One way to incorporate puppets into the Christmas story is to have them perform the whole story on a small stage. The bell can be added as a sound effect to create a more festive atmosphere. For the telephone, we could think of it as a magical phone that connects the characters to the North Pole or to angels. So, for example, the shepherds could receive a call on the telephone from an angel telling them about the birth of Jesus. This way, these elements can be combined to give a new and interesting take on the traditional Christmas story.
Well, puppets could be used to act out the Christmas story in a unique way. A bell might be associated with the Christmas bells that ring during the holiday. And perhaps the telephone could be used in a modern retelling of the Christmas story, like someone getting a call on Christmas day that changes their perspective. But it's quite an odd combination.
Since it's not as widely known as some mainstream Christmas story collections, it's hard to say for sure if there are 'famous' stories. However, if the magazine had a large readership within the Bell Telephone company and their associated families, some stories might have been famous among that particular group. Maybe there were stories that became annual favorites, like one about a heroic telephone operator who helped a family in distress on Christmas Eve.
Puppets can tell Christmas stories through puppet shows. The puppeteers manipulate the puppets to act out the characters in the Christmas story, like the wise men, shepherds, and of course, baby Jesus. They use different voices for each character and make the puppets move in ways that illustrate the plot, such as walking to Bethlehem or presenting gifts.
You can start by getting some colored paper. Cut out simple shapes like people, animals or Christmas objects for your puppets. Then use glue or tape to attach sticks to the back of the cut - outs so you can hold them. Draw faces and details on the puppets with markers.
The 'Bell Telephone Magazine Christmas Stories' might contain a variety of stories. Some could be fictional accounts of Christmas miracles made possible through the use of the telephone. For example, a story about a lonely person being cheered up by a surprise phone call from a long - lost friend. Or it could have stories about the special Christmas traditions within the Bell Telephone company, like how they decorated their offices or held a special Christmas event for their workers and customers.
In a Christmas story, a lamp could be a magical object. Maybe it's an old lamp that when lit, reveals memories of past Christmases. The family gathers around it and as the light flickers, they see visions of their ancestors' Christmas celebrations. This adds a touch of mystery and nostalgia to the story. It could also be that the lamp is the only source of heat in a cold Christmas eve for a poor family, and they huddle around it, sharing stories and finding warmth not just from the physical light but also from their love for each other.
In a Christmas story, math can be incorporated in various ways. For example, if the story involves shopping for Christmas presents, there will be calculations of costs, discounts, and budgets. Also, if there is a scene about dividing Christmas cookies among family members, that's a simple math operation of division. Another aspect could be in measuring ingredients for Christmas baking, which uses concepts like ratios and proportions in math.
In a Christmas story, a lonely old man who loves horror movies makes a Frankenstein mask as a way to pass the time during the Christmas season. One day, some carolers come to his door. When he opens the door wearing the mask, the carolers initially get scared but then realize it's just a friendly old man. They end up spending Christmas with him, and the mask becomes a symbol of how unexpected friendships can form during the holidays.
A major award can be part of a Christmas story like this. Suppose there is a Christmas art competition in a village. The award is a big deal as it comes with a scholarship. There's a boy named Tom who is inspired by the quote 'Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.' Tom creates an amazing painting of a Christmas scene with that magic in it. He wins the award and it changes his life for the better, and his painting becomes a symbol of the village's Christmas.
One way is to create a memory game. Use cards with pictures of the Nativity scene elements like Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the wise men. Players have to match pairs of cards, and as they play, they can be told a bit about the Nativity story related to each element.