Zechariah and the Angel Magic Window

 This picture is of Zechariah in the temple.

When you pull on the right edge of the top picture, Zechariah slides out of the frame and an angel "magically" appears.

Zechariah and the Angel
Luke 1:5 - 25

I use the black light sheet in the section below when telling the Bible story.  The children make one of these to take home so they can retell the story. 

Instructions for making a magic window

Pattern for Zechariah and the Angel magic window

Video on how a magic window works

Other Magic Windows

Fiery Furnace Magic Window
Abraham Offers Isaac Magic Window
Jesus' Resurrection Magic Window
Daniel and the Lion's Den Magic Window
Large Aaron's Rod Magic Window
Ten Bridesmaids Magic Window
Aaron's Rod Magic Window

The magic window pattern was made with clip art from the book Bible Story Clip and Copy Patterns by Corbin Hillam.  This is one of my favorite books to use as patterns for many, many things!  This precious book is no longer in print, so Mr. Hillam has graciously allowed me to give you the pattern for free.  He is producing a CD with the art from this book.  The drawings are fantastic!  If you would like to purchase a CD for $15, you can contact him at corbinhillam@yahoo.com.  It is well worth the money!  Other items by him can be seen at www.corbinhillamdesign.weebly.com.

Zechariah and the Angel Glow in the Dark Sheet

 (lights on)

(lights off)

Zechariah and the Angel

Luke 1:5-25

I found a coloring page for the pattern for this project.  I purchased a creme colored bed sheet and cut it into fourths.  This is painted on one fourth of that sheet.

I drew Zechariah with a permanent marker.  I painted the angel with Glow in the Dark paint.  It shows up in the top picture because of the way I took the picture.  When it is hanging up on the wall, the children cannot see the angel.

When I turn on the blacklight or turn off the lights, the angel suddenly appears.

After telling the story, I let the children make a magic window where at first you see only Zacharias and then, after pulling a tab, the angel magically appears.  They can take it home and retell the story.

Repentance Activity

Repentance Activity

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Matthew 3:1-12

Finding activities to go along with the story of John the Baptist can be rather tricky.  When creating this activity, I had in mind children who like to move around and not sit still or children who have been sitting all day in school.  

For this activity, you will need one set of the red, purple, orange, blue or yellow cards per team and one copy of the green cards.  The green cards have words that would show behavior of a person who has repented. The other colored cards show negative behaviors.

Tape or pin the green cards to the wall in different places around the room in a random order.  Give each team a set of colored cards (red, orange, etc.).  Have each team go around the room and find the repentant behavior card to match their card.  (I paired my struggling readers with my strong readers so they could help each other.)  

Have the children use an erasable marker to write the number of the green card on the back of their card.  For example, if their first card is “lies”, then they must find the green card that says “tells the truth”.  Because there is a number 3 on the card that says "tells the truth", the children would write the number 3 on their card that says “lies”.  (This way the other groups don’t see what they have chosen.)

When the groups have finished, come back together and discuss their findings.

The children have enjoyed moving around the room and working in partners on this activity.  

For instructions and printable cards, click on photo.