CHRISTMAS OBJECT LESSON FOR KIDS
Here’s a fun Christmas object lesson, based on Matthew 1:23, for kids in 1st-5th grade on why Jesus is named Immanuel, which means “God is with us”.
Object Lesson: Balloon Magic
Supplies:
- A balloon
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- A disposable water bottle
- Funnel
*To prepare for this activity, put the vinegar in an empty disposable water bottle. Then, using a funnel, pour the baking soda into the empty balloon. Keep the balloon and water bottle separate until you’ve said the following…
Say: During Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. As you know, he wasn’t a normal baby.
In Matthew 1:23 we read:
“The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”
Jesus was named Immanuel, which means God is with us. He is both 100% God and 100% human.
It can be hard to understand how Jesus could be both God and man, so today, we’re going to do a fun science experiment to help us grasp this idea better.
As we all know, we’re surrounded by air. We know it’s there because we breathe it in and out of our lungs. We can also feel it when the wind blows, or our parents turn on a fan at our house.
But even though we know it’s there, we can’t actually see it. God is similar in that He is spirit, and because He is spirit, we can’t always see Him (though we can see and feel how He’s working in the world).
So, God is a lot like air, and Jesus’ body is a lot like this balloon. When I put this balloon on the bottle, we can see the effect of the air filling the balloon!
*Cover the opening of the water bottle with the mouth of the balloon, making sure that it seals. Then, lift the main part of the balloon slightly so the baking soda falls into the vinegar, thus starting the chemical reaction. The balloon should quickly begin to inflate with air!
Like the inflated balloon is made of both air and rubber, so Jesus is both fully God and fully human!
End Object Lesson
Looking for a Christmas series for 1st-5th Grade? Check out this series…
CHRISTMAS – In this new series for 1st-5th grade, kids will discover that Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus and God’s plan for the world.
Kids will learn about an Old Testament prophecy surrounding Jesus’ coming and why knowing God had a plan to save us is important. They will learn about the good news that should give everyone a reason to be filled with joy. Lastly, they will get a glimpse into what preteen Jesus was passionate about (His Father’s house) and will be encouraged to share in that passion.