Stage 1 Year One
For Advent:
Advent (meaning “the coming”) is presented liturgically as a time of waiting and
preparation. The students will explore scriptural stories from Luke’s Gospel which describe events leading to Jesus’ birth Jesus and will reflect upon how they wait for Jesus in their own
lives. They will learn that as we wait for the celebration of Jesus’ entry into our world, we also await with Jesus a time when there is peace and love and no-one is hungry or
disadvantaged.
For Christmas:
Children will explore and deepen their knowledge of key people and events described in the
Infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke. They will explore the depth of meaning in these narratives e.g. what the different characters represent. Students' appreciation of Christmas as a time when their families and parish community thank God for the gift of Jesus is developed through their participation in family and class preparations for and celebrations of Christmas.

Outcomes
J S1.2: Sequences, records and communicates stories about Jesus
CD S1.3: Identifies and describes the place and purpose of Catholic worship
S S1.5: Identifies and recalls stories from Sacred Scripture through which God reveals himself
Students Learn About:
J S1.2:
 The liturgical seasons, focusing on the
Season of Advent
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Jesus’ life, focusing on his birth
Being a disciple of Jesus
 The Bible as the Word of God
 The infancy narratives of Luke’s Gospel
CD S1.3:
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The Church as a people who celebrate and proclaim as shown in the celebrations of
Advent and Christmas
 The classroom, school and church as gathering points for celebration
S S1.5:
The Bible as the Word of God
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The purpose of the Bible
Stories of God’s call and people’s response
Stories of the Bible revealing God’s love
Stories important to the Catholic community
Special times when Scripture is proclaimed
Students Learn to:
J S1.2:
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Identify key Advent symbols and practices
Summarise events leading up to the birth of
Jesus and reflect on their meaning for us
Associate the celebration of Christmas with the birth of Jesus
Locate, research and record selected Biblical stories
 Name actions appropriate to discipleship
CD S1.3:
 Contribute to an Advent liturgical celebration
 respond appropriately to the Advent liturgical setting
S S1.5:
 Retell specific scripture stories in their own words
 Enact stories from the Scriptures
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Ask questions to clarify meaning
Explain what those stories teach
Name times when Scripture is proclaimed
Students are challenged to recognise the implications of Jesus’ words and actions
Students are challenged to participate in school and parish worship
Students are challenged to show reverence and appreciation towards the Bible
Prayer Focus
The focus of the prayer for this module is the Hail Mary, the words taken from Luke’s Gospel.
The prayer contains the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary (Lk 1:28) and Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary at the Visitation (Lk 1:42). The second part of the prayer brings our needs to Mary .
The prayer begins with Mary’s unique co-operation with the Holy Spirit . There are two movements in the prayer:
1. The first movement magnifies the Lord for great gifts as seen in the lowly servant, Mary and through her to all God’s people.
2. The second movement entrusts the prayers and praises of people to the Mother of God because she knows humanity.
Children will be introduced to this prayer as our most special prayer to Mary. Children will begin to develop familiarity with this prayer and see its connection to the annunciation story.

Catholic Discipleship
As students become more familiar with the stories recounted in Sacred Scripture they grow in an appreciation of its place in the lives of ordinary Christians. The ordinariness of the lives of
Biblical characters allows a point of connection for young students; the
extraordinariness of their lives appeals to their sense of wonder. That sense of wonder is
the beginning point for life-long reverence of the Scriptures.
Young students enjoy the re-telling of the Christmas story but can be overtaken by the commercial side of Christmas celebrations. Now is the time to begin to encourage them to look beyond the concept of giving and receiving to a deeper yet still very basic
understanding of why we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. For the students the Advent and
Christmas seasons present opportunities to reflect on Jesus' presence in our lives and to take up the challenge of living as true followers of Jesus. This is a difficult concept for students at this age and this module should offer students experiences to think about and act for those in the community who are needy.
We learn from the writings of St Leo the Great that the arrival we wait for in the Season of
Advent is not just the birthday of Jesus Christ, but of God’s kingdom whereby “ God’s presence is taking flesh as food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, shelter of the homeless,
comfort for the imprisoned, clothing for the naked.” The work we do as Catholic disciples during Advent e.g. supporting the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal is a way of bringing about the Kingdom of god in our lives.
Core Scripture
Luke 1:39-56
Luke 2:1-7
Matthew 2:1-11
Mary visits Elizabeth Gold & Honey p.207
Mary and Elizabeth My First Catholic Bible p.257
The birth of Jesus
Visitors from the East
Scripture in Context
Luke 1: 39-56
Luke tells the story of the Visitation 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 her, she responds positively to God’s call.
Mary travelled to visit her older and pregnant cousin Elizabeth in what must have been
dangerous and rough circumstances. However the love she had for her cousin compelled her to assist an older 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.”
Luke 2: 1-7- The birth of Jesus
According to Luke’s Gospel, 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 retire for the night in the only available accommodation. The woman is heavily pregnant and her labour begins, a son is born to the

couple. Within the story however, we are introduced to some of the theological themes of
Luke’s Gospel. We get a glimpse of Jesus’ humanity through his simple birth and the visit
of the shepherds, and of his divinity as made known by the appearance of the angels. The picture we have from Luke can be united in our minds with the picture from Matthew in which we become aware of Jesus’ kingship as shown by the visit of the Gentile magi. His kingship is to be a servant kingship to all from all nations.
Matthew 2: 1-11- Visitors from the East
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, the Wise Men are Gentiles, or non-Jews who came from far away. Their visit to the child Jesus demonstrates that the way of Jesus will
be to embrace people of all cultural, ethnic and societal groups. The visit of the Magi is celebrated on the feast of the Epiphany on 6 January. ‘Epiphany’ means God being revealed.
Catechism of the Catholic Church n. 437 nn. 441-445 nn. 456-478 nn. 487-507 n. 525
Birth of Jesus
Son of God
Word becomes flesh
Virgin Mary
The Christmas mystery
Introduction
Advent: The History and Meaning of the Season
The word 'Advent' is derived from the Latin 'Adventus,' which means 'coming.' Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year (in the Western Christian churches), and encompasses the span of time from the fourth Sunday before Christmas, until the Nativity of Our Lord is celebrated.
In its early days, the Season of Advent was connected with a Roman celebration of the successful conclusion of the agricultural year each December. In this season, people gave
thanks for the earth’s fruitfulness. Christians thanked God for the gifts of the earth and
were urged to fast and give alms “signs of that new and blessed order of things that will result when Christ returns to reign and God is all in all” (Bishop David Walker, p. 6). The gifts of
creation reveal God to us, as does the coming of Jesus into our world, the ultimate revelation of God. Advent is therefore a season of reflection, of hope, joy and love, in which we come to know God as a gracious God, sharing divine life and love through creation and through the Incarnation of Jesus. It is a season in which we are called to share our gifts with the poor and marginalised.
According to Bishop David, at a time in history when commercialism has over-run the Season of
Christmas and many ignore or know nothing about the Season of Advent, a re-connection with the simplicity of the “rural roots” of the season, which is based on the rhythms and nature of grace and a gratefulness for the fruits of the earth is needed.
(Bishop David Walker , “Lectio Divina Advent, Year C”, Diocese of Broken Bay).

Advent: Hope in Christ of the Coming of the Kingdom of God
In the Season of Advent we live out the hope of Christ coming and we look forward to rejoicing in the presence of God with us through the celebration of Christmas. However, the Season of
Advent is much more than waiting for the celebration of an event long ago. Pope Leo the
Great who was Pope from 440 to 461 gave homilies in Advent that focussed on the advent or arrival that people wait for as a new human society “where the deepest human hungers are satisfied, where giving triumphs over getting, where peace surpasses violence, and
where cooperation replaces competition.” Bishop David says that whilst we anticipate the joyous celebration of Christmas, “ what we wait for is nothing less than a world recreated, transfigured by the One whose coming opens new heavens and a new earth, the place where righteousness will be home.”
“Our Advent leads us into holy mystery. God’s word comes deeply embedded in human
words and human flesh. Promise and meaning, hope and life, pregnancy and flesh-how
wonderful that God so loved the world! How fortunate we are to hear and ponder this good news. Still the world is full of cynicism and suspicion, of oppression and violence, of sickness and death. It was for Micah and Isaiah, for Mary and Elizabeth, for John and Jesus. It is for us.”(Bishop David, Lectio Divina Advent, Year c)
The Incarnation
The Incarnation means God taking human presence in the person of Jesus. The Incarnation opens up limitless possibilities of God’s transforming power, God’s desire to be united with
us. God’s act of creation is again demonstrated in the Incarnation. “The same Spirit who
‘hovered above the waters’ (Gen1:2) ‘came upon Mary’ (Lk 1:35). In this act, God ushered in a new creation”. The incarnation (or becoming human) of Jesus is inextricably linked to the
Paschal Mystery (the living, dying and rising of Jesus) as the means of our salvation.
(adapted from Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Father’s Vespers Message in Nazareth, 15/5/09 Catholic
Online @ www.catholic.org
).
The Infancy Narratives
The infancy narratives appear only in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. In our telling of the
Christmas story we have merged the two accounts into one scene, although there are differences in the stories.
 Matthew: focuses on Joseph, has Mary and Joseph living in Bethlehem and includes the visit of the magi and the flight into Egypt
 Luke: focuses on Mary, has Mary and Joseph living in Nazareth and travelling to
Bethlehem, includes shepherds and a peaceful visit to Bethlehem
These Gospels locate the birth of Jesus within a specific period in history, namely the Roman occupation of Palestine during the reign of King Herod. They tell us that Jesus was born in
Bethlehem, but they do not determine the exact month or day. They are interpreted as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies (Crotty, R. Introduction to the Gospels). The birth stories
are stories of faith and are not understood as exact historical accounts. Together the two accounts reveal the identity of Jesus which will be explored throughout these Gospels.
Christians today are able to reflect on the birth of Jesus by combining elements of each
account. Jesus’ humanity and connection to the lowly is revealed though the attendance of the
shepherds in Luke’s story. Luke also captures the connection between Jesus’ humanity and divinity through the attendance of the shepherds (humanity) and the angels
(divinity). His role for all people is revealed by the attendance of gentile kings who also show his kingship in Matthew’s account.

Luke
“In many respects, the infancy stories take us into a remote and strange world. We are not ordinarily visited by angels. Nor in our experience do people burst out into canticles of praise like the characters in these stories” (Brendan Byrne, p.17). Luke’s Gospel is connected strongly to stories from the Old Testament:
 The idea that the birth of a significant figure should be announced beforehand by a messenger (angel) as in the case of Samson (Judges 13:2-7).
 The birth of a significant figure, John the Baptist after a long period of barrenness
by the mother reflects the stories of Sara, wife of Abraham ( Gen 16:1) and Hannah, mother of Samuel ( 1 Sam 1:1-28). Luke implies that only God’s power can overcome barrenness, just as leadership and even rescue for the people coming from the new life can only happen through God. “With considerable literary skill Luke tells his story in such a way as to suggest that the birth and childhood of Jesus comes as the climax of a long series of saving interventions by God.” ( Brendan Byrne, p. 18)
In the infancy narrative of Luke, Jesus is identified as the Messiah. He is also identified as the
greatest prophet, a greater prophet than John the Baptist. He has been sent by God to visit
God's people, Israel, as the Prophet-Messiah and to offer them salvation. He is compared to
John the Baptist. In both cases an angel or God's messenger comes and announces that a child is to be born; John's birth is announced to his father Zechariah, and Jesus' birth is announced to his mother, Mary. Then the two children, John and Jesus, while they are still in their mother's wombs, meet when Mary goes to visit John's mother, Elizabeth. The two children, John and Jesus are born and circumcised according to the Jewish law. At the age of twelve, Jesus goes up to
Jerusalem and enters the Temple. This is a sacred sign that he is about to take over as the greatest prophet of Israel, and as the Messiah of Israel.
The Gospel of Matthew
Matthew’s Gospel sees that in the person of Jesus, the history of Israel is encapsulated.
Matthew uses names and events familiar to Jewish readers. He presents Jesus as Son of David, as and also Son of God.
“Matthew’s message in his Infancy Narrative is a weighty one. It says, in summary form, what the entire Gospel says in more detail. This Jesus born today in Bethlehem is the long-awaited son of David who is also Son of God; rejected by some, but Saviour and
Lord through whom God continues to save God’s people and complete the eternal plan”.
Source: Brown, SS, Raymond E., “Why the Infancy Narratives Were Written,” Catholic Update (CU 1186), summarised by
Sr Theresa Pauline Hereford www.cdptexas.org/.../The-Message-ofMatthews Infancy Narrative -by ...
The Role of Mary
Mary is a model for anyone struggling to live as God wants, and for anyone who is
disturbed, questioning or wondering, or who simply cannot understand. To become the mother of the Saviour, Mary was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role. In Luke’s
Gospel, the angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation (Lk 1:26-38) salutes her as "full of grace”. Mary allowed the light of God burn brightly in her heart, being attuned to
God’s presence, recognising the blessings she had received, and taking in the challenge ahead.
Mary’s testimony to Elizabeth, being the first of Luke’s canticles, has been named the Magnificat
(Lk. 1:39-55). Here Luke has made an old Testament connection, by re-imagining the words of
Hannah’s Song (I Sam 2:1-10). Mary describes herself as “lowly”, but only so because she is a young girl from a remote Galilean village. “God’s choice of her to be the mother of the Messiah begins a pattern of divine action that will recur throughout the Gospel. God will bypass those at the centre of power in favour if the marginalised and lowly. The ‘lowly’ yet ‘blessed’ Mary

becomes an emblem of the saving work now beginning…. Mary speaks on behalf of her people, Israel- in particular on behalf of that devout, poor and lowly sector of her people that hangs upon ancient promises, longing for the time of salvation…There is an invitation to Israel…to join her in song, to make her experience of salvation their own” (Byrne, pp.25-26).
God with Us
The name Jesus was popularly understood as meaning "God saves". The Scriptures tell us that
“the child born of the Virgin Mary is called Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Mt
1:21).
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 the Kingdom of God
is among us. Evidence of this reality will be found where love, joy, peace and justice flourish. In the light of this, during Advent we are encouraged to promote truly human values in our world today.
The Importance of the Story of the First Christmas
The celebration of Christmas has an historical dimension in that it commemorates the
actual birth of Jesus. However, for Christians, the feast has a profound religious
significance. Christmas is a celebration of the dawn of God's light and a preview of God's
final self-disclosure when the kingdom comes in its fullness.
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 the Kingdom of God is among us. Christmas does not simply mark the anniversary of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem. As we celebrate Christ's birth, we are renewed in faith through the saving power of the mystery of the
Incarnation.
Christmas is a time when together we thank God for the gift of God’s son Jesus
During the liturgical year especially its great solemnities, feasts and seasons, Christians
reflect upon and celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation, the union of the divine and human natures in the person of Jesus Christ. Christians celebrate the fulfilment of God's
promise to send a Saviour. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, reveals God's great love for all
people. Christmas is a time when the attention of students can be drawn to the poor and
suffering in society, both here in Australian and in other world communities: the sick, the unemployed, refugees, immigrants, the homeless, the frail and the elderly. Students can contribute to various appeals during the Advent and the Christmas season that are organised annually in their own parish community.
Getting ready
Students will be aware of the preparations that precede important events and how we get ready for special occasions. Students generally have a natural response of pleasure to the
colours, symbols, decorations and commercial features of the Christmas celebration.
They have a sense of excitement and are joyful and hopeful. They will discover that while preparations are going on in the community, the Church also prepares for the coming of
Jesus during Advent.
Throughout the liturgical year we are invited to celebrate in many ways. Different colours and
symbols express the mood of each of the seasons. The colours purple or dark blue used during Advent symbolise the mood of waiting and preparation. The colour pink used in the third week of Advent reminds us that we are preparing for a season of joy. The use of light
and the colour white symbolises the joy of Christmas. The gradual increase in the light of
the Advent wreath can speak powerfully of the hope for the coming of Jesus, the Light of

the World at Christmas. The lights on a Christmas tree can further remind us of Jesus as the light of the world.
Student Context
Please cater for the student context of your class in your planning of this module.
Developing the Partnership
Please make connections between the learning in this module and parents and the wider community.
Curriculum Links
Please note connections with other KLAS and cross curricular perspectives in your planning.
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:
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What do you want the students to learn?
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Why does the learning matter?
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What are you going to get the students to do (or produce)?
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How well do you expect them to do it?

These are suggested teaching and learning activities . 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. Therefore, using the planning sheet available on CENet, you can establish the thinking behind this unit. Go to “my classes”, open “DBB
Support for teachers of RE” page. Go to the property called “Religious Education Curriculum
Support” and open the file called “R.E. Concept Sheet”. 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 activities are meant to be adapted for this purpose. You should design activities for the purpose of formative assessment. If you design different summative assessments than those suggested, they must address the outcomes as well as the enduring understandings of the module.
Student Context
Please ensure that you write this module to meet the needs of your class using the presented material as a resource.
Developing the Partnership
Please make connections with home and community in the planning for this module.
Curriculum Links
Please ensure that you make links with other KLAs during this module.
Big Idea: As we wait for Jesus in Advent we also wait for a time when all people will have what they need.
What Is Important for Students to Know and Do:
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Advent is a four week liturgical season which precedes Christmas
 Advent means “ coming”
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The liturgical colour of Advent is purple or dark blue as it is a time of preparation. The liturgical colour for Christmas is white for joy and celebration.
 The stories of Jesus’ birth are only on the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.
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The church uses special colours, symbols and music to set the scene for the seasons of

Advent and Christmas.
Enduring Understandings:
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The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us different parts of the Christmas story. We join them to create our story of Christmas.
 The stories of Mary and Elizabeth in Luke’s Gospel tell us of courage, acceptance, service to
God and trust.
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Whilst we wait for the story of the coming of Jesus during Advent, we also wait in hope with
Jesus for a time when no-one will be lonely, hungry or left out.
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We are called as disciples of Jesus to reach out to the poor and lonely in a special way in
Advent and at Christmas.
Key Concepts: o annunciation o Advent ”coming” o community o Gentile kings-magi o visitation o waiting o symbols o Epiphany o pregnancy o preparation o marginalised o scripture o call o relationship o stable St Vincent De Paul o promise o Gospels of Matthew and Luke o Messiah o celebration o Gold, incense and myrrh o o hope o peace o joy and love

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Focal Area- Create a display area to become a focus for the unit, showing the big question clearly. This area should include an Advent focussed sacred space which should be dressed in the Advent liturgical colour of purple or dark blue.
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Brainstorm knowledge of the Season of Advent. Visit the Church and look for symbols, liturgical colours etc. Invite a member of the clergy to talk to the student about Advent.
Record ~what we know about Advent/ what we wonder about Advent. Discuss Advent as a time of preparation and waiting for the celebration of the coming of Jesus into our world and with him the hope that one day there will be peace, and no hunger or loneliness.
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On a flip chart or on large post-it notes, record everything that Christmas means to you.
Categorise the children’s ideas under headings :
 Family and friends
 Commercial
 Church
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Discuss the categories~ What things can go in more than one category? How do they appear in each (e.g. How does celebration happen in families, at the shops and in church)?
Do you think the commercial side of Christmas (e.g. TV, shops and lots of presents) has led to some people forgetting about what Christmas is really about? Do you think many people don’t know anything about Advent? How can we improve the way that we wait for Jesus? etc
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Create an Advent calendar or use an online calendar each day. AS children learn about symbols they might add them to their calendar. An online calendar can also be accessed at http://www.smmp.com/Advent/Advent.htm
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Students may create their own 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:
 Circular green leaves represent eternity~ no beginning and no end
 Purple candles represent hope and waiting
 The pink candle represents joy and is lit in the Third Week of Advent.
Discuss how an Advent wreath made with items from nature with purple candles and a pink
one captures the religious meaning of Advent. Compare these to some of the wreaths
available in shops which are decorated in tinsel.
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Other ideas that may be used for the journey of Advent:
 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 Ap peal 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.
 Advent JourneyCreate a roadway (either on the floor with pebbles, on paper on the wall or on the IWB) and map the class’ Advent journey, marking special features on the roadway e.g. St Vincent De Paul speaker came to talk to us; Advent Liturgy; we made our Advent promises etc.
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Brainstorm things we wait for in our lives, including family celebrations. Discuss: the feelings of expectation, what it is like when our hopes are fulfilled, what it is like if our hopes aren’t fulfilled, things we do to prepare etc. Complete a matrix chart about things we do to prepare for special events e.g. invitations, food, decorations, clothing, music, customs, ceremonies.
Discuss how the preparation contributes to the importance of the event, seems to extend the time of the celebration, shows that guests are valued, builds anticipation etc.
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Reflect on a time that you have waited for something special. Children may write a reflection
OR may complete sentences e.g. “When I waited for my birthday I……” Discuss that celebrations aren’t the only things we wait for. Brainstorm other things we wait for e.g. someone to come back from overseas; Year 12 students wait for their HSC results; we sometimes wait for someone to get better if they are sick. Discuss that waiting for the birth of a baby is one of the most significant periods of waiting in human life.
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Invite a pregnant mother in to discuss what it is like to wait for a baby. Ask what feelings a pregnant mother has. Ask about all the preparations that are necessary. Create a retrieval chart/display about preparing for the birth of a baby. Pregnancy/ baby magazines may be used for visual representations in this chart.
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Home School Activity: Children interview their parents how they waited in joyful expectation of their birth. An interview question sheet may be sent home (see Appendix 1). A classroom display may be set up using photos e.g. Ultrasound photos/ pregnancy photos (****If the context of your class means that you have children who are separated from their parents, you may need to change or adjust this task).
 From a good children’s bible, read the story of the Annunciation and discuss, this is so that the story of the visitation which is the focus of this module will make sense to the children.

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Discuss what they think it would have been like for Mary being pregnant two thousand years ago. She was a young woman, maybe only about 14 years of age. Do you think she would have been frightened or worried? Who do you think would have helped and supported her?
Mary herself was such a caring person that she decided to set off and walk to visit her older cousin Elizabeth who was also pregnant~ We hear about this in Luke’s Gospel.
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Read Lk 1:2645, ‘Mary Visits Elizabeth’. Reconstruct this story in one or more ways that suits the children e.g. o using a Scripture story box. A script is available from “ Sydney RE online” at the end of the ES1 Advent and Christmas unit at http://www.ceosyd.catholic.edu.au/Parents/Religion/RE/Pages/Primary.aspx
o creating an artistic flow chart, dramatically o liquid pictures (Wintour, Christmas Celebrations, p.9) o making a power point, movie or photo story based on digital pictures of the children acting out the story o Make a moving story using the I Pad app, “Bible Buddies”.
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Create a similarities/ differences chart about what it would have been like to be pregnant in
Mary and Elizabeth’s time and today. Introduce problematic knowledge into the discussion e.g. Would there have been doctors/ hospitals/ ambulances? What do you think would happen if something went wrong? This may be divided into columns e.g. feelings, things to do, changes etc. Ask if there are still women travelling and giving birth in possibly dangerous situations today. Discuss the difference between pregnancy and birth in developing and developed countries.
 Create a story map of Mary’s journey to Elizabeth, reflecting upon the risks Mary may have taken in an ancient time. Ask questions such as: How would have Mary travelled there? What dangers might she have faced? Why do you think it was so important for Mary to visit her cousin? Why did both these women have very special roles? What was similar and different about their situations?
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Other ways to explore the story: o Learn songs about waiting e.g. “Mary said ‘Yes’ ” (Michael Mangan) or “The Visitation”
(Jim Cosgrove) or “Watching and Waiting” (Michael Mangan). o Participate in guided meditation ‘The Visitation’ p.27 from’ Guided Meditations for
Children.
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Discuss words from this story in the Hail Mary. Illustrate or make a poster. Say the Hail Mary each day in class prayer.
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Suggested Assessment SS 1.5 Imagine the conversation between Mary and Elizabeth when Mary arrived after her long journey as told in Luke’s Gospel. Think about what Mary would have told Elizabeth about the visit of the Angel Gabriel, about her journey, about her feelings. Think about what Elizabeth would have told Mary about her feelings, being pregnant after such a long time. Create a movie, cartoon strip or other representation to capture the understandings gained from the scriptures

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Explain to the children that of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), we only find the stories of Jesus’ birth and the events leading up to it in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
They tell the stories differently and each focuses on a different part of the story. However, we have put them together to tell the Christmas story as we know it.
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Read Luke 2:1-20 (Nativity) and read Matthew 2:1-11 (visitors from the East): o Luke’s nativity story is one of warmth and simplicity. Jesus’ birth in a stable illustrates his humanity and was the first sign that Jesus would reach out to the poor and lowly in a special way. This is also illustrated by the first people to visit Jesus, the shepherds.
Shepherds at the time were often outsiders in society and yet they were the first to see the Saviour. However, Jesus was also divine and this was see by the presence of the angels.
o Matthew’s story focuses on the visit of three kings from the East. This story not only shows Jesus as king, but also showed that he would welcome all people rich and poor from all ethnic groups and beliefs, as the kings were not Jewish like Jesus and his family.
 Create an artwork or dramatic presentation about the visitors to Jesus’ birth (shepherds, angels and kings ). Focus on the visitors who shared the joy of Jesus’ birth. The story of these visitors is one way that we learn about the ordinariness and extraordinariness of Jesus’ birth. Discuss what this means for us today i.e. Jesus relates to everyone-shepherd or king.
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These stories may be studied through modern literature. Suggestions include: o The Early Reader’s Bible- Jesus Came to Love Us’ and ‘The Wise Men Give Their Best’ o Gold & Honey Bible - ‘To Bethlehem’, ‘Born in a Stable’, ‘Wise Men from the East’).
o Caspar and the Star: Francesca Bosca
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You Tube videos may also be used e.g.
“The King is Born” , cartoon video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzxkUtN_xoE&feature=related
Slideshow of artwork~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXjppB_2zkE&feature=fvwrel
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Students may participate in a guided meditation e.g.
o ‘The Visit of the Magi’ in Guided Meditations for Children’ p. 156 o ‘A Visit to Bethlehem’ p.20 in ’ To God on a Magic Carpet’ .
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Present Lk 2: 1-7 and Mt 2: 111 from Joseph’s viewpoint (perhaps a guest storyteller may do this). Students ask Joseph questions in relation to the birth of Jesus and the gifts which were presented to Jesus.
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Suggested Assessment JS 1.2 Design a triptych ( three panelled artwork) showing the visitors to Jesus who announced who he would be- shepherds (human), angels ( divine) and servant king ( magi). Write an explanation of your art.
****Triptych patterns are available at
http://www.houseofstirfry.com/chia/templates/tryp02.html)

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Discuss how the Season of Advent reminds us that we not only wait in joyful hope for the celebration of the coming of Jesus, we also wait with Jesus for a time when no-one will be frightened, poor, hungry or lonely. It is our mission as Jesus’ disciples to work towards that time of peace and joy. We should pray to Jesus to bless us in our work.
 Make a plan about how as disciples of Jesus, the students can live out their Advent promises well.
Discuss the ways that they can act in their day to day lives – through kindness to their families and friends; through prayer and liturgy and through their joyous support of the poor e.g. through the
Vinnies Christmas Appeal.
 Invite a speaker from St Vincent De Paul to talk to the students about how their support during
Advent is helping to bring about the sort of society that Jesus wanted.
 Design a poster showing how the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal calls us to be disciples of
Jesus.
 Plan an Advent prayer celebration and invite parents and priest to participate using the significant symbols.
Ideas for liturgies may be found in:
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Costello, ‘Classroom Prayer Services for the Days of Advent and Lent”
 http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/index.htm
As part of the liturgy, you might like to provide an empty cradle beside your prayer focus and at a later date invite parents and students to provide items to fill the cradle with hamper donations for those less fortunate in the community.
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Invite parish priest/ deacon to discuss how the church celebrates Advent and Christmas, focussing on colours, symbols, music. Ask the speaker to talk about how the mood of waiting is created in
Advent and fulfilled at Christmas. Make a retrieval chart listing the various symbols, colours etc. and their meaning. Children may like to paint an Advent or Christmas banner.
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Invite parents or other speakers from a variety of cultures to share various cultural expressions of
Advent and Christmas (encourage these speakers to bring in cultural items of interest).
Concentrate how waiting and fulfilment happens in different ways. Children may write reflections about what they have heard. Research about cultural expressions of Advent and Christmas may occur through the Internet. Discuss how the church also has cultural expressions. This may be shown by reading stories such as “The Legend of the Poinsettia’” (Tomie De Paolo) which shows religious expression of Christmas in South America.
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Reflect on Advent promises made. Write a reflection about how our waiting is fulfilled at Christmas.
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Suggested Assessment CS S 1.3 Write a reflection about how we worship Jesus in our church through Advent and Christmas. Write one thing that you can do as a disciple of Jesus in the
Church’s Seasons of Advent and Christmas when we wait with Jesus for a time when there will be no hunger, fighting or loneliness.

Appendix 1
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Appendix 2
Scripture:
( http://www.catholic.org/phpframedirect/out.php?url=http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/index.htm)
Luke
Chapter 1:39-56
During those days Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
4where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." 46
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. 53
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped
Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Luke
Chapter 2:1-21
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrolment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day… he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him.
Matthew
Chapter 2:1-11
1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." 3When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea,

for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage." After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Teacher
To be completed by the teacher
Music
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Audio Visual
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Literature
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Internet Sites
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