Nativity Light-up Jar

Kids make a Nativity Light-up Jar to share the story of the birth of Jesus. Use this craft together with a Sunday school lesson on Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth.

Bible: Luke 2:8-21

Ages: 6 to 12

Group Size: 1 or more

Supplies: Transparent Packing Tape (1.88 inches wide), Scissors, Tub or bowl of water, Transparent plastic jar with smooth surface, Battery-operated fairy lights, Nativity Silhouettes – Download Here

Nativity Light-up Jar Christmas Craft

 

Preparation

Warning: Depending on the ages of your kids, this activity may get messy.

  • Be prepared with mops and rags to soak up any spillage.
  • If you are worried about kids wetting their clothes, inform them in advance to bring a change of clothes.

Download and print the Nativity Silhouettes Printable. Print using a laser printer.
You will need 2 different pictures per child, so each printed copy can be shared amongst 4 kids.
Print extra copies in case some get damaged during the activity.

Nativity Silhouettes Printable

 

 

Make 1 Nativity Light-up Jar in advance. (Follow the instructions below.)
You will need to show kids your sample Nativity Light-up Jar.

Nativity Light Up Jar5

 

 

You will need for each child:

  • 1 set of Nativity Silhouettes (2 different pictures per child: One of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus, the other of the shepherds and angel.)
  • Transparent Packing Tape (1.88 inches wide)
  • Scissors
  • A tub or bowl of water (Plastic food containers work well. You just need enough water to fully submerge the silhouettes )
  • Transparent Plastic Jar with smooth surface
  • Battery operated Fairy Lights

 

Making the Nativity Light-up Jar

Pasting the sticky tape on the images:

1. Give each child 1 set of Nativity Silhouettes.
(Tip: If you cut the paper closer to the images, you will have less paper to rub off in the next step.)

Nativity Light Up Jar1a    Nativity Light Up Jar1b

 

2. Cut a strip of packing tape slightly longer than the image.

 

3. Carefully paste the packing tape over the image. Ensure that the entire image is nicely adhered to the tape.

Nativity Light Up Jar2a    Nativity Light Up Jar2b

(Some kids may need help with this. You may want to print extra copies in case some get damaged. For younger kids, you may want to paste these for them ahead of time.)

 

Removing the Paper:
1. Give each child a tub or bowl of water.

 

2. Place both pieces of silhouette images into the tub/bowl and ensure that they are fully submerged in water.

 

3. After a few minutes, place your fingers in the tub/bowl and gently rub the paper off the packing tape. The paper will slowly come off, leaving the transparent tape with silhouette images.

Nativity Light Up Jar3

 

4. Once all the paper is has been rubbed off, remove the silhouette images from the water. Place them sticky side up on scrap paper to dry. This should take around 10 minutes.

Nativity Light Up Jar4a    Nativity Light Up Jar4b

 

5. While waiting, pack up all the items no longer needed: scissors, rolls of packing tape, tubs/bowls of water.

 

Pasting the Silhouettes on the Light-up Jar:
1. Give each child a plastic jar and fairy lights.

 

2. Once the silhouette images are dry, carefully paste the 2 images on opposite sides of the jar.

 

3. Switch on the fairy lights and place them inside the jar.

 

 

Christmas Sunday School Lessons

This craft is taken from the following Sunday School Lesson:

1

Get Them Curious

Prepare kids for an exciting
learning journey.

Do You Hear What I Hear

Sunday School Lesson - Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth1

Players must shake 5 boxes and guess the number of bells each box contains.

2

Screen Time

Show kids a video on the
Bible story.

Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth

Sunday School Lesson - Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth2

The Story of Christmas (Jesus and the Shepherds), by Saddleback Kids

3

Make it Stick

Help kids remember the
Bible story.

Word Search

Sunday School Lesson - Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth3

Kids re-tell the Christmas story about the angels and the shepherds with the help of a Word Search.

4

Dig Deeper

Help kids grasp
the big idea.

Nativity Light-up Jar

Sunday School Lesson - Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth4

Kids make a Nativity Light-up Jar to share the story of the birth of Jesus.

5

Walk the Talk

Help kids live out
the
big idea.

Lifesavers!

Sunday School Lesson - Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth5

The first team to transfer a bowl of Lifesavers candies from one end of the room to the other using toothpicks wins!

6

Take it Home

Send kids home with a concrete action plan and fun midweek activities.

Jesus is our Lifesaver!

Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth Take it Home-01

Give Lifesavers candy to your friends and use the opportunity to tell them that Jesus is our Lifesaver!

 

You may also use this craft with this Sunday School Lessons:

 

Christmas Bible Lessons

Refer to the following games for various Christmas Bible Lessons that you can use:

Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary (Luke 1:26-38; John 3:16)Blanket Name Game

Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-7; John 3:16; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6-7)No More Room

Angels Appear to the Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20; John 3:16)Do You Hear What I Hear

The Search for Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12; John 3:16)Christmas Scavenger Hunt

The True Story of Christmas (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-12; John 3:16)Christmas Bingo / Christmas Charades / Christmas Pictionary

The True Story of Christmas (For Younger Kids) (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-12; John 3:16)Christmas Bingo / Christmas Charades / Christmas Pictionary

The True Story of Christmas (Condensed) (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-12; John 3:16)The Story of Christmas Minute To Win It Games

Gospel Presentation – Pile Up the Presents

 

Share the Gospel this Christmas

The holiday season presents an excellent opportunity to share the message of salvation.
Consider giving out innovatively fun Christmas tracts such as The True Story of Christmas Animated Tract or You Are the Reason for Christmas! Box-Tract during your Christmas lesson, event or party.

Christmas TractChristmas Tract InsideChristmas Box Tract

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Bible: Luke 2:8-21

Ages: 6 to 12

Group Size: 1 or more

Supplies: Transparent Packing Tape (1.88 inches wide), Scissors, Tub or bowl of water, Transparent plastic jar with smooth surface, Battery-operated fairy lights, Nativity Silhouettes – Download Here

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