Bringing the Christmas story to life with nativity clipart and crafts
Nativity clipart is a wonderful resource that brings the classic story of the nativity to life visually and interactively. Perfect for crafting, teaching, and storytelling, these images capture the essence of the nativity in a format that’s accessible and engaging for children.
Below, we’ve gathered nativity scene coloring pages, craft and learning activities — as well as books and videos to share with the little ones in your life (including Sunday School students).
Understanding the nativity
The nativity story is a cornerstone of Christmas traditions, symbolizing hope, joy, and the spirit of giving. But how do we explain this story to young children in an engaging and age-appropriate way?
A time-honored tale: At its heart, the nativity is the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Christians celebrate this event around the world during the Christmas season. The story includes key figures like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men and the baby Jesus.
Setting the scene: The classic nativity scene depicts Mary and Joseph in a stable where Jesus was born. This humble setting is often shown with animals like sheep and donkeys, highlighting the simplicity and modesty of the birth. The star of Bethlehem, shining brightly above, signifies the event’s significance.
Characters and symbolism: Each character in the nativity story holds a special meaning. Mary and Joseph represent faith and obedience, the shepherds symbolize humility, and the wise men (or Magi) reflect wisdom and wealth. The angel who announces Jesus’ birth brings a message of peace and goodwill.
Creative nativity crafts
Engaging with the nativity story through crafts can be a fun and educational experience for children. Here are five unique craft ideas:
Stable scene diorama: Create a diorama of the nativity scene using a shoebox, straw and figurines. Cut out nativity clipart images and use them as backdrops. This craft helps children visualize the story and encourages imaginative play.
Star of Bethlehem ornament: Craft a star ornament using gold paper, glitter and ribbon. Hang it on your Christmas tree or in your child’s room as a reminder of the nativity story’s guiding star.
Nativity scene puppets: Turn nativity clipart into puppets by pasting the images onto cardboard and attaching them to sticks. You can use these puppets to enact the nativity story, fostering storytelling skills and creativity.
Wise men’s gift boxes: Create small treasure boxes to represent the gifts of the Magi. Decorate matchboxes or small containers with jewels and colorful paper. This craft is a great way to discuss the symbolism of the gifts in the story.
Angel mobile: Make an angel mobile using nativity scene clipart of angels, string, and a hanger. This activity can help explain the role of angels in the nativity story and adds a festive touch to your home.
- Package sent to you: there are 16 sheets of DIY nativity scene stickers, 16 sheets of nativity scene cardboards, each style size is about 11 x 24 cm/ 4.3 x 9.4 inch, 1 piece of finished...
- Adorable design: these nativity ornaments background and stickers are designed with cute patterns, such as Jesus, angels, soldiers, shepherd, Mary, rabbits, flowers and more, which are...
- Enjoy the DIY time: you can DIY these Christmas picture decorations with your family and friends; Each picture frame has a blank part to fill your photo, you just need to choose a...
- Broad applications: the kids nativity set can be widely applied for church parties, Christmas party activities, bible study groups, vacation bible school, school activities, church...
Learning activities with nativity clipart & coloring
Here are five learning activities using nativity clipart that are both educational and fun:
1. Story sequencing: Print out nativity scene coloring pages and ask your child to color them. Then, cut the scenes into pieces and mix them up. Challenge your child to put the scenes in the correct order, reinforcing their understanding of the story.
2. Character matching game: Print two sets of nativity clipart characters and use them for a memory-matching game. This activity helps with recognition and memory skills while familiarizing children with the characters.
3. Nativity bingo: Create bingo cards with nativity scene images. Children can mark the corresponding image on their cards as you call out different parts of the story. This game is a fun way to review the story’s details.
4. Counting with shepherds: Use shepherd and sheep clipart for a counting activity. Ask your child to count the sheep and match them with the right shepherd. This activity helps with basic math skills and understanding of the story.
5. Alphabet nativity: Create an alphabet game using a nativity scene printable. Each letter corresponds to a different part of the story (e.g., A for Angel, B for Bethlehem). This activity combines literacy with learning about the nativity.
- Toddlers can get into the Christmas spirit and recreate the holy nativity story with this Little People playset
- Place the angel on top of the stable and press down to light up the star and hear “Away in a Manger” musical tune
- Includes stable, manger, 12 figures including baby Jesus, plus 5 play pieces
- Figures and play pieces sized just right for small hands to grasp and move, helping to strengthen fine motor skills
Nativity clipart & coloring pages
Full-color Christian nativity scene clipart
Books about the Nativity story
Books are a fantastic way to deepen your child’s understanding of the nativity story. They provide a narrative context that complements the visual elements of clipart and crafts. Look for age-appropriate books with engaging illustrations to captivate your child’s imagination. Reading together enhances their knowledge of the nativity and fosters a love for reading and storytelling.
- Hardcover Book
- Alison Mitchell (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 11/04/2014 (Publication Date) - The Good Book Company (Publisher)
- JESUS
- Hardcover Book
- Jane Werner Watson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Holly Berry-Byrd (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 12 Pages - 08/19/2017 (Publication Date) - Cottage Door Press (Publisher)
- Nellist, Glenys (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 18 Pages - 10/02/2019 (Publication Date) - Our Daily Bread Publishing (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- Brasseur, Rousseaux (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 10/04/2022 (Publication Date) - Harvest Kids (Publisher)
