Visit of the Wise Men and Its Significance for JSS 2

Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Topic: The birth of Jesus
Curriculum Theme: The Birth of Jesus
Previous Lesson: The Birth of Jesus According to Matthew and Luke
Subject Matter: continues; The visit of the wise men; The birth of Jesus continues; Significance of the visit of the wise men

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the Wise Men as Magi from the East.
• Narrate the story of the Wise Men’s visit to baby Jesus.
• State the three gifts presented by the Wise Men.
• Explain the significance of each gift given to Jesus.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the devotion and worship shown by the Wise Men.
• Value the symbolic meaning behind the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Psychomotor Domain

• Read the Bible passage detailing the Wise Men’s visit.
• Participate actively in discussions about the Wise Men and their gifts.

Social Domain

• Share insights and interpretations of the Wise Men’s visit with classmates.

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 (Matthew 2:1-12)
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Gift items (or pictures representing gold, frankincense, and myrrh)
• The Holy Bible

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it deepens students’ understanding of the early life of Jesus and highlights the universal recognition of His divine nature, even from non-Jewish people. Understanding the significance of the Wise Men’s gifts provides insight into Jesus’ identity as King, God, and Suffering Servant, which is foundational to Christian belief.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should already have knowledge of the birth of Jesus Christ, including the role of Mary and Joseph, and the announcement by the angels to the shepherds.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The Visit of the Wise Men and Its Significance

Who Were the Wise Men?

The Wise Men, also known as the Magi, were astrologers or sages from the East. They were not kings, but learned men who studied the stars and interpreted their meanings. They came to Jerusalem seeking the “King of the Jews” whose star they had seen.

Their Journey and Encounter with Herod

1. The Wise Men followed a star that led them towards Jerusalem.
2. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they inquired about the newborn King of the Jews, causing great alarm to King Herod.
3. Herod, after consulting with his chief priests and scribes, directed them to Bethlehem, pretending he also wished to worship the child, but secretly planning to kill Him.
4. The star reappeared and guided them to the house where Jesus was with Mary, His mother.

The Gifts Presented

When the Wise Men found Jesus, they bowed down and worshipped Him. They then presented Him with three precious gifts:

1. Gold
2. Frankincense
3. Myrrh

Significance of the Gifts

Each gift carried a deep symbolic meaning related to Jesus’ identity and mission:

1. Gold: This precious metal symbolised kingship. It was a gift fit for a king, signifying that Jesus was indeed the King of Kings.
2. Frankincense: This aromatic resin was used in temple worship and sacrifices. It symbolised divinity and priesthood, indicating that Jesus was divine and the Great High Priest.
3. Myrrh: This bitter-smelling resin was used for embalming the dead. It symbolised suffering, death, and burial, foreshadowing Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of humanity.

Bible Reading

Matthew 2:1-12

Memory Verse

Matthew 2:11 – “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Bible Reading, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recalling/Linking

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher welcomes the students and briefly reviews the previous lesson on the birth of Jesus. The teacher then introduces the day’s topic by asking, “Who else visited Jesus shortly after His birth, apart from the shepherds?”

Pupils’ Activity: Students recall the previous lesson and respond to the teacher’s question, mentioning the Wise Men.

Learning Point: Introduction to Wise Men

Step 2: The Visit of the Wise Men

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Narration/Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher initiates and leads a class discussion on the visit of the Wise Men, guiding students to read the story from Matthew 2:1-12 in their Bibles. The teacher explains who the Wise Men were (Magi).

Pupils’ Activity: Students actively participate in the discussion and take turns reading Matthew 2:1-12 from their Bibles.

Learning Point: Wise Men’s identity and visit

Step 3: Their Journey and Encounter with Herod

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the Wise Men’s journey, their purpose of seeking the King of the Jews, and their encounter with King Herod. The teacher highlights Herod’s deception and the star’s guidance.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen attentively, ask questions for clarification, and identify key events in the Wise Men’s journey.

Learning Point: Wise Men’s journey details

Step 4: The Gifts Presented

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Listing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays the gift items (or pictures representing gold, frankincense, and myrrh) and asks students to identify them. The teacher then lists the three gifts presented by the Wise Men.

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the items, identify them, and list the three gifts in their notebooks.

Learning Point: Identification of gifts

Step 5: Significance of Gold

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Interpretation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of gold as a gift, linking it to kingship and Jesus’ identity as the King of Kings. The teacher asks students why gold would be a suitable gift for a king.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and explain why gold is associated with royalty.

Learning Point: Gold’s significance: kingship

Step 6: Significance of Frankincense and Myrrh

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Symbolism

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the significance of frankincense (divinity/priesthood) and myrrh (suffering/death). The teacher ensures students understand how these gifts foreshadow Jesus’ future role and sacrifice.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and articulate the symbolic meanings of frankincense and myrrh.

Learning Point: Frankincense and Myrrh symbolism

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 Wise Men?
2. Where did the Wise Men come from?
3. Name the three gifts the Wise Men presented to Jesus.
4. What is the significance of the gift of gold?
5. What does the gift of myrrh represent?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding Wise Men’s 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 on the Wise Men’s visit and the significance of their gifts 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: Summarizing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds students that the Wise Men’s visit and their gifts highlight Jesus’ unique identity as King, God, and the one who would suffer for humanity.

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

Learning Point: Reinforcing Jesus’ identity

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your CRS notebook:

1. Why was King Herod troubled by the Wise Men’s visit?
2. Research and write a short paragraph on how the Wise Men knew to follow a star.
3. Explain in your own words the moral lessons you can learn from the Wise Men’s devotion and generosity.

Lesson Keywords

• Wise Men – Sages or astrologers from the East who visited baby Jesus.
• Magi – Another name for the Wise Men.
• Gold – A precious metal, symbolising kingship.
• Frankincense – An aromatic resin, symbolising divinity and priesthood.
• Myrrh – A bitter resin, symbolising suffering, death, and burial.
• Significance – The meaning or importance of something.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, the teacher will provide simplified explanations of the symbolic meanings of the gifts and allow them to work in pairs to read the Bible passage. Faster learners will be encouraged to research further into the historical context of the Magi and present their findings to the class.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, search on YouTube for: “The Visit of the Wise Men JSS 2 CRS” or “Meaning of the Gifts of the Magi”.

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have a copy of the Holy Bible and, if possible, visual aids or real-life examples (or pictures) of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Begin by linking the lesson to previous knowledge about Jesus’ birth to create continuity. Guide students through the Bible reading in Matthew 2:1-12, allowing them to read aloud to improve engagement and comprehension. Emphasise the symbolic meaning of each gift, as this is a core learning point. During the discussion, encourage students to express their understanding and ask questions. Monitor students’ note-taking to ensure accuracy. For weaker learners, provide additional support by rephrasing explanations or pairing them with stronger students. Challenge faster learners with extension questions or research tasks. Conclude the lesson by reiterating the main significance of the Wise Men’s visit and their gifts.