Teaching Plan

The Customizable Teaching Plan is where you will find every activity needed for an amazing time of Bible Study with your students.

  • There are four different plans to choose from, Complete, Younger, Older, and Master Teacher. (Although activities have been carefully designed with age-appropriate behavior, topics, and learning styles in mind, you know your own group better than anyone – feel free to customize your plan to best fit your group’s personality and needs.)
  • Each plan is broken into three sections: Connect, Explore, and Transform.
  • Simply click on the activity titles below to see each activity.
  • Activity PDFs can be downloaded within the specific activity window.

Connect

Connect options are fun ways to introduce the lesson's theme(s). Your choices for Connect activities include:

  • Drama—A short drama script that can be performed by your students
  • Media Option—Media options are videos, photos, audio files, or slide shows
  • Age Specific Options—Activities to get your students ready for the lesson
  • Review Questions—Questions to review the previous lesson's content

Explore

Explore options are where Bible Study happens. Your choices for Explore activities include:

  • The Key Study—An interactive, small group Bible Study focusing on the Biblical Passage (includes Map and Timeline reference)
  • The Master Teacher Key Study—A sermon-style Bible Study focusing on the Biblical Passage
  • Age Specific Options—Bible Study activities developed specifically for younger and older students

Transform

Transform options help your students apply the lesson's truths. Your choices for Transform activities include:

  • Deeper Discussion—Questions to take your students deeper into the application of the lesson
  • Creative Prayer—Interactive ways to pray
  • Age Specific Options—Application activities developed specifically for younger and older students
Choose a Teaching Plan:

Connect

Connect activities get students ready to learn. Choose one or two of the activities below to introduce this week’s lesson.

Especially for Younger Students: Puzzle Plan

(10 minutes, moderate set-up)
Students will put together puzzles to discover the importance of seeing the big picture.
Provide 100-piece puzzles for every 4-5 learners.

Especially for Older Students: The Perfect Plan

(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will come up with a plan to get across a hypothetical river.
Provide a dry erase board, markers, paper, and pens.

Master Teacher Option: The Perfect Plan

(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will come up with a plan to get across a hypothetical river.
Provide a dry erase board, markers, paper, and pens.

Explore

Explore activities lead students to study Scripture. Teach the Key Study to focus on the Biblical Truth. If you choose, support the Key Study with one or two of the following activities.

Interactive Core Study: He Was Born to Be God with Us

(15–20 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will study Isaiah 7:14-16 and Matthew 1:21-23 to examine God’s intentional plan for sending His Son to be Immanuel, God with us.
Provide a pen and a copy of the Student Worksheet for each student. Also provide a dry erase board and a marker. Print one copy of the Kingdoms activity sheet and prepare it according to the instructions provided on it.

Master Teacher Key Study: He Was Born to Be God with Us

(15–20 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will study Isaiah 7:14-16 and Matthew 1:21-23 to examine God’s intentional plan for sending His Son to be Immanuel, God with us.
Print one copy of the Master Teacher Key Study for your use. Provide a copy of the Student Worksheet and a pen for each student.

Especially for Younger Students: Food for Babies

(10 minutes, easy set-up)

Especially for Older Students: Understanding Immanuel

(10 minutes, easy set-up)

Transform

Choose one or two Transform activities to challenge students to live differently. Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit ultimately brings about change, so help students draw near to Him.

Discussion Questions

(5-8 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will discuss how the depth of God’s love for them is revealed through the birth of His Son.

Especially for Younger Students: Words from the Heart

(10 minutes, moderate set-up)
Students will discuss the importance of taking part in God’s redemptive plan.
Provide a large sheet of paper, several containers of finger paint of different colors, and several paintbrushes for each container. Lay the paper and the paint on the floor somewhere in the room. (You might want to consider putting down a drop cloth or extra paper to protect the floor from spills.)

Especially for Older Students: Celebrating Christ

(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will thank God for His Christmas gift in the form of Jesus Christ.
Provide enough 1-inch ribbon for everyone to have a 4-inch piece. Also provide permanent markers.

Master Teacher Option: Words from the Heart

(10 minutes, moderate set-up)
Students will discuss the importance of taking part in God’s redemptive plan.
Provide a large sheet of paper, several containers of finger paint of different colors, and several paintbrushes for each container. Lay the paper and the paint on the floor somewhere in the room. (You might want to consider putting down a drop cloth or extra paper to protect the floor from spills.)

Take Home Activity

The Take Home Activity gives families the opportunity to study the biblical passage together and discuss how each member of the family might apply the truths from the lesson to his or her life.

Family Devotion

(10-15 minutes at home, easy set-up)
Distribute copies of the Family Devotion to students and encourage them to share the devotion with their family.