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The Best Gift of All

A surprise present, a Nativity with lots of little sheep, and the gift we give Jesus

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 52
  • 📅 Sunday, December 27, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift to me.

I can thank Heavenly Father for baby Jesus and give Jesus a gift of love.

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Christmas)
Know the chapters

This week the manual turns the whole Old Testament toward Christmas, under the words “we have waited for him, and he will save us” (Isaiah 25:9). For hundreds of years, prophets promised a Savior. Isaiah said, “For unto us a child is born” (Isaiah 9:6), and Micah named little Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Then it happened: Jesus was born, laid in a manger, and announced by angels to shepherds in the fields (Luke 2:1–20).

For three-year-olds, the whole lesson is one tiny truth: baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift to us (John 3:16). They just opened presents, so start there. They open a present, find baby Jesus, act out the Nativity as lots of little sheep, and end by thinking of a gift they can give Him: a hug, a kind word, sharing.

Nativity guidelines: baby Jesus is always a doll or a bundled blanket, and no child plays Jesus or Heavenly Father. Children can be Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds and as many sheep as you need. The scriptures don’t mention a donkey on the trip to Bethlehem, so this story has Mary and Joseph walk. If a child asks about Jesus’s family: Mary is His mother, Heavenly Father is His Father, and Joseph took loving care of Him. Keep it that simple.

Next week the New Testament begins, and the class will learn all about Jesus’s life. Today is a perfect happy bridge: the long wait is over, and Jesus came.

Only have 5 minutes?

Put a doll (or a bundled blanket) inside a gift bag. Let the children open the “present” and find baby Jesus, then sing “Away in a Manger” while rocking your arms. Let Teach Mode carry the Nativity story: hand out Mary, Joseph, an angel and a shepherd, and everyone else is a sheep. Teach “For unto us a child is born” with motions, play a sheep hide-and-seek, and end with each child choosing a gift to give Jesus. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: the present is pretend and a chair becomes the manger.

What to bring6 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Wrap the doll snugly in a blanket and put it inside the gift box or bag.
  2. Put a towel in the laundry basket to make a soft manger.
  3. Draw or make 4 to 8 simple paper sheep. Right before class, hide them in easy spots: under a chair, behind the door, on a low shelf.
  4. Open this lesson in Teach Mode and add your children’s names in the My Class tab. Leave room for visiting cousins!

If your class is wild

  • Visitors are welcome! Say their names, give them a part right away (sheep are unlimited), and they’ll feel at home.
  • After-Christmas tired or sugar-bouncy? Go straight to “Sheep, Shepherds, Angels” and come back to the song.
  • Tears at drop-off: let the child hold the gift bag or help carry the manger. A parent can sit by the door until they settle.
  • Potty breaks: never leave the class alone and never go somewhere alone with one child. Ask a Primary presidency member or the child’s parent to help, following your ward’s plan.
  • Snacks: check allergies with parents and your ward’s snack policy first, and save it for the very end.

The 25-minute plan25 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

The Special Present

2 min

Opening a present right after Christmas makes the one tiny truth a happy surprise.

  1. Hold up the present. Say: “Christmas just happened! Did anyone get a present?” Let a few children tell you in one word.
  2. SAY“Heavenly Father gave the whole world a present. Do you want to see it?”
  3. Everyone does a drumroll on their knees while a child helps you open it.
  4. Lift out baby Jesus gently. Say: “Baby Jesus! He is Heavenly Father’s best gift to us.”
🌪️ If every hand grabs for the present, say, “Hands on knees for the drumroll!” and let one quiet child pull the tissue.

Class screen: 🎁 What’s inside the present?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll or a small blanket bundled up like a baby (baby Jesus), A gift-wrapped box or a gift bag big enough to hold the doll

  1. Pretend to carry in a great big invisible present: “Oof, it’s heavy!”
  2. SAY“Christmas just happened! Heavenly Father gave the whole world a present. Do you want to see it?”
  3. Everyone helps untie the pretend ribbon, rip the pretend paper (rrrrip!), and lift the lid.
  4. Show the baby on this screen and rock your arms. Say: “Baby Jesus! He is Heavenly Father’s best gift to us.”

Class screen: 👶 Surprise! It’s baby Jesus!

2. Song

Sing: Away in a Manger

3 min

A song most of them know from home brings the whole class close and calm.

  1. SAY“Let’s sing a song to baby Jesus!”
  2. Sing “Away in a Manger” (Children’s Songbook, 42) while everyone rocks their arms like holding a baby.
  3. Sing it again softly, and let one child gently hold baby Jesus while you sing.
  4. Humming and rocking counts. They’re learning!

Class screen: 🎶 Sing to baby Jesus!

3. Story

Nativity: The Best Gift of All

6 min

Acting out the Nativity with lots of little sheep lets every child be part of Jesus’s birth.

  1. Hand out parts: Mary holds baby Jesus, Joseph stands by her, one or two angels, one or two shepherds. Everyone else is a little sheep.
  2. Put the manger in the middle of the floor.
  3. Show each picture on your phone or tablet, read the one or two lines, then do the action together.
  4. At the baby scene, Mary gently lays baby Jesus in the manger.
  5. End with everyone kneeling around the manger, quiet and still.
🌪️ If the sheep get too wild, say, “Sleepy sheep!” Everyone lies down and snores for three seconds, then pops back up.

Class screen: 🌟 Story time: Jesus is born!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll or a small blanket bundled up like a baby (baby Jesus), A laundry basket or small box with a towel inside (the manger)

  1. Hand out parts: Mary rocks her arms like holding a baby, Joseph stands by her, one or two angels, one or two shepherds. Everyone else is a little sheep.
  2. Pull a chair into the middle of the room. That’s the manger.
  3. Show each picture on your phone or tablet, read the one or two lines, then do the action together.
  4. At the baby scene, Mary pretends to lay baby Jesus gently on the chair.
  5. End with everyone kneeling around the chair, quiet and still.
4. Wiggle break

Sheep, Shepherds, Angels

2 min

Changing from one Nativity character to the next burns off wiggles and reviews the story.

  1. Call out “Sheep!” Everyone crawls and says, “Baa!”
  2. Call out “Shepherds!” Everyone walks tall holding a pretend shepherd’s stick.
  3. Call out “Angels!” Everyone stands on tiptoes and flaps soft wings.
  4. Mix them up, faster and faster. Last call: “Baby Jesus is sleeping!” Everyone freezes with a finger on their lips: “Shhh.”

Class screen: 🐑 Sheep! Shepherds! Angels!

5. Scripture

For Unto Us a Child Is Born

3 min

Seven words with motions let them say a real prophecy about Jesus.

  1. SAY“A long, long time before Jesus was born, a prophet named Isaiah said these happy words!”
  2. Teach the motions. Then say it together: “For unto us a child is born.”
  3. Say it again and point to baby Jesus in the manger every time you say “a child is born.”
  4. Try a whisper voice, a sheep voice, then a happy angel voice.
  5. SAY“Isaiah was right! Jesus came.”

Class screen: 👶 For unto us a child is born! · 🤗 For unto us · 👶 a child · 🙌 is born

6. Game

Find the Lost Sheep

3 min

A gentle hunt gets them moving while they bring the sheep to see baby Jesus like the shepherds did.

  1. SAY“Uh-oh! Some little sheep are lost. Can you be shepherds and find them?”
  2. Children tiptoe around the room looking for the hidden paper sheep.
  3. Each shepherd who finds a sheep brings it to the manger and says, “Baa! We found Jesus!”
  4. If there’s time, hide them again while everyone covers their eyes.
🌪️ Tiptoe shepherds only. Help a child who can’t find one by saying “warmer… warmer…” so everyone gets a sheep.

Class screen: 🔎 Find the lost sheep!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 4 to 8 paper sheep (simple drawings, or cotton balls glued on paper)

Sleepy Sheep Hide-and-Seek

  1. Half the children are sleepy sheep. They curl up in spots around the room.
  2. The other half are shepherds. They tiptoe with you to find each sheep and gently tap its back.
  3. Each found sheep says “Baa!” and follows its shepherd to the manger chair.
  4. Switch: the sheep become shepherds and play again.

Class screen: 🐑 Find the sleepy sheep!

7. Talk it over

Show Me!

2 min

Answering with their bodies lets pre-readers show what they remember.

  1. Sit together on the floor. Show one question at a time on your phone or tablet.
  2. Everyone answers with their body or one word. Every answer gets a happy “Yes!”
  3. Finish by saying: “Baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift!”
💬 Ask the class
  • Show me how Mary held baby Jesus!
  • Where did baby Jesus sleep?
  • Show me how the angels flapped their wings!
  • Show me a gift you can give Jesus, like a kind hug or a big smile!

Class screen: 🙋 Show me!

8. Game

What’s Hiding?

2 min

A hidden-picture reveal reviews the Nativity with happy suspense.

  1. Open Mystery Picture. Say: “A picture from our story is hiding. Let’s find it!”
  2. Ask an easy question (“Who came to the shepherds? An angel!”). Each right answer, a child taps away one tile.
  3. When they guess the picture, everyone does its action: baa for a sheep, flap for an angel, rock for baby Jesus.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🔍 What’s hiding?

9. Testimony

A Gift for Jesus

2 min

A quiet moment by the manger helps them feel Heavenly Father’s love and choose a gift for Jesus.

  1. Ask for whisper voices. Everyone sits close around the manger.
  2. SAY“Heavenly Father loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the best gift of all. I love Him, and I know He loves you.”
  3. Ask: “What gift can we give Jesus?” Help each child pick one: a hug for someone sad, sharing a toy, a kind word. They whisper it to you.
  4. Fold arms and say a short closing prayer, or help a child say one.

Class screen: 💛 Jesus is the best gift!

10. Game

Picture Quiz

4 minBONUS

Pointing at pictures lets pre-readers review the story and cheer.

  1. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question aloud and point to each picture.
  2. Children point to or shout the right picture. Everyone cheers every right answer.
  3. Skip the team scores if they cause tears. With Sunbeams, everybody wins.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Picture quiz!

Story drama

The Best Gift of All

Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:26–35; Luke 2:1–20 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • MaryListens to the angel, walks to Bethlehem, and gently lays baby Jesus (the doll) in the manger.
  • JosephWalks with Mary, knocks on the inn door, and stays close to baby Jesus.
  • AngelsOne or two children who flap soft wings and share the good news.
  • ShepherdsOne or two children who watch the sheep and hurry to see baby Jesus.
  • Little SheepEveryone else! Crawl, baa, and follow the shepherds to the manger.

Scenes

  1. 📜 Prophets promised: a special baby is coming!

    Long ago, prophets like Isaiah promised that a special baby would be born to save us. Everyone waited and waited.

    🎬 Tap your wrist: “Wait… wait… wait…” Then cup your hand to your ear: “Is He coming?”

  2. 👼 An angel visits Mary

    An angel came to Mary. He told her not to be afraid: she would have a baby, and His name would be Jesus.

    🎬 The Angel flaps soft wings. Everyone whispers, “Jesus!”

  3. 🚶 Mary and Joseph walk to Bethlehem

    Mary and Joseph walked a long, long way to Bethlehem.

    🎬 Everyone walks in place: step, step, step. Wipe your forehead: “Whew, we’re tired!”

  4. 🚪 Knock, knock! No room!

    Joseph knocked on the door of the inn. But there was no room for them!

    🎬 Joseph knocks. Everyone knocks on the floor: knock, knock! Then shake your heads: “No room!”

  5. 👶 Baby Jesus is born!

    That night, baby Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him in soft cloths and laid Him in a manger, a bed where animals eat their hay.

    🎬 Mary gently lays baby Jesus in the manger. Everyone rocks their arms and whispers, “Shhh, baby Jesus.”

  6. 🐑 Angels tell the shepherds the good news

    Out in the fields, shepherds were watching their sheep. A bright angel told them the happy news: a Savior is born! Then lots of angels praised God.

    🎬 Sheep say “Baa!” Everyone covers their eyes from the bright light… then peeks!

  7. 🧑‍🌾 The shepherds hurry to see Jesus

    The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, and they found baby Jesus lying in the manger, just like the angel said.

    🎬 Shepherds and sheep tiptoe fast to the manger, then kneel down very softly.

  8. 🎁 Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift!

    Heavenly Father loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the best gift of all!

    🎬 Hold out your arms like you’re opening a present. Then hug yourself: “Jesus loves me!”

Key verse

Isaiah 9:6 ↗
“For unto us a child is born”
In kid words: A baby was born for us: Jesus!
🙌 “For unto us” = sweep your arms around the whole class · “a child” = rock a baby in your arms · “is born” = lift your arms up slowly with a big smile

More verses

Luke 2:11 ↗
“unto you is born this day … a Saviour”
In kid words: Today a Savior is born for you!
Luke 2:7 ↗
“wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger”
In kid words: Mary wrapped baby Jesus snug and laid Him in a manger.
John 3:16 ↗
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us Jesus.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 👶 Baby Jesus
  • 👩 Mary
  • 🧔‍♂️ Joseph
  • 🌾 Manger
  • 👼 Angel
  • 🧑‍🌾 Shepherd
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • ⭐ Star
  • 🎁 Present
  • 🏘️ Bethlehem
  • 🚪 Door
  • 🌙 Moon
Clues for each word
  • Baby Jesus: Heavenly Father’s best gift
  • Mary: Jesus’s mother
  • Joseph: He took loving care of baby Jesus
  • Manger: Baby Jesus’s bed of hay
  • Angel: Shared the good news with the shepherds
  • Shepherd: Takes care of the sheep
  • Sheep: It says “baa”
  • Star: It twinkles in the night sky
  • Present: We opened one and found baby Jesus
  • Bethlehem: The little town where Jesus was born
  • Door: Knock, knock! No room!
  • Moon: It shines at night
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Where did baby Jesus sleep?
    • A. 🌾 A manger
    • B. 🛁 A bathtub
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🌾 A manger Mary laid Him in a manger, a soft bed of hay.

  2. Who told the shepherds about Jesus?
    • A. 🦖 A dinosaur
    • B. 👼 An angel
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👼 An angel An angel shared the good news, and then lots of angels praised God!

  3. What animals did the shepherds take care of?
    • A. 🐧 Penguins
    • B. 🐊 Crocodiles
    • C. 🐑 Sheep
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🐑 Sheep Baa! Shepherds take care of sheep.

  4. Who is Heavenly Father’s best gift?
    • A. 👶 Baby Jesus
    • B. 🚂 A toy train
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👶 Baby Jesus Jesus is the best gift of all!

  5. Who held baby Jesus close?
    • A. 🐻 A bear
    • B. 👩 Mary
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👩 Mary Mary, His mother, held Him snug and close.

  6. Was there room at the inn?
    • A. 👍 Yes
    • B. 👎 No room!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👎 No room! Knock, knock! No room, so baby Jesus slept in a manger.

  7. What gift can we give Jesus?
    • A. 💛 Our love
    • B. 🍌 A banana
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 💛 Our love Jesus loves it when we love and help others!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Away in a Manger Children’s Songbook, p. 42

    Many children know it from home. Rock your arms while you sing after opening the present. Find it ↗

  • Once within a Lowly Stable Children’s Songbook, p. 41

    A short, gentle Nativity song to sing by the manger if there’s time. Find it ↗

  • He Sent His Son Children’s Songbook, p. 34

    The lesson’s one truth in a song: Heavenly Father sent Jesus to us. Find it ↗

  • Silent Night Hymns, no. 204

    Hum it softly for a calm ending. Families can sing it together at home. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

A Gift for Jesus

Give Jesus a gift this week: a hug for someone sad, sharing a toy, or helping clean up. Then tell your family, “I gave Jesus a gift!”

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we opened a present and found baby Jesus, Heavenly Father’s best gift (John 3:16). We acted out the Nativity as angels, shepherds and lots of little sheep, and said “For unto us a child is born” (Isaiah 9:6). Ask your child: “What gift will you give Jesus this week?”

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🌾 Hay for the Manger · 4 min

  1. Cut yellow paper into thin strips. That’s hay!
  2. Each child names one kind thing they can do and adds a strip of hay to the manger.
  3. SAY“Our kindness makes a soft bed for baby Jesus. That’s a gift He loves!”

⭐ The Wise Men Come · 3 min

  1. Pick a Star and two or three wise men. The Star walks slowly with twinkle hands.
  2. The wise men follow the Star around the room to Jesus and kneel to give pretend gifts.
  3. SAY“The wise men came from far away because they loved Jesus. We love Him too!”

🔦 Jesus Is Our Light · 3 min

  1. Turn off the lights for just a moment (not too dark for little ones).
  2. Turn on a flashlight. Say together: “The LORD is my light” (Psalm 27:1).
  3. SAY“Jesus helps us not be scared, like a light in the dark.” Turn the lights back on and cheer.

🐑 The Lord Is My Shepherd · 2 min

  1. Everyone is a sheep. You are the shepherd. Walk slowly and the sheep follow.
  2. Say together: “The LORD is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).
  3. SAY“Jesus takes care of us like a good shepherd takes care of sheep.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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