Welcome to the Christmastide Morning Time Session!
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Schedule
Recommended Books
Prayer & Scripture Memorization
For Bible reading, we will make suggestions for your morning time reading. However, if you’d prefer a more in-depth schedule, we recommend checking out various plans that will help you read the Bible through.
For a one-year plan, we recommend YouVersion’s One Year Bible: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/60. You can also listen to it being read aloud on the app.
Download a two-year reading plan from the Gospel Coalition here: https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/static-blogs/tgc/files/2010/12/TGC-Two-Year-Bible-Reading-Plan1.pdf
If you prefer to go even slower, Ambleside Online offers three, four, and five-year Bible reading plans: https://www.amblesideonline.org/L/Lbiblesch.html
For the Christmastide session you will read through various scriptures that speak of or prophecy about Jesus’ coming.
Your students will memorize Elizabeth’s Song (Luke 1:39-45) and The Magnifcat (Luke 1:46-56) and Luke 2:6-20.
Artist Study
This session’s featured artist is Edward Burne-Jones. We’ve included three art selections for your kids and teens to use for picture study. They are:
- The Star of Bethlehem
- The Annunciation
- Saint Nicholas
Composer Study
Our featured composer is George Frideric Handel. We’ve included his oratorio Messiah (with links) to listen to.
Listen to the piece below:
Handel’s Messiah
Hymn/Folk Song
Angels We Have Heard on High
The hymn for this session is, “Angels We Have Heard on High.” It is a traditional Christmas carol that dates back several centuries. It is believed to have originated in Provence, France and was originally written in medieval Latin. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that the song was translated into English by James Chadwick, an English hymnist who later became Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. After his translation was published, it started appearing in many hymnals.
The lyrics tell the story of angels singing “glory to God” as they descend from heaven to announce Christ’s birth. The text also refers to various attributes of God, such as His wisdom, power, mercy, and grace.
One legend claims that “Angels We Have Heard On High” was written by a 16th century blind shepherd named Melchoir Nusser. According to this story, the shepherd heard the song being sung by angels and wrote down what he heard in a journal. However, most historians believe that this legend is actually based on an Italian Christmas carol called “La Stella.”
Today, this hymn remains one of the best loved carols in the world. Its simple message of joy and hope continues to captivate audiences across cultures, languages, and time periods.
Listen to the music and sing along with it below:
Folk Song
The origin of “Here We Come A-Wassailing” can be traced back to 17th century England, where it was a traditional song sung during the Christmas and New Year season. Neighbors would go from house to house “wassailing” or singing carols and wishing the inhabitants goodwill and good health. After the visitors finished their song, they were given a drink, usually wassail (a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine with spices) or small gifts by their friends at the house.
One of the earliest versions of this carol appeared in print around 1650, with lyrics that were much shorter than those we use today. The first full version recorded appeared in 1760 under the title “A New Christmas Carol ,” and its popularity quickly spread across Britain.
When 18th century settlers brought this carol to America, they adapted it slightly. Some of the original lines were changed to reflect American culture, while others were added or removed entirely. You might know the version called, “Here We Come A-Caroling.”
Today, “Here We Come A-Wassailing” remains a beloved holiday carol that continues to be sung by families and communities all over the world. Whether you’re singing it around the Christmas tree, or visiting friends and neighbors on New Year’s Eve, this song will always bring joy and cheer to those who hear it!
Listen and sing along with it below:
Poetry
This session features various Christmas poetry. We’ve included four poetry selections for your kids and teens to read, listen to, memorize, and recite. They are:
- A Christmas Carol (poem) by Charles Dickens
- Advent by Christina Rossetti
- Santa Lucia
- A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
For copywork, we have included Zaner-Bloser style handwriting sheets for primary, elementary, and cursive, as well as college ruled for older students. The poems we have chosen are:
- Advent
- Santa Lucia
- A Visit from St. Nicholas
Copywork
Tea Times
In this session we have six recipes for each week of Advent: Christmas Pudding, St. Nicholas Honey Cakes, St. Lucia Saffron Buns, Sugarplums, Wassail, Twelfth Night Cake
We have a link for you to download Christmas teatime packet with four Christmas stories:
Storytime Tea 1: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Storytime Tea 2: Little Women, Chapter II: “A Merry Christmas” by Louisa May Alcott
Storytime Tea 3: The Tailor of Glaucester, by Beatrix Potter
Storytime Tea 4: The Noel Candle, by Clement C. Moore
Shakespeare
Rather than a Shakespeare play for this session, we have provided a couple of “virtual field trips” for you and your kids and teens — recordings of a life performances of A Christmas Carol play AND the Nutcracker ballet. Enjoy!
Nature Study
Each Friday morning, you will go through two of our nature cards. They are labeled in the upper right corner with the corresponding week. These are short, factual cards with images to help your child become familiar with objects in the natural world.
As you progress through our sessions, you may find it handy to keep your past nature cards in a binder for easy reference when your children come across a familiar object. These seeds you are planting will grow into a wonderful garden of knowledge for your children in years to come.
As you explore nature outside your home, watch and listen for newly discovered delights.
Handicraft
For our handicraft lesson, we will be creating a simple Advent wreath that all ages can enjoy — from your younger children to teens who can add embellishments as they desire.
This would be a great decor piece to forage on a nature walk. Look for beautiful, natural evergreens — fir, spruce, cedar, pine needles, pinecones, ivy, holly leaves and berries, etc. Or simply purchase a few artificial evergreen sprigs from your local craft store.
Either way, this simple piece will bring beauty, hope, and anticipation to your Advent season!
Bring back leaves of all shapes and sizes from this week’s nature walk and have fun creating these practical pieces for yourself or to give as gifts!
Art Lesson
Matthew 2:1-11
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
For this session’s art lesson, we will create an abstract “Star of Bethlehem.”
Supplies needed:
- Canvas panel (or watercolor paper)
- Acrylic paints: black, blue, white, gold or yellow
- Paintbrushes: large flat, medium round, thin round
History & Geography
For this sessions’ History and Geography, we have included a biography of Saint Nicholas, the beloved figure who features in many Christmas traditions around the world. Discover more about his background and life story below.
Solfa
Charlotte Mason incorporated solfa lessons twice a week for about 10 minutes each. These lessons are intended to be repeated and you can stay on any lesson for as long as you like. Here is the YouTube channel Lara and her boys enjoy and recommends for practicing solfa, Children of the Open Air:
Brush Drawing
Brush drawing builds motor and observation skills. We have included a link to videos by Bestowing the Brush below which are great for all ages to learn together:
