to Know and Do:

Advent is the liturgical season in which we prepare for Christmas.

Advent is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year.

The liturgical colour of Advent is purple or dark blue. Pink is used on the third week of Advent.

On the last Sunday of Advent we hear the Gospel stories of Mary as she was asked and responded to her call to be the
mother of Jesus.

The story of Mary’s call is known as the Annunciation, which means “announcing”.

We also hear the story of Mary’s journey to visit her older cousin Elizabeth who was expecting a baby. We call this story,
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“the visitation.”

The nativity stories are found in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.

The shepherds, angels and wise men were joyful messengers about the birth of Jesus.

The feast when we celebrate the visitation of the wise man is called the Epiphany.

Take an active role to respond to God’s call by reaching out to people who are marginalised, especially through the St
Vincent De Paul Christmas appeal.

Respond to the readings of the Advent season.
Enduring Understandings:

Advent is a time of challenge as we prepare for celebrating at Christmas that Jesus came into our world.

During Advent we reflect on and rejoice in the coming of Jesus.

The Mary stories and other stories read during Advent help us to reflect on our response to God’s call to be disciples.

At Christmas we share the message of joy and peace through the goodwill we show to each other.

The readings of the Advent and Christmas seasons have special meanings for our lives.

During Advent and Christmas, Christians are called to marginalised people.

Mary is a special model of faith as she responded to God’s call.
Suggested Questions
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Suggested Teaching, Learning and Assessment Experiences
How can we follow Mary’s example by responding to God’s call?

Display big question “How can we follow Mary’s example by responding to God’s call?” Discuss what children
know of Mary through the Gospels. As a class come up with wonder questions about what “God’s call” might mean.
 Tell children that we hear the stories of Mary’s call at Mass during Advent. Discuss liturgical elements of Advent:
o It is the beginning of the Church year, the season in which we prepare for Christmas. There are three liturgical
years for Sunday celebrations (A, B and C). In Year A, we mainly hear the Gospel of Matthew, In Year B of
Mark and Year C Luke. John’s Gospel is read at special times of the year, and particularly in the Easter
Season.
o The liturgical colour is purple or dark blue, meaning Advent is a season of waiting, preparation and reflecting
on our lives. On the third Sunday of Advent the colour is pink, meaning hope.
o Advent is a special time to think about the poor in our community.
 Set up an Advent Space using ideas such as:
 Focal Area- Create a display area to become a focus for the unit, displaying the big question clearly. This area
may include an Advent focussed sacred space and an Advent calendar. An online calendar can be accessed at
http://www.smmp.com/Advent/Advent.htm
 Advent Wreath- This could be Australianised by using Australian native leaves such as gum leaves. Children may
be invited to guess the meanings of the symbols of the wreath, and then investigate these:
o
Circular green leaves represent eternity~ no beginning and no end
o
Purple candles represent hope
o
The pink candle represents joy
 Advent Gift- Wrap a present in layers of paper (one for each Advent school day). The children remove a layer
each day. Each layer contains a preparation gift such as an Advent prayer or an Advent challenge e.g. “Say ‘hello’
to someone who is not your special friend today”, “Say a special prayer for someone in need today”, “Give
something to the Christmas Appeal today”.
 Advent Promises- Make boxes containing Advent promises. These could be hung on an Advent tree. This tree
could be turned into a Christmas tree, by decorating it with tinsel etc. in the final week of school.
 Advent Giving Space- Set up a tree or special space to begin collecting items for Christmas appeals e.g. For St
Vincent de Paul Society.
 Advent Garden- Set up an Advent garden where prayers or symbols of Advent may be placed. This may be used
as a focal point for prayer.
What does it mean to be called?

Discuss how we are called in our lives.
o Brainstorm everyday ways we might be called e.g. called by parents to get up for school; called in for dinner;
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
called to answer when you hear your name ; called to go in when it is your turn for an appointment at the
doctor’s or dentist’s surgery.
o Ask students if it’s this sort of calling that is meant when we discuss Mary’s call to be the mother of Jesus.
Brainstorm people who have responded to calls to do something special in life e.g. Mary MacKillop; Mother
Teresa; Nelson Mandela; Fr Chris Riley; people who work for organisations such as Caritas, Catholic Mission,
Vinnies; people who go to help in dangerous situations e.g. after typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, fires.
o Discuss people in their lives who they think have responded to a call e.g. school teachers and principal,
school captains, parents, parish priest
Watch You Tube video of Mary MacKillop and the work that carries on in her legacy today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8HN2qb4a_Y. Discuss what children think Mary MacKillop’s call was to do in her
life and why this was a call from God. How do we know that she was successful in answering her call? Each child
divides paper into quarters and write and illustrate 5 things about Mary Mackillop’s call and her response ( e.g. to
respond wasn’t easy, she wanted to make a difference for those who were struggling, she faced many challenges, she
didn’t give up, her response made a difference for many).
How were Mary and Elizabeth called?

Tell children that in Advent, part of our preparation for Christmas is thinking about answering God’s call. During the
Advent season, the Old Testament readings we hear at Mass are often from prophets who were called by God to
encourage people to be positive as a Messiah would come to save them from their problems. In Year C, we listen to
the prophet Micah on the Fourth Sunday of Advent who talks about the coming of someone special who would be born
in the city of Bethlehem (the birthplace of the great Jewish king, David). Read the passage from Micah (see CEV
version in this module which is the easiest version for students of this age). Make a jigsaw that captures features that
Micah says the Messiah would show with one element in each part of the puzzle (see Appendix 1). Share and discuss
why this reading would be connected to the story of Mary in Advent.

Tell children that in Luke’s Gospel, the call stories leading up to the birth of Jesus may be broken into parts:

o
The annunciation or announcing (Mary is called to be the mother of Jesus Lk 1:39-45)
o
The visitation (Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who is also pregnant. Elizabeth honours Mary and Mary praises
God (Lk 1:46-56).
o
The birth of John the Baptist. His father, Zechariah praises God (Lk 1:57-66).
Explore the story of the annunciation in which Mary is called and shows trust in God e.g.
o
Godly Play story, see Appendix 2.
o
“ Just Imagine 2” drama activities:

Plays, p.16 and 17: “ The Story of the Annunciation”
o
You Tube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrYvuYwPAvU
o
Songs e.g. “Mary Said, ‘yes’” by Michael Mangan in “Follow the Christmas Star” album.
o
Lectio Divina in Community: Read the Scripture once to the children. Each students after says a word or a phrase
that stood out for them. Read the Scripture a second time. This time, students say a word or phrase that stands
out for them and comment on why. After the discussion, say a prayer (Glory be to the Father).
o
Hot Seat the characters…one child to be Mary, one to be Gabriel. Class to ask them questions. You will need to
choose students who are confident to play the characters.
o
Reflect upon Fra Angelico’s famous art about the annunciation. Discuss in depth (e.g. Why halos? What do you
think the position of the hands mean? What about the position of the characters? Do you think that the setting
Nazareth would have really looked like the setting in this painting? Why? http://static.guim.co.uk/sysimages/Books/Pix/pictures/2013/2/25/1361810143772/Fra-Angelicos-The-Annunci-011.jpg
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
Demonstrate learnings from the story e.g.
o
Write a letter to Mary. Tell her about what you think about her response to God’s call. Tell her about a time when
you were chosen for something special. Tell her how you felt. Tell her about the times when you have found it
hard to say, “Yes I will.” Ask Mary for help to do good when it is hard.
o
Suggested Assessment SS 3.5b: Write a contemporary play/ story / movie/cartoon that shows how the
meanings of the annunciation can be applied to life today. Write a description about how this is so.

Explore the story of the visitation in which Elizabeth shows trust in God as she prepares to become the mother of John
the Baptist and in which she also honours Mary e.g.
o You Tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoOc561S2to
o Lectio Divina ( see Annunciation activity, use same technique)
o Hot Seat characters (see Annunciation activity, use same technique).
o Sing “ Hail Mary” by John Burland on “ Songs of Mary, Woman of Faith” album.

Discuss some of the key ideas of the story:
o Elizabeth, like Mary shows trust in God as she thought that she was too old to have a baby.
o Elizabeth acclaims Mary, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
o The births of Jesus and John the Baptist are linked in Luke’s Gospel as are the beginnings of their ministries,
with John the Baptist being the last prophet to announce the coming of Jesus.

Demonstrate learnings from the story e.g.
o
o
o

Prayer Focus: Look at Marys’ Song of Praise. Tell children that we call this prayer the Magnificat. Tell children that
Mary was a faithful Jewish woman who knew her Scriptures well. This song reflects an Old Testament Scripture that
Mary would have known. It is called Hannah’s song from eth Book of Samuel (1 Sam 2:1-10). Tell children that as
Mary adapted that prayer to her life, so we can adapt the Magnificat to our lives. Explore the prayer in different ways
e.g.
o
o

Make a story map of the Scripture passage, indicating significant elements of the story.
Complete a Scripture Think Pad (“Into the Deep”. P.82)
Complete a Scripture Probe (“ Into the Deep” P.60))
Mary’s Song of Praise by Mildred West Wiseman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjpId_oag_M
“My Spirit Sings” by Michael Mangan on “Forever I will Sing” album.
Suggested Assessment PS S 3.4b
Ancient prayers like the Magnificat can nourish our lives as Christians today. Write a contemporary version of the
prayer that praises God in today’s world. Illustrate or make a collage of words and pictures that capture the meaning.

Read the story of John the Baptist’s birth and Zechariah’s prophecy from a good childrens’ illustrated bible. Discuss
how John the Baptist was the last prophet and also the person who was there at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. It is
important that they are tied together in the stories of their mothers and their birth. Make a similarities and differences
chart about Mary’s and Zechariah’s Songs of Praise.

Explore the nativity stories in light of call. Compare the similarities and differences in the accounts of Matthew and
Luke. Discuss how Mary’s answering of her call, led to the world being changed by the coming of Jesus. Discuss how
in the infancy narratives, we learn a lot about who Jesus would be:
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He was to be a king like no other; he was born in a stable, not a palace.
The first people to see him were outcasts (shepherds). Jesus came for all; bit would also show special care of
the poor, lonely and outcast.
o Jesus was both human (represented by the shepherds) and divine
represented by the angels).
o Jesus came for all as shown by the wise men who came from countries far away.
o As the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus, so the shepherds and angels
announced the birth of Jesus.
o This story is part of the long story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
The nativity story may be experienced in different ways e.g.
o Play: “ Just Imagine 2”: Mary Meets Angel Baby, p. 19
o Godly Play story ( see Appendix 3)
Suggested Assessment SS 3.5b, JS 3.2a: Show understandings about the birth stories from the Gospels. Make an
Advent or Christmas card that:
o Includes a piece of Scripture from the call stories that are read in the liturgies of Advent as part of the bigger
story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
o Includes an illustration that connects the stories with modern life.
o Contains a verse that invites the reader to answer their call from God.
Sing Christmas songs e.g. “Follow the Star” John Burland, “Follow the Christmas Star” Michael Mangan.
o
o



How does the Church help us to respond to God’s call during Advent and
Christmas?

Read the Sunday’s Gospel for each Sunday of Advent. Discuss how the call story of Mary is heard on the fourth
Sunday of Advent. Write journal reflections about these.

Discuss the liturgical seasons of the church. Look at these on a liturgical calendar (search on the internet for the
calendar for the present year). Discuss how the seasons relate to our lives:
o
Some are times of great joy and celebration (white) e.g. Easter, Christmas, most solemnities ( solemn feast days)
o
Some are time of waiting, preparation and mourning (purple) i.e. Lent and Advent.
o
Pink- special days in lent and Advent that remind us of hope.
o
Some are reflective of our daily lives day to day living (green): Ordinary Time.
(Red is also used for special days relating to martyrs and the Holy Spirit).

Visit the parish church, looking for and taking photos of liturgical colours and symbols. These could be made into a
Photo Story or movie.

Invite priest to come and talk about the parish celebrations and actions for Advent and Christmas. Children ask
questions. Ask Father how the parish reaches out to people in need at this time of year and how this helps the
community to live out their own call from God.

As a class, come up with a plan of action to reach out to those in need. Work together to meet outcomes met in the
plan. Make sure that it is reacted to the people in need ( i.e. not a mufti day in which parents give coins and children
have fun, not really knowing much about the cause).

Suggested Assessment PS 3.4b Write a reflection about how the church nourishes its people in the seasons of
Advent and Christmas for their call of discipleship.
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Appendix 1:
Year 5 Advent to Christmas – Stage 3
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Appendix 2:
APPENDIX 2: AN ANGEL APPEARS TO MARY
(Luke 1:26-38)
YOU WILL NEED:




3D figures for Mary and angel Gabriel
Brown felt for setting.
Small chair or table
Items to create setting e.g. urns, pots
Children are seated in a semi-circle ready to listen to the story. Carry the materials carefully to the circle and place
them beside you. Roll out the brown cloth as you say…
At different times in our lives, we might feel that we are called to do something special. In the Bible, in Luke’s Gospel,
there is a story about a time when Mary answered a call from God by the angel Gabriel who told Mary that she would
become the mother of God.
Present Mary figure, place her in the story space and say …
This is Mary. She is working in her house in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.
Move Angel Gabriel into the scene, moving towards Mary
Mary was engaged to a man called Joseph who was a descendant from King David.
Move Angel Gabriel as if he is speaking to Mary
“Greetings Mary, the Lord is with you.”
Move Mary backwards as if she is afraid.
Mary was worried by the angel’s greeting and wondered why he had come to her.
Move Angel Gabriel as if he is speaking to Mary
“Do not be afraid Mary. God has chosen you to be the mother of a son who will be called Jesus. He will be great and
his kingdom will never end.”
Move Mary to speak to the Angel Gabriel.
Mary couldn’t understand this. She said, “How can this be? I am just a girl and not yet married?”
Move Angel Gabriel as if he is speaking to Mary
The angel Gabriel answered Mary, “the Holy Spirit will be with you, and God’s grace will be with you, and your child
will be known as the Son of God.” Your cousin Elizabeth is also expecting a baby for nothing is impossible with God.
Move Mary figure to bow down before the angel.
Mary said, “Here I am, I will do whatever God asks.”
Take the angel away. Move Mary as if to look up.
Mary looked up but the angel had gone.
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Wonder Questions:

I wonder what it would have been like for Mary. I wonder how afraid she was.

I wonder what gave Mary the courage to say, “yes”.

I wonder if you have ever felt called to do something special in life.

I wonder how we can answer God’s call to us.
Carefully pack story materials into storage box and put on shelf. Ensure that children are watching so they know how
to pack the materials away and where to find them.
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Appendix 3:
APPENDIX 3: THE BIRTH OF JESUS
(based on Luke 2:1-20)
Used with Permission, Sydney CEO
YOU WILL NEED




Bible
beige felt underlay
brown felt road
Nativity set: Joseph, Mary, donkey, baby Jesus, manger, stable, 2 shepherds, 3 sheep, 3 angels
Children are seated in a semi-circle ready to listen to the story. When the children are ready carry the materials carefully from
the story shelf to the story area, place them beside you and say
Place class Bible, open at Luke, in front of you with your hand on it.
This story comes from the Gospel according to Luke, which is in the New Testament section of the Bible.
Place Bible beside you.
Place the underlay in the middle of the space.
Place the road on top of the underlay.
Place Mary, Joseph and donkey on the road at the far end away from you.
In those days the Emperor Augustus decreed that all people should be registered in the town of their birth. Since
Joseph was born in Bethlehem he had to go there.
Slowly move Mary, Joseph and donkey halfway down the road.
So Joseph travelled with Mary from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem to be registered.
Place your hand at the opposite end of the road to Mary and Joseph.
Bethlehem was a long way from their home in Nazareth and their child was expected to be born soon.
Continue to slowly move Mary, Joseph and donkey down the road to Bethlehem.
When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, the town was very crowded.
Place stable to the side of the road. Move Mary, Joseph and donkey from the road to the stable.
Hold Jesus in your hand as you say
While they were there the time came for Mary to have her child. She gave birth to her firstborn son.
Place Jesus in the manger between Mary and Joseph.
Mary wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
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Place shepherds and sheep on the underlay away from the road and the stable.
Now nearby there were some shepherds living in the fields watching over their sheep by night.
Place an angel near shepherds.
An angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The shepherds were terrified!
Move the angel a little closer to the shepherds.
The angel said, “Do not be afraid… I am bringing you news of great joy for all people. To you, this day, in Bethlehem,
is born the Messiah, the Lord!
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
Place more angels facing shepherds.
Suddenly a multitude of angels appeared, praising God saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace.”
Move angels to your side. Move shepherds to the stable.
After this the angels left and the shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph, and the child
wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in the manger just as the angels had promised.
Turn Mary and Joseph to face the shepherds.
The shepherds explained what the angels had told them about this child. Everyone was amazed.
Turn Mary to face the child Jesus.
Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
Move the shepherds back to their fields.
The shepherds returned to their fields praising God for all they had heard and seen.
Pause for a while before wondering with the students.
I wonder what the place was like where Mary had her baby.
I wonder what the words, “the glory of the Lord shone around them” mean/ or what that might look like.
I wonder how the shepherds found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
I wonder what it means that Mary “treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart”.
I wonder what you ponder in your heart.
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Appendix 4:
Celebration of Modules
Liturgy Outline
Liturgy Definition: “work of the people”
(in this case - the children)
A liturgy to c e le bra te modu le lea rning us ua lly has four pa rts of w hic h the s e ca n c onta in a ll or s ome one of th e
s ugges tions .
Be fore y ou be gin s ome oth er c ons ide ra tions !!
 Where will the liturgy be celebrated? Does
 not have to be celebrated in the church or the classroom. Outdoors is a possibility - weather permitting.
 Consider the placement of ch airs and sacred space.
 Who to invite? (parents, staff, priest etc)
WE GATHER:
Setting the scene
 Sacred Space (cloth, candle, Bible, icons etc) to be created in this part.
 Procession
 Hymn or songs of welcome
 Welcome and introduction to celebration
 Opening prayer
WE LISTEN:
Stories
 From the Bible
 Outline of what has been learnt
 Multimedia presentations
 Dramatisation/dialogue of story
 Hymns
 Liturgical Movement of story
 Stories of their life and families
 Related narratives (eg Dreamtime story)
WE RESPOND:
Responding to the stories
 Hymn or songs
 Liturgical movement
 Prayers of Intercession
 Prayer
 Multimedia presentations
 Sharing work from module (eg artwork)
WE GO FORTH:
Sending Forth
 Recessional hymn or songs
 Liturgical movement
 Prayer
 Thank you statement
Liturgy can be followed by offer of hospitality
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Possible Resources
The resources indicated below are recommended to assi st with the teaching of this module. Please add others that are
used.
Teacher

O’Brien, Kate and White, Dan. 2001. The Thinking Platform. Marayong: K.D.Publications

Ryan, Maurice and Elliott, Mark. 1999. Religion Quick Prints. Katoomba: Social Science Press

Wintour, Rina. Just Imagine Series 1-4 Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises.

White, D., O’Brien K., and Todd, S., Into the Deep © 2003 KD Publications

Woods, Laurie. 1993. The Bible: God’s Word. Blackburn: Collins Dove
LabOra Worship
Literature
Music
Burland, J Christmas Star © 2003 Ovation Music http://www.johnburland.com/releases/star.htm
Burland, J. Songs of Mary: Woman of Faith © 2010 Ovation Music
http://www.johnburland.com/releases/mary.htm
Chinn, A. Under Your Star © Butterfly Music
http://www.butterflymusic.com.au/cd.html
Mangan, M. This is the Time © Litmus Productions
http://www.litmusproductions.com/index.php/products-menu/products/music-collections/this-is-the-time.html
Websites
Mission and Religious Education (Lighthouse) http://missionandreligiouseducation.dbbcso.org/
Advent Calendar
http://www.smmp.com/Advent/Advent.htm
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/pictures/2013/2/25/1361810143772/Fra-Angelicos-The-Annunci-011.jpg Fra
Angelico’s art, “ The Annunciation”.
You Tube Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8HN2qb4a_Y. Mary MacKillop
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrYvuYwPAvU Annunciation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoOc561S2to Visitation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjpId_oag_M Mary’s Song of Praise
Teaching Tools
Venn Diagram http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/venn_diagrams/ or http://www.classtools.net/educationgames-php/venn_intro
Time line generator at http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/timelines/
Other websites
http://wallwisher.com/
http://www.wordle.net/
http://www.tagxedo.com/
http://www.ning.com/
http://www.wikispaces.com/
Make short art-inspired stories http://storybird.com/
Capzles social storytelling http://www.capzles.com/
Useful Apps
3 Minute Retreat
Sand Draw
Lectio Divina
Ignatian Examen
Superbook Bible
App
The Holy Bible
Bible for kids
The Pope App
Educreations
PuppetPals
Show Me
Comic Maker
Year 5 Advent to Christmas – Stage 3
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