Grade 1 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Sunday School Curriculum Grade 1
Week 1 - St. Joseph the Carpenter
Objective:
Teach the children about the role of St. Joseph in the Holy Family.
Memory verse:
“Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Hosea 11:1)
References:
Matthew 1:20-25, 2:13, 2:19-20
Luke 2:4-6, 2:33, 2:41-51
Introduction:
Review with the students the previous lesson and verse
Show an icon or a picture of the Holy Family and point to St Joseph
St. Joseph is part of the family of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was like a father to Jesus and took
care of Him and His mother St. Mary
Lesson Outlines:
St. Joseph was a carpenter. Explain to the students what does a carpenter do? He was
betrothed to St. Mary.
St. Joseph took St. Mary to Bethlehem because the king wanted to count all the people in all
cities. Everyone had to go back to the place of his birth to be counted.
St. Mary was pregnant and St. Joseph protected her on the journey to Bethlehem
In Bethlehem St. Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus
When the king Herod heard about the birth of Jesus Who will be a King, he was afraid of Him
and wanted to kill Him.
The king ordered all the children 2 years old to be killed.
He knew that Jesus was somewhere in Bethlehem
An angel of the Lord appeared to St. Joseph and told him to take St. Mary and Jesus and to
flee to Egypt
When the killing was over, the angel reappeared to St. Joseph in Egypt and told him that it
was safe to go back.
St. Joseph took St. Mary and Jesus to Nazareth where they lived together and there he worked
as a carpenter.
56 JANUARY