Advent and Christmas support material
The following selection of resource material would be suitable for classroom extension work on this theme from your Barnabas RE Day. There are a variety of activities, stories, music and pictures along with suggested approaches for using it with learners at Foundation, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
All worksheets come with full photocopy permission to use in your school.
In addition there are links to further ideas for follow-up on the website and lists of Barnabas books which you will find helpful in exploring the topic further.
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Support material
Exploring the background to Advent
- Exploring Advent - for KS1
- Advent activities - for KS1 and KS2
Telling the Story
- Christmas - for Foundation.
- The Innkeeper's Boy - for Foundation
- With Love From Me to You - for Foundation
- Advent - for KS1
- The Second Coming - for KS2
Activities
- The Birth of Jesus is Announced - for KS2
- Nativity Crib - for KS2
- A Christmas Garland - for KS2
Ideas
- Angels, angels everywhere - discussion on the significance and symbolism of angels for KS1
- A Special Birthday - talking about Christmas as a birthday party with Foundation
- The Giving of Gifts - discussing the visit of the wise men with KS2
The following ideas from the Barnabas in Churches website may also be useful:
- The Cross and the Crib - presenting the Christmas story within the context of Jesus' life as a whole school assembly
- Introducing Advent - powerpoint presentation to use with the whole school
- The Twelve Days of Christmas - a new version of the carol, telling the Christmas story
- The Sound of Christmas - an assembly idea celebrating Jesus' arrival through sound
- The Meaning of Christmas - collective worship using the nine letters of Christmas to make associated words
- Christmas in a Suffering World - an assembly idea for KS2
Supporting books and resources
Reflective Learning
Unpacking key Christian beliefs in RE and collective worship Currently out of print £8.99Reflective Learning gives teachers the tools to help children at KS2 understand key concepts of Christian faith.
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Barnabas Make and Do Bible Crafts
Imaginative craft ideas that bring the stories of the Bible to life Currently out of stock £9.99A complete one-stop resource for make and do activities with a biblical theme.
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Three plays that tell the Christmas story from different perspectives, using well-known nursery rhymes to bring the storyline to life
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Easy Ways to Christmas Plays
£11.99Three complete nativity plays for 3-7s with photocopy permission
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Three easy-to-perform Christmas plays to use with lively groups of 3-7 year olds
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