“Flip and Find the Christmas Stable” is a fun and creative way to teach your young children that Jesus was born in a stable. It uses a Bible story telling technique that uses great visuals and the element of surprise.
It’s almost Christmas and I just created “Flip and Find the Christmas Stable” to share in my newest program for young children called, “O Bethlehem, O Bethlehem!” This fun Christmas Bible game will lead your children down the road of imagination to the day when Baby Jesus was born in a stable.
The Bible is not clear about whether or not there were actual animals in the stable where Jesus was born. But I think it’s safe to assume so. My imagination wanders to what kinds of animals might have been there to witness the birth of our Lord and Savior. Did they “moo” or “cluck” or “baah” when they saw the Babe?
“The Christmas Stable” poem introduces the idea of six animals in the stable with Jesus and His parents. It showcases a chicken, cow, dove, donkey, goat and sheep. Share this poem with your young children along with some great visuals and you will have a fun Christmas Bible game for your home or classroom.
Take a look at a sample presentation of “Flip and Find the Christmas Stable”
“The Christmas Stable” Poem by Kathy Vincent, The Scripture Lady
Who was in the stable
When Jesus our Lord was born
Maybe many animals
On that Christmas morn
The chicken made a clucking sound
Scratching the earth for some seed
While Joseph looked upon dear Jesus
Ready to care for all His needs
Perhaps there was a cow
Giving a low and quiet moo
As Mary placed the babe in his manger
Wrapped in a blanket of blue
“Coo, coo, coo,” said the dove on high
Perched in the rafters above
Perhaps she was singing a special song
To the Babe who came from above
Very strangely, the donkey was quiet
He’d usually give a loud bray
But I think he wanted to hear every word
That Mary would whisper and say
O there’s a goat with a furry chin
Hopping on top of the hay
Watching Mary nod her head
And bow her head to pray
Is that a sheep who bleats a bah
In his wooley coat of white
With curious eyes it looks at the babe
On this silent Christmas night
The Bible is not clear
That animals surrounded our Lord
But we know it was to a stable God came
To give us peace and make us restored
How to Prepare and Play: “Flip and Find the Christmas Stable”
Gather 6 pictures that showcase each of the animals in the poem.
Find a large picture that showcases the stable where Jesus was born. Separate the big picture into 6 parts and attach each section to the back of an animal picture.
As you can see in the video, I have placed all 6 cards on a pocket chart. You can find pocket charts from Oriental Trading Company at this link: http://www.orientaltrading.com/red-pocket-chart-a2-13715185.fltr?keyword=pocket+chart
Read through the poem. After each animal, allow a child to come forward to your chart and find the matching animal picture. Encourage them to flip the picture around to reveal a part of the big surprise picture. Continue with this kind of play until all 6 animals have been flipped around and the surprise picture is completely revealed.
Enjoy!
Want more “Flip and Find” games for your young children?
Click HERE for “Flip and Find the Lord’s Prayer.”
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