Christmas Tangrams

We pulled out our really big tangram puzzle set, last night, to work through the Christmas story with.

First though, I had to replace a missing piece. Apparently Mr. Nobody ran away with it when the rest of us weren't looking. I'd be really annoyed with that guy, but he was such a good friend of mine when I was I child, I can never stay angry with him for long.

Anyway, I replaced the piece with the only poster board I had on hand, saved from a ladybug birthday party. It's a different color, but still Christmasy, so we decided it worked.

While Googling for Christmas tangram puzzles, I came across the entire Christmas story in tangrams, at logicville.com. We used some of the patterns suggested there, and then headed out to Google images for inspiration for others.

Below is what we came up with.

Our story started with an angel delivering the message...


...to Mary and Joseph, that Mary would give birth to the Son of God.


Late in the pregnancy, they had to travel to the crowded city of Bethlehem, to be counted in a census.


There Mary gave birth the Baby, Jesus, in a stable - the only place left to stay.


Nearby in the fields were shepherds, with their sheep.


An angel appeared to them, and told them the Good News about the Baby.


They hurried to the stable to worship Him...


...and then rushed out to share the news...


...you know, over the hills and everywhere...


...like in the song.


Sometime later, when the Child was a little older, there was a star...


...and wise men who followed it from the east...


...to bring gifts to the new King.


Today, we've added a lot of symbols to our celebrations, some pulled from pagan traditions, and transformed to help us remember the story, like the evergreen tree, to remind us of the eternal life that Baby brought...


...as a free gift from God.



And candles, that remind us that the Baby born in Bethlehem was the fulfillment of ancient promises.

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.


And, having been given such a great gift in a dark world, we've been told -

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16


It's great to be a homeschooler.

Linked to Math Monday at Love2Learn2Day.