Nativity Scavenger Hunt: 12 Bible Clue Cards for Kids

A nativity scavenger hunt that tells the real Christmas story. You hide twelve clue cards around your room or church, and each card has one King James verse and a line that tells where the next card is hidden. Kids read every verse aloud before they run to the next clue, so by the time they find card 12 they have walked through the whole story in order, from the angel's visit to Mary to the wise men at the house.

The 12 clue cards

1. The angel visits Mary: “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” (Luke 1:31)
2. Mary says yes: “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38)
3. Joseph's dream: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
4. The trip to Bethlehem: “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)” (Luke 2:4)
5. Jesus is born: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
6. Shepherds keep watch: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” (Luke 2:8)
7. Good tidings of great joy: “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10)
8. A Saviour is born: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
9. The heavenly host: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
10. The shepherds find Him: “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:16)
11. The wise men see the star: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” (Matthew 2:10)
12. Gifts for the young child: “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Tips

• Write the hiding places in pencil, so you can reuse the cards next year in a different room.
• Big group? Print one set per team and hide each team's cards in different places, or give each team a different color of paper.
• Pre-readers: pair them with an older buddy who reads each card aloud.
• At the end, lay the cards out in order and let each child retell one part of the story.

The cards use the memory verses of our Christmas story sets: The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:11), The Shepherds and the Angels (Luke 2:10) and The Wise Men (Matthew 2:10). Pair the hunt with nativity bingo or the nativity left right game for a full Christmas party.