The Nativity

Christa Davey
Department of Education,
Geneva College
EDU 251 Integrating the Arts
October 5, 2022
Name: Christa Davey
Date: 5 October 2022
Unit Title (must include the topic): The Nativity Story
Grade Level: 1 - 3rd grade

1) Broad Unit Understandings/Goals:

• Students will understand the Nativity (Christmas) story
• Students will understand that there are differences among the characters involved
• Students will understand the truth and significance of the Christmas holiday

2) Unit Questions:
• “Do you know the basic narrative/sequence of events in the Nativity story”
• “Do you know the significance of the Nativity story as a sacred religious holiday”
• “What differences exist between the characters in the story?”
• “Why do we bother to study/examine a story that took place in ancient biblical history”
• “What is the purpose of the Nativity story”

3) State/Common Core Standards (obtained from PDESAS): • Standard - 9.1.3.B

Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to
produce, review and revise original works in the arts. Standard - CC.1.1.3.E
Read with accuracy and fluency to support comprehension: • Read on-level text with purpose
and understanding. • Read on-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on
successive readings. • Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and
understanding, rereading as necessary. Standard - CC.1.1.3.D Know and apply grade-level
phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. • Identify and know the meaning of the most
common prefixes and derivational suffixes. • Decode words with common Latin suffixes. •
Decode multisyllable words. • Read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words. Standard -
CC.2.4.3.A.4 Represent and interpret data using tally charts, tables, pictographs, line plots, and
bar graphs. Standard - CC.1.3.2.B - Ask and answer questions such as who, what, where, when,
why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

4) Learning Objectives: • The students will be able to identify the different events in the story by
answering the questions about the book read in class on the nativity story with 80% accuracy. •
The students will be able to identify the differences between the characters in the story by
drawing a picture and labeling their name and role with 80% accuracy. • The students will be
able to explain how the wise men journeyed to Bethlehem by acting out the different parts of
wise men (magi) portion of the Nativity story with 80% accuracy.

5) Description of Unit: The theme of this thematic unit is titled, The Nativity Story. This unit
will explore different characters, the parts of the story, and the importance of this narrative. In
this unit, there will be several activities that take place to provide the students with different
ways to engage and connect with the topic. These activities will include art, reading, music,
drama, math, science, etc. Therefore, the students will have the opportunity to experience several
subject areas that connect to the topic and integrate art in some capacity. Introducing students of
this grade level to the Nativity story will help them build foundational knowledge for future
learning of Christian doctrine, and it will help the students to understand the celebration of the
Christmas holiday throughout history.

6) Introduction
• The Nativity Story is an important topic for 3rd graders to learn because it teaches them
about the birth of Jesus and its significance as fulfilling prophecy about the Messiah and a hope
for man to live eternally. The birth of Jesus is a key foundation to developing Christian lifestyle
and beliefs that follow the example and teaching of Jesus. Play-based activities will support the
learning of the topic. experience-based activities will support the learning of the topic. project-
based activities will support the learning of the topic. This thematic unit focuses on teaching The
Nativity Story in a variety of ways to first through third graders.
• o Music ideas related to the topic: words and tunes to songs needed—if you don’t
know the melody don’t include it. Sing along to a familiar tune to “silent night” and learn/sing
along to a rap about The Nativity Story (optional). Give students a familiar Christmas tune and
have them create their own Nativity song in small groups to go along with the tune.
o Improv and drama: Act out the nativity story of the wise men in a drama play with
scripts. The magi who were in the east (wise men) were inspired by the star of Bethlehem west
of them to go to Jerusalem where they asked King Herod of Judea where the one is who has been
born king of the Jews. King Herod was disturbed at first, then he asked the teachers of the law
where the messiah was to be born, secretly got the magi to tell him the exact time the star of
Bethlehem had appeared and sent them on a journey west to Bethlehem during which the star
became their guide. The star signifies the birth of Christ.
Also, take students outside to do pantomime drama of the shepherds in the fields tending to
sheep during the time of Jesus birth, the bright lights and angel of the Lord that appeared to
them, the angels that appeared to them, the shepherds' initial fear and eventual voyage to
Bethlehem.
o Ways to integrate science and health using any of the arts (1 or more arts) into the topic.
Make a homemade compass and have students use their compass to show the path that the wise
men (Magi) took on their way to Bethlehem. They will do a pantomime of locating compass
points using their compass. During the pantomime, they will turn their body in a sequence, first
to the south and then to the west to show the 2 compass points that marked the directions of the
Magi’s journey. (On their way to Bethlehem, the wise men traveled south along the Jordan
River’s flatlands then west over the hills around Jerusalem).

7) Additional Standards and Assessment

Standard - 3.4.3.A2
Identify that some systems are found in nature and some systems are made by humans.
Standard - 9.1.3.B visual art ideas related to the topic—things the children can make (homemade
compass). Ways to integrate science and health using any of the arts (1 or more arts) into the
topic (compass project).
Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to
produce, review and revise original works in the arts. Music ideas related to the topic: words and
tunes to songs needed (silent night and rap). Creative movement ideas related to the topic
(shepherd and compass pantomimes). Drama ideas related to the topic including pantomime and
improvisation ideas (wise men drama scene).
Standard - 9.1.3.D
Use knowledge of varied styles within each art form through a performance or exhibition of
unique work. Drama ideas related to the topic including pantomime and improvisation ideas
(shepherd pantomime). Creative movement ideas related to the topic (compass pantomime).
Expectations: Students should be able to retell the events that took place during the Birth of Jesus
as written in the scriptures. Students should be able to demonstrate key details in a text by acting
out scenes of the Nativity using pantomime and improv. Students should also be able to sing
songs about the Nativity as well as create original songs out of their melodies. Students will be
able to retell the basic narrative/sequence of events in the Nativity story by answering the 5 W’s.
Students will recall the significance of the Nativity story as a sacred religious holiday. They will
know the differences that exist between the characters in the story. They will know why we
bother to study/examine a story that took place in ancient biblical history and why the Nativity
story is significant for all of creation.

Thematic Graphic Plan

Reading
Read a book about the Nativity story and answer who, what, when, where, why, and how in the
narrative.
Read poems that go along with the story
The Nativity: From the Gospels of Matthew and Luke: Sanderson, Ruth: 9780316771139:
Amazon.com: Books

Writing
The pure or virgin Mary had a baby (write on whiteboard)
Write the correct word on a whiteboard that goes along with a given scene from the nativity story

Memorize and be able to write out Luke 2:9-12 on a whiteboard

Science

They could learn about the wise men looking at the star of Bethlehem by creating a paper mache
telescope. Telescopes collect and analyze radiation from celestial objects.

Make a homemade compass to show the direction that the wise men traveled to Bethlehem (they
traveled south along the Jordan River’s flatlands then west over the hills around Jerusalem).
Social Studies
Look at the specifics of the culture in Bethlehem
Pinpoint the geographic location of the Nativity story on a map

Math
Tally the number of animal types
Represent the male to female ratio in the story

Measure every side of a 3D rendition of the manger in the nativity story

P.E./Movement
Act out the nativity story of the wise men in a drama play with scripts. The magi who
were in the east (wise men) were inspired by the star of Bethlehem west of them to go to
Jerusalem where they asked King Herod of Judea where the one is who has been born king of the
Jews. King Herod was disturbed at first, then he asked the teachers of the law where the messiah
was to be born, secretly got the magi to tell him the exact time the star of Bethlehem had
appeared and sent them on a journey west to Bethlehem during which the star became their
guide. The star signifies the birth of Christ.

Pantomime drama to retell events that took place during the time of Jesus' birth.

Art
Draw the nativity scene and label the city, people, animals, buildings, and structures involved.

Color and cut out the different parts to the nativity scene, paste them onto a poster, and paste the
correct label onto each part.
Music

Sing along to tunes about the nativity story (silent night in book)
the nativity story book 3rd grade reading level - Bing - Shopping

The Nativity Story Song - A Christmas Rap - Bing video

Create a song to a familiar tune about the Nativity story
 References:
nativity story book 3rd grade reading level - Bing - Shopping

The Nativity Story Song - A Christmas Rap - Bing video

Adult Nativity Play (ltkcdn.net)

multiplication and division for 3rd grade - Bing images
https://ministry-to-children.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/The-Birth-of-Christ-The-Wise-
Men-Booklet-merged-compressed.pdf

(377) 🌟 The Story Of The Nativity - Read Aloud - YouTube

(377) Story of Jesus Birth for Kids | Nativity Story for Kids | Christmas Books Read Aloud -
YouTube

nativity poems 3rd grade - Bing images