It’s the year 1818 in Salzburg, Austria. “Silent Night” is a popular Christmas carol by Franz Xaver Gruber with lyrics by Joseph Mohr. It’s everyone’s favorite!  Gruberg was a primary school teacher, church organist and composer in the village of Arnsdorf (Austria).  He is best known for composing the music to “Stille Nacht”. Let’s play Fill-in-the-Blank!

Silent night, _____ night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
_____ in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
_____ quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy _____
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy _____
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Word Bank: holy, sleep, shepherds, night, birth

Homeschoolers/Parents/Teachers: Sketch/color an illustration. Theme: birth of Jesus.  Put these words in alphabetical order: holy, sleep, shepherds, night, birth. Read the story “Jesus” in Learning to Read: New Testament Stories. Write about the birth of Jesus. Sing the song “Silent Night” and share how you feel when you sing it. List two facts about the song. Print one verse in your own handwriting. Write one verse in cursive in your own handwriting. Sketch a map of Austria. (Skills: identify, comprehend, apply, affective, oral, creative, handwriting practice, geography)