Annunciation and Prophecies of the Birth of Jesus for JSS 2

Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 1
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: God and His Creation
Previous Lesson: First Term Christian Religion Studies Examination
Topic: The birth of Jesus.
Subject Matter: The annunciation; (Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew; 1:22&23, Luke 1:2-35

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Define the term “annunciation” in the context of Jesus’ birth.
• Identify the key figures involved in the annunciation of Jesus’ birth.
• State the prophecies concerning Jesus’ birth from Isaiah 9:6-7 and Matthew 1:22-23.
• Recount the story of the annunciation to Mary as recorded in Luke 1:26-35.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate God’s divine plan for the birth of Jesus.
• Show reverence for the messages delivered by angels.

Psychomotor Domain

• Locate the specified Bible passages (Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 1:26-35) in their Bibles.
• Summarise the main events of the annunciation to Mary.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version, King James Version, or New International Version)
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• The Holy Bible

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for students to understand the supernatural and divine nature of Jesus’ birth, which is central to Christian faith. It helps them connect Old Testament prophecies with their New Testament fulfilment, thereby strengthening their understanding of God’s consistent plan for humanity’s salvation. Understanding the annunciation provides a foundational knowledge for subsequent lessons on the life and ministry of Jesus.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of who Jesus Christ is and some general Bible stories.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The Birth of Jesus

The Annunciation

The term “Annunciation” refers to the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit and name him Jesus. This event marks the beginning of Jesus’ earthly existence.

Prophecy in Isaiah

The prophet Isaiah, many centuries before Jesus’ birth, foretold the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah 9:6-7 states:

1. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
2. “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

This prophecy describes the divine nature and eternal reign of the coming Messiah.

Prophecy in Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew highlights how Jesus’ birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. Matthew 1:22-23 states:

1. “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:”
2. ““The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”

This directly links Jesus’ birth to Isaiah’s prophecy about a virgin conceiving and giving birth to a son named Immanuel.

Annunciation to Mary in Luke

The Gospel of Luke provides a detailed account of the annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:26-35):

1. The angel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary, who was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.
2. Gabriel greeted Mary, saying, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
3. Mary was greatly troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
4. The angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
5. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
6. Mary asked the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
7. The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
8. The angel also informed her that her relative Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age, as “no word from God will ever fail.”
9. Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Memory Verse

Luke 1:35: “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'”

Bible Reading

Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 1:26-35

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Bible Reading, Guided Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them what they know about the birth of Jesus. The teacher then introduces the topic: “The Birth of Jesus” focusing on the Annunciation and prophecies.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction to topic

Step 2: Explanation of Annunciation

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of “annunciation” in the context of Jesus’ birth, highlighting it as a divine announcement. The teacher defines it as the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask questions for clarification, defining the term in their own words.

Learning Point: Meaning of annunciation

Step 3: Discussion of Isaiah’s Prophecy

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Bible Reading/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to open their Bibles to Isaiah 9:6-7. The teacher reads the passage aloud and leads a discussion on what the prophecy reveals about the coming Messiah (e.g., His names, His kingdom).

Pupils’ Activity: Students locate and read Isaiah 9:6-7, then participate in the discussion, identifying key aspects of the prophecy.

Learning Point: Isaiah’s prophecy

Step 4: Discussion of Matthew’s Prophecy

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Connecting scripture

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher directs students to Matthew 1:22-23 and explains how this passage shows the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy concerning a virgin giving birth to Immanuel.

Pupils’ Activity: Students read Matthew 1:22-23 and discuss how it connects to the prophecy in Isaiah.

Learning Point: Matthew’s prophecy

Step 5: Annunciation to Mary in Luke

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads students to Luke 1:26-35. The teacher can either read the story aloud or have selected students read different verses, then discusses the key elements: Gabriel’s message, Mary’s reaction, and the explanation of the Holy Spirit’s role.

Pupils’ Activity: Students follow along in their Bibles, read the passage, and discuss the details of the annunciation to Mary.

Learning Point: Luke’s annunciation account

Step 6: Reinforcement of Key Figures and Messages

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Recap

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks questions to reinforce the names of key figures (Angel Gabriel, Mary, Jesus) and the main message of the annunciation (Jesus is the Son of God, born by the Holy Spirit, fulfilling prophecy).

Pupils’ Activity: Students answer questions, recalling the important figures and messages from the lesson.

Learning Point: Key figures and messages

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What does “annunciation” mean in the context of Jesus’ birth?
2. Mention one prophecy from Isaiah 9:6-7 about the Messiah.
3. Who was the angel sent to Mary?
4. According to Luke 1:35, how would Mary conceive Jesus?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding annunciation

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the annunciation and prophecies into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds students that the annunciation of Jesus’ birth was a miraculous event, fulfilling God’s ancient promises and marking the beginning of our salvation story. The teacher encourages them to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ divine birth.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and reflect on the lesson’s main points.

Learning Point: Lesson consolidation

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. Write down Isaiah 9:6-7 from your Bible.
2. In your own words, describe Mary’s reaction to the angel Gabriel’s message.
3. Why is the birth of Jesus considered a fulfillment of prophecy?

Lesson Keywords

• Annunciation – The announcement by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son, Jesus.
• Prophecy – A prediction of future events, often inspired by God.
• Immanuel – A Hebrew name meaning “God with us,” used to refer to Jesus.
• Gabriel – The angel sent by God to announce the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus.
• Messiah – The promised deliverer of the Jewish nation, prophesied in the Old Testament.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, the teacher can provide simplified summaries of the Bible passages and focus on the main characters and events. They can also be paired with stronger learners for guided reading. For faster learners, the teacher can encourage them to research other Old Testament prophecies related to Jesus’ birth or write a short reflection on the significance of Mary’s response to the angel.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search YouTube for: “Annunciation of Jesus birth JSS 2 CRS” or “Prophecies of Jesus birth explained”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have Bibles for all students or enough for group work. Familiarise yourself with the Bible passages (Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 1:26-35) to guide students effectively. Begin by engaging students with what they already know about Jesus’ birth to activate prior knowledge. Clearly explain the term “annunciation” and then systematically cover each Bible passage, allowing students to read and discuss. Pay attention to common misconceptions, such as confusion between the annunciation of John the Baptist and Jesus. Encourage students to ask questions throughout the lesson. Students should copy the Board Summary notes after the evaluation stage. Conclude by reinforcing the central message of Jesus’ divine and prophetic birth.