A Printable Funschooling
Unit for Christmas
Written by Karen
Caroe
I must take this opportunity
to thank Sondra Burnett, the author of
CELEBRATE WITH JOY.
Her book, sadly, now out-of-print...has
transformed our family's Christmas celebrations for the past several year.
This unit is inspired by her book and my own family's love for music.
Any questions or comments
regarding this unit may be sent to Karen Caroe.
While this unit is a study
of 15 Christmas carols and hymns, it is intended to be flexible enough
for every family's holiday schedule. You may choose to spend a couple of
days on one song, do only one or 2 a week, or try to do them all. It is
completely up to you. It is my prayer that the study of even one of these
beautiful songs will bless your holiday season and help you focus on the
reason for the season---our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
In addition to supplies needed with each specific activities, you will need copies of the words--and, if possible, the music to the following Christmas carols and hymns.
GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN REJOICE
O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL
ANGELS FROM THE REALMS
OF GLORY
THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE
SILENT NIGHT
AWAY IN A MANGER
JOY TO THE WORLD
COME TH0U LONG-EXPECTED
JESUS
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS
SING
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED
THEIR FLOCKS
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT
CLEAR
THE FIRST NOEL
I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS
DAY
WE THREE KINGS
INTRODUCTION
Although I don't state it
with each hymn, it goes without saying that you should sing or listen to
the song of the day while doing your unit study.
You will probably want
to spend the first day doing an introduction to the unit so your children
will know what to expect and to build anticipation of what is to come.
1) Vocabulary: Carol, Hymn
(The word "carol" originally referred to a dance being perfomed in a circle.
Graduallywords were introduced to these dance songs and the spectators
became involved as well. Later, the term "carol" came to be applied more
to verses of song than dance. Christmas Carols refer to those songs that
tell the story of the wondrous event of our Savior's birth. Christmas Hymns
are those songs that address the Father, Son or Holy Spirit.)
2) Play, "Name that Tune"
or "Charades" with each family member using their favorite Christmas Song.
3) Discuss the family favorites.
Are they hymns or carols? Start a list that categorizes each song.
4) Bible: Read Psalm 100.
5) Make up a quiz on paper
or as a game. Select various lines from different Christmas Carols and
see who can match them up with the titles.
6) Family Activity: Spend
your first night/day of this subject doing something your family traditionally
does at Christmas or that you enjoy doing together. Let everyone tell what
they enjoy doing together and try to incorporate as many as possible throughout
the coming weeks before Christmas.
GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN REJOICE
1) History: This is a 14th
Century Latin carol, translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)
2) Language: The original
Latin title of this song is "In Dulci Jubilo" meaning "in sweet shouting".
This is known as a "macaronic carol" because it combines 2 or more languages.
In this case, German and Latin.........with a 19th Century English rendering
by Mr. Neale.
3) Sing the song and try
to learn the first verse.
4) English: Have your students
make a newspaper announcing the birth of Jesus. Or, they could write a
radio/TV news flash.
5) Discuss what it means
to rejoice.
6) Determine to maintain
the joy of Christmas in your home. Plan an activity that your family can
do to bring joy into the life of a lonely person this Christmas.
7) Scripture verse: Isaiah
49:13
O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL
1) History: A Latin hymn
from the 12th Century. Again translated by John M. Neale. This song, originally
sung in the medieval church is really a collection of "antiphons". Antiphons
are short musical statements that were sung for the week of services just
before Christmas Eve. Each one of the antiphons greets the anticipated
Messiah with one of the titles given to Him throughout the Old Testament.
EXPANSION: See THE NAMES
OF JESUS funschooling unit at:
http://members.aol.com/MomCaroe/printnames.html
2) Select one or more of
the names of Jesus from the song and talk about it. Find the Scripture
verse that corresponds with the name. What is the verse saying?
3)Art: Make a poster or
collage with the Names of Jesus on it. Hang it up for visitors to see.
4) Crafts: Make ornaments
for your tree demonstrating the names.
5) Scripture verse: Luke
1:32,33
ANGELS FROM THE REALMS
OF GLORY
1) History: Written by James
Montgomery (1771-1854). James Montgomery was orphaned at age six in the
West Indies where his parents were missionaries. He was basically shuffled
from one house to the next without really having any place to call "home".
James was what we would call a "political activist." He was a newspaper
man and prolific writer. He spoke out for justice and reform on many social
issues. He was honored as the most important citizen of Sheffield, England
from 1883 until his death. This carol was composed when he was 45 and studied
the Scriptural account of the Christmas Story while he was trying to find
something to put in the Christmas Eve issue of his newspaper. The music
was composed by Henry Smart--a blind musician.
2) Civics: Discuss political
activism. Is there something you should be doing in your community to help
right a social wrong? Maybe you need to write letters to your Senators
or make phone calls.
3) Vocabulary: (Our goal
is to come to a greater appreciation of Christmas through this beautiful
music. Identify and define unfamiliar words.) sage, natal star
4) Comprehension: What
group is each of the 5 stanzas about? Try to find scripture verses to apply
to each stanza.
5) Activity: Decide how
you can spend your holiday season in "worship" and/or select one of your
family favorite activities to do today. (The ones you listed on the first
day)
6) Scripture verse: Luke
2:9
THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE
1) History: Written by Emily
E. S. Elliot (1836-1897). This song is a little different from other Christmas
songs because it includes not only Christ's birth, but His life on earth,
His suffering/death, and the triumph of His 2nd "advent." Emily Elliott
wrote this song to teach children the truth of the advent season and the
nativity. The song was only meant to be used in her father's church--St.
Mark's Anglican Church--in Brighton, England but it didn't take long for
it to become a favorite song virtually everywhere. Emily was very active
in rescue mission work and the Sunday School movement of the time.
2) English: Note how the
message of each verse is portrayed. Talk about the word "but". It is a
conjunction and is used to contrast the 2 parts of each sentence.
3) Art: Make some Christmas
heart ornaments for your tree to remind yourself that Jesus must live in
your heart.
4) Set up your creche (nativity
set) Make a special place for it.
5) Science: If you are
still doing academics this time of year, spend time studying the heart
and circulatory system. Talk about how life is in the blood and show how
God designed our hearts as the center of our physical life. Have older
children write a comparrison paper showing how God manifests Himself and
His plan of salvation in the physical heart.
6) Scripture verse: John
10:10
SILENT NIGHT
1) History: This great text
written by Joseph Mohr (1792-1848) on Christmas Eve 1818, was borne out
of a great need. Joseph Mohr was the pastor of a little Austrian parish
church. On a cold December 24th, he was dismayed to learn that mice had
chewed the bellows of the church organ. Thinking of having a Christmas
Eve service without beautiful music was almost more than he could think
of. To get his mind off his troubles, he went out on his pastoral calls.
During his visits, he was called to a humble cottage to welcome and bless
a newborn baby. Uplifited by the new life born on Christmas Eve, Joseph's
spirits began to soar. As he walked on for more visits, his mind composed
lines to a poem that was inspired by Christ's birth on the same evening
so many years ago. He hurried home, wrote down the words, took them to
the church organist, and asked him to put the words to music. The poor
organist only knew 3 guitar chords but he wrote a simple little melody,
none-the-less. Imagine the joy in that little congregation as the 2 men
sang, for the very first time, this now beloved carol.
2) Bible: Look up verses
about light.
3) Art: Try making candles
or rolling beeswax candles.
4) Art: Make Christmas
stars to put on your Christmas tree.
5) Science: Review or introduce
(depending on where you are with science) the constellations. Talk about
how God has revealed His plan of salvation in the stars and in all of creation.
Talk about the star of Bethlehem.
6) English: Write a poem
that could be used as a carol or a hymn.
AWAY IN A MANGER
1) History. This precious
Christmas Song--probably one of the first your children ever learned--has
an undocumented history. As with many of the favorite carols and hymns,
this one was thought to have its origins in Germany. For a long time it
was known as "Luther's Cradle Hymn" and was thought to have been written
by Martin Luther for his own children. Most historians today, discount
that. In 1835, stanzas one and two appeared in the "Little Children's Book"
published in Philadelphia. The 3rd stanza was written by Dr. John T. McFarland
(1851-1913) when he needed an extra stanza for this carol to be used in
a children's day program at his church.
2) Activity: Make "manger
cookies". Recipe: you will need chow mein noodles, butterscotch chips and
pink (or another color) jelly beans. Melt the butterscotch chips in the
microwave or on top of a double-boiler, remove from heat, stir in chow
mein noodles until well-covered. Scoop out piles with a spoon and shape
them to look like little hay beds. Put a jelly bean in to represent the
baby Jesus.
3) Bible: Read the Christmas
story from Luke 2
4) Make or wrap some Christmas
gifts.
5) English: Write letters
to a missionary family.
6) Discuss and/or select
activities that will really pull your children beyond the Santa Claus syndrome
and all the glitter of the secular celebration. Teach them to see Jesus
as the greatest gift ever given.
JOY TO THE WORLD
1) History: This incredible
hymn by Isaac Watts is only one of the many thousands of hymns and songs
written by Isaac Watts. His start in hymn/song writing came about as a
challenge made by his father in an attempt to stifle Isaac's teen-age complaining.
What was this 15 year old boy complaining about? He was complaining about
the poor quality of hymns that were sung in his church! He took on his
father's challenge and his hymns were an instant success. Sunday after
Sunday Isaac wrote and presented new hymns to the congregation. He was
a preacher-poet and incredibly well-loved by his congregation. At the age
of 38, his declining health required him to leave the pastorate. He went
for a "short" visit to stay with friends and left 38 years later!. During
that time, he devoted himself to writing hymns based on David's Psalms.
"Joy to the World" came about as he meditated on Psalm 98.
2) Music: Browse through
a hymnal and see what other songs were written by Isaac Watts.
3) Bible: Psalm 98
4) English: Talk about
anagrams. JOY can be an anagram. Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.
5) Activity: Make a banner,
poster, collage, mobile, or some other artistic demonstration of "the wonders
of His love."
6) Decide as a family how
you can show joy to your world.
COME THOU LONG-EXPECTED
JESUS
1)History: This is one of
about 6500 songs written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) It was first published
in a book entitled "Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord." (1744) The tune
known as "Hyfrydol" was composed by a 20 yr. old Welshman named Rowland
H. Prichard in about 1830. This tune is used with a lot of hymns.
2) English: Look up the
word "anticipation." Ask the children about things they anticipate. Note:
it is so important to instill a sense of anticipation in our children and
keep anticipation as part of our own lives. It ought to be prevalent in
the life of every believer. In the Old Testament, Israel anxiously awaited
the coming of the Messiah--just as we should anticipate the Lord's second
advent.
3) Bible: Spend time reading
some of the Bible Prophecies about the birth of the Christ-child and Christ's
ministry on earth.
4) Family activity. Play
pass the present. Get a small gift--something generic that anyone would
enjoy--and wrap it in a small box. Put that box inside a box and wrap it,
continue putting it in a larger box until you have several "layers." Have
everyone get in a circle. As you play a tape of Christmas music, pass the
box around the circle. When the music stops, the person holding the box
has to unwrap as much as they can before you start the music again. When
the music starts, the box is passed. This continues with starting and stopping
the music until the last box is finally opened and a "winner" is declared.
Note: I like to play this game with a small bag of candy or quarters or
something like that which can be shared by the winner.
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS
SING
1) History: It's hard to
get away from songs by Charles Wesley because he wrote so many of them!
This one, however, has a really interesting history. First, it is important
to realize that Christmas carols and hymns as we know them now were abolished
by the English Puritan parliament in 1627 as being part of a "worldly festival."
The Puritan's considered Christmas to be a secular celebration. (Can you
imagine what they would think of it today!) HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
was one of the few written during the 17th and early 18th centuries. In
Wesley's original text, the first line read "Hark! how all the welkin rings,
glory to the King of Kings." Welkin is an old English word meaing "vault
of heaven". The famous Reverend George Whitfield changed the first line
to the one we now sing today. That final change was made in 1753. The music
was composed by a Messianic Jew named Felix Mendelssohn. Originally composed
in 1840 to celebrate the anniversary of Guttenberg's printing press, it
wasn't until 1855 that the tune and Wesley's poem were put together.
2) Discuss: Look at the
truths in all the stanzas. What does it mean by "Mild He lay His glory
by." How often do we fuss at having to lay things aside. Compare our petty
concerns with all Jesus laid aside to be born to die for us. What are you
willing to lay aside to bring more glory to Him in your life?
3) Art: Make angel ornaments
for your tree.
4) Bible: Starting with
the angel that appeared to Mary, how many angel "sightings" are there in
the Christmas story.
5) Go Christmas caroling.
6) Music: If you haven't
done so, now is a good time to talk about song writers and composers. Almost
all of the songs in this unit began as poems to honor God or the Christ
Child. The music (the tune) was actually composed by someone else at a
different period in time. The songwriter and composer often did not live
in the same time period and if they did, may not have known one another.
7) Activity: If you wrote
poems the other day, try setting them to music.
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
1) History: Written by Phillip
Brooks, (1835-1893) This particular song is unique in that it is one of
the few "American" Christmas hymns. Phillip Brooks--one of America's most
outstanding ministers of the past century--visited the Holy Land in 1865.
Brooks went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.
When looking for something new to present to his Philadelphia congregation
3 years later, he recalled his awesome experience in Bethlehem and wrote
this song specifically for the children in the congregation.
2) Bible: Read Micah 5:2,
(Prophecy) Luke 2:4(fulfillment)
3) Art: Make a Christmas
banner out of felt. Show the sleepy town of Bethlehem, the manger the star.
Strive for a sense of "quietness".
4) Architecture: Look at
some pictures of Bethlehem and the holy land.
WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED
THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT
1) History: Written by Nahum
Tate (1652-1715) Note: The history of this song writer does not end on
an upbeat note. Please preview this information for appropriateness. Nahum
Tate was the son of an Irish clergyman. He got his education at Trinity
college in Dublin and was appointed Poet Laureate of England during the
reign of William and Mary. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that his heart
was really into the the truth's behind this carol because Nahum lived his
life as a drunkard and a spendthrift. He died at the age of 63 in a debtor's
refuge in London. The popularity of this carol is probably do more to the
tuneful melody which was adapted from a work by Handel.
2) Bible: Read the account
of the angel's appearance to the shepherds.
3) English: Have children
write (or dictate to you) a first person story pretending they were a shepherd
sitting on the ground when the angels appeared. Strive to get them to be
descriptive and tell what they thought and how they felt when the angels
came.
Expansion: Act out the
story as a skit.
4) Art: Make sheep ornaments
for your Christmas Tree.
5) Talk about Candy Canes
(shepherd's staffs) The symbolism of the Red and white (some have green,
red, and white) Hang them on your tree. Try to locate "The legend of the
Candy Cane" to read to your children.
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT
CLEAR
1) History: This is a wonderful
Christmas hymn to which America can proudly lay claim. Written by Edmund
H. Sears (1810-1876) Sears was a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and
spent most of his life pastoring small churches in the East.
2) English: What is the
theme of this song? (Peace). This is one of the few Christmas songs about
the gift of Peace God gave on that first Christmas. It is a message of
reconciliation that involves Peace with God, Peace with our fellowman,
and Peace with ourselves. Look up Peace and Reconciliation. Write the definitions.
3) Discuss: Why did/does
God need to reconcile the world unto Himself? Why do we need Peace?
4) Social Studies: Locate
areas of the world that are in turmoil with wars or civil unrest. Why are
they like that? What is the reason for the conflict? What needs to happen
for the conflicts to be resolved?
5) Art: Decide on a good
symbol for peace and put and make ornaments to remind you that God's peace
is a Christmas gift from Him.
6) Activity: Practice having
a "peaceful" home.
7) Bible: Why does God
say "Blessed is the peacemaker? And what is the Blessing he bestows on
peacemakers? (The Beatitudes)
THE FIRST NOEL
Note: This is an old English
Carol written before 1823 and there is almost nothing known about its origin.
However, in situations like this, it is fun to learn the many ideas and
legends that get attached to the song. We--especially Americans, I think--seem
to have this need to be able to explain things to our satisfaction when,
in reality, the truth just can't be certain. I offer 2 seperate histories
of this song. You should let your children compare them. Maybe take a vote
on which one seems more reasonable.
1) History #1: It is actually
believed that this song had its rise in France in the 15th Century. "Noel"
is a French word from the Latin meaning "Birthday". It is thought that
wondering troubadours took the song across the Channel to England. Under
the English form "Nowell", the song became a great favorite in the west
of England as the village gathered on Christmas Eve to burn the Yule Log.
Remember back that at this time Carols were thought to be "popular" music
and were sung outside the church--not in. The repetition of "noel" in the
refrain is equivalent to our singing our "happy birthday" to someone.
2) History #2: In this
history, people claim the Noel also came from the French but stands for
"a shout of joy." It is, however, considered an English song. The English
had (and still do) a special way with abbreviations. Over the years, a
phrase would be reduced to one word, as people began to say it faster.
After passing through one generation, the next generation would remember
only the shortened version. Such is the case with "Nowell". Tradition says
that the English greeted one another on Christmas Morning with the phrase
"Now All Is Well". Christ had come into the world. Now all is well. Jesus
is born! Over the years as the phrase passed from mouth to mouth, family
to family, people began to say "Now Well! Now Well!" This eventually became
"Nowell, Nowell."
3) English: Talk about
how we shorten words and whether or not its a good thing to do. (dunno,
whatcha doin).
4) Activity:Make a Birthday
Cake for Jesus and sing the refrain of the song.
5) Make a habit of greeting
one another each morning of the advent by saying "Nowell" instead of "good
morning."
6) Bible: Let each person
share one of the verses they've enjoyed over the past few days.
7) Art/Calligraphy: Take
a favorite verse and write it on heavy stock paper--either in neat handwriting,
italic, or calligraphy. Decorate it if desired or cut it out and glue it
on wrapping paper. You can even wrap a piece of cardboard in Christmas
paper and turn the whole thing into a wall hanging or picture.
8) Geography: (for those
of you still doing academics) Locate France and England on the map. Also,
the English Channel. Talk aobut troubadours. Who and what were they?
I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS
DAY
History: This is another
great American song. The poem was written by beloved American Poet Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow. (1807-1882). Just looking at the dates in which Longfellow
lived, ask your children if they know what American tragedy he lived through.
(The Civil War). Longfellow, sadly, was probably not a Christian. He was
Unitarian and held to a strong belief in God's goodness and concern for
people. This, I'm sure, required strong faith as he watched the cruel miseries
caused by the Civil War. Longfellow was the most influential poet of his
time so this song brought hope, courage and renewed strength to Americans
on both sides of the war. The poem was written in 1864 for the Sunday school
of the Unitarian Church of the Desciples in Boston. We usually sing 5 stanzas
but if you can find a copy of the original text, you will notice that 2
have been ommitted. Those 2 stanzas contain strong references to the war.
The 5 we now sing give us the hopeful message that God is still in control
and, in His time, the righteous will triumph and He will bring peace and
goodwill again. The bold but beautiful ringing of the Christmas Bells should
remind us of that hope.
2) Activity: Make bells
for your Christmas tree and/or make cut out bell cookies.
3) Listen for bells in
the background of Christmas music.
4) Bible: Look up or discuss
favorite verses that give you hope and assurance.
5) During the Civil War,
families were seperated, had few funds for gifts or celebrations, and created
many new traditions. See if you can find out about any of them.
6) English: Read the opening
chapter of LIttle Women by Louisa May Alcott--or watch the video as a family.
They were a Civil War family and the opening of the book takes place at
Christmas.
WE THREE KINGS
1) History: Words and Music
by John H. Hopkins (1820-1891) John Hopkins was an Episcopalian minister
from Pennsylvania. He wrote many fine tunes and hymns in his lifetime.
2) Bible: Read Matthew
2:11
3) Social Studies: The
Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 to commemorate the coming of the wisemen
from the East. The 12 days of Christmas begin December 26 and end on the
Epiphany. (Hence the secular gift-giving song: The 12 Days of Christmas)
As a family, consider starting a "12 Nights" tradition starting on December
26th. One of the things we tried was for each person to open a gift every
night between Dec. 26th and Jan. 6.--instead of the traditional Christmas
Eve or Christmas morning. Another idea is to give gifts to widows, shut-ins
or the poor during the 12 Nights.
4) Although there is no
scriptural basis for there being only 3 Kings, we've celebrated that because
of the 3 gifts they brought. Study the gold, frankincense and myrrh. All
of these items are symbolic of Christ's ministry and death. The words of
the song teach us why each gift was selected.
5) English: The 3 Kings
have a lot to teach modern day Christians. Have older children write a
paper showing the lessons that we can learn from the Kings. (they persisted
in following the light, they responded in worship, they returned to their
home to tell others)
6) Geography. Look at a
map and see if you determine a possible route the wisemen took from the
Orient to the location where they found Jesus.
7) Make gold crowns to
put on your Christmas tree.
CONCLUSION
It is Mom Caroe's heartfelt
prayer that these Christmas Hymns and Carols will bless your hearts in
a new way this Christmas season. Listen to them, sing them, talk about
them and encourage one another with them. For ideas on additional activities,
you can go to the Funschooling
Archives and find 2 more Christmas units.
Her homeschool pages are
updated monthly, and you will find many study units there.