Visit of the Shepherds and Its Significance for JSS 2

Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: The Birth and Early Life of Jesus
Previous Lesson: Visit of the Wise Men and Its Significance
Topic: The birth of Jesus
Subject Matter: continues; The shepherds visit; Luke 2:8-20; The birth of Jesus continues. Significance of the visit of shepherds

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Recount the story of the shepherds’ visit to baby Jesus.
• Identify the main characters involved in the shepherds’ visit.
• Explain the significance of the shepherds’ visit to the birth of Jesus.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the humility shown by God in revealing Jesus’ birth to shepherds.
• Value the message of peace and goodwill brought by the angels.
• Show reverence for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Psychomotor Domain

• Dramatize the visit of the shepherds.
• Read the Bible passage of Luke 2:8-20 accurately.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Christian Religious Studies for Junior Secondary Schools Book 2
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Bible story book or pictures showing the visit of the shepherd
• A copy of the Holy Bible

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important as it deepens students’ understanding of the nativity story by focusing on the humble circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth and the first witnesses. It highlights God’s inclusive love, revealing His Son’s arrival to ordinary shepherds, and teaches valuable lessons about humility and the spread of good news.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have prior knowledge of the birth of Jesus Christ, including the prophecy and the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The birth of Jesus (continues): The Visit of the Shepherds and Its Significance

The Shepherds’ Visit (Luke 2:8-20)

In the region of Bethlehem, there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified, but the angel said:

1. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
2. “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
3. “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests.”

When the angels had left them, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. After seeing Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Significance of the Shepherds’ Visit

The visit of the shepherds is significant for several reasons:

1. First Proclamation: The shepherds were the first people to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth from the angels. This shows that God chose humble, ordinary people to be the first witnesses.
2. Humility of Jesus’ Birth: The fact that the Saviour was born in a stable and visited by shepherds emphasizes the humility and simplicity of Jesus’ arrival, contrasting with earthly kings.
3. Universal Message: The angels’ message of “peace on earth and goodwill to men” was for all people, and the shepherds, representing the common people, were the first to receive and spread it.
4. Validation of the Prophecy: Their visit and the subsequent spreading of the news helped to confirm the divine nature of Jesus’ birth.
5. God’s Love for All: It demonstrates that God’s love and salvation are not just for the powerful or wealthy, but for everyone, including the marginalized.

Memory Verse

Luke 2:11 – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Bible Reading

Luke 2:8-20

Moral Lessons

1. God reveals Himself to the humble.
2. We should be ready to share good news with others.
3. We should glorify and praise God for His wonderful works.
4. God’s plan of salvation is for everyone, regardless of social status.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Dramatization, Guided Reading, Question and Answer.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Review/Engage

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and briefly reviews the previous lesson on the birth of Jesus, asking questions like, “Where was Jesus born?” and “Who were His parents?”

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to the questions, recalling previous knowledge.

Learning Point: Recall of Jesus’ birth

Step 2: Introduction to the Shepherds’ Visit

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Narration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the next part of the birth story, focusing on the shepherds. The teacher uses pictures from a Bible storybook to describe the scene of the shepherds in the field and the appearance of the angel.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen attentively and observe the pictures.

Learning Point: Shepherds’ encounter

Step 3: Bible Reading

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to open their Bibles to Luke 2:8-20 and reads the passage aloud, asking students to follow along. The teacher may assign different students to read specific verses.

Pupils’ Activity: Students open their Bibles and read along with the teacher or individually.

Learning Point: Luke 2:8-20 reading

Step 4: Dramatization of the Visit

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Dramatization/Role-play

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads students to dramatize the visit of the shepherds, assigning roles such as shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. The teacher provides simple instructions for the scene.

Pupils’ Activity: Students actively participate in the dramatization, acting out the story.

Learning Point: Shepherds’ visit dramatization

Step 5: Explanation of Significance

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the significance of the shepherds’ visit, highlighting why God chose them, the humility of Jesus’ birth, and the universal message of peace. The teacher encourages students to contribute their thoughts.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, ask questions, and contribute to the discussion on the significance.

Learning Point: Significance of visit

Step 6: Moral Lessons

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the moral lessons derived from the story of the shepherds’ visit, such as humility, sharing good news, and praising God.

Pupils’ Activity: Students identify and discuss the moral lessons applicable to their lives.

Learning Point: Moral lessons learned

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. Who were the first people to hear about Jesus’ birth from the angels?
2. Where did the shepherds find baby Jesus?
3. State two reasons why the shepherds’ visit was significant.
4. What message did the angels bring to the shepherds?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding shepherds’ visit

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, including the story, significance, memory verse, and moral lessons, into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds students that the birth of Jesus was a humble event, first announced to ordinary people like the shepherds, carrying a message of joy and peace for all.

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

Learning Point: Lesson consolidation

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your CRS notebook:

1. In your own words, describe what happened when the angels appeared to the shepherds.
2. Why do you think God chose shepherds to be the first to hear about Jesus’ birth?
3. Write down the memory verse (Luke 2:11) and explain what it means to you.

Lesson Keywords

• Shepherds – People who tend sheep, often working in fields.
• Angel – A spiritual being acting as a messenger of God.
• Bethlehem – The town where Jesus was born.
• Manger – A long open box or trough for horses or cattle to eat from.
• Significance – The importance or meaning of something.

Differentiation

For slower learners, the teacher will provide simplified summaries of the story and significance, focusing on key events and one or two main points. They can be paired with faster learners during dramatization. Faster learners can be challenged to research and present additional moral lessons from the story or compare the shepherds’ visit with that of the Wise Men (which will be taught later).

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, search on YouTube for:
shepherds visit baby jesus story jss2 crs

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have a Bible and any visual aids like pictures of the shepherds and the nativity scene. Begin by engaging students with a quick recap of the previous lesson on Jesus’ birth to activate prior knowledge. Guide them through the Bible reading from Luke 2:8-20, encouraging active participation. The dramatization activity should be simple and fun, allowing students to embody the characters and events. When explaining the significance, emphasize the humility and universal message of Jesus’ birth. Allow students to copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching and discussion to ensure they capture the key points accurately. Check for understanding throughout the lesson by asking open-ended questions and observing their participation in activities.