📖

A Manger for a Bed

Baby Jesus in a Manger

Day 123of 180
Week 25of 36
15Minutes
← Day 122Day 123 of 180Day 124 →
🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that baby Jesus was laid in a manger

2

Recognize a manger as a feeding box for animals

3

Develop compassion for Jesus' humble beginnings

📖 Scripture Connection

Luke 2:7

“She gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

— Luke 2:7 (WEB)

Demonstrates Jesus' humble birth and God's special plan

📦 Materials Needed

  • Baby doll
  • Manger or small wooden box
  • Soft cloth
  • Hay or straw
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

In today's BibleMouse lesson, we'll learn about where baby Jesus slept!

💭 Review Question: Can you remember what we learned yesterday about baby Jesus?
2Teaching (5 min)

Mary didn't have a soft bed for baby Jesus. Instead, she laid Him in a manger - a special box where animals eat their food.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Mangers are usually made of wood
  • Farmers use mangers to feed animals like sheep and cows
  • Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you think a manger looks like?
  • How would a manger feel different from a soft bed?
3Activity: Manger Scene (6 min)
hands-on exploration

Create a simple manger scene with baby doll and props

📝 Instructions:
  1. Show children the wooden box/manger
  2. Demonstrate wrapping baby doll in soft cloth
  3. Let children take turns placing baby in manger
  4. Add some hay around the manger
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent helps child place baby in manger

Challenge: Child describes what they're doing while placing baby

4Closing (3 min)

Review what we learned about Jesus' special bed

📝 Review Questions:
  • What is a manger?
  • Who was laid in the manger?
🙏 Prayer:

Thank You, God, for sending Jesus to be our special baby Savior

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about how special baby Jesus is!

💎 Memory Verse

Matthew 1:21

“You will call His name Jesus, because He will save His people.”

— Matthew 1:21 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Sing-along memory verse with hand motions: Point to self on 'you', make rocking baby motion for 'His name', and spread arms wide for 'save His people'

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Mangers were common in stables during Jesus' time, used for feeding animals

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle, warm tone when discussing Jesus' birth
  • Encourage child's curiosity about the story
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to understand why a baby would sleep in an animal's food box

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's engagement and ability to retell simple parts of the story

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • BibleMouse Printables Library: Manger coloring page
  • Sing 'Away in a Manger' from BibleMouse Song Collection

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 124 →Back to Bible