Read a Sad Story How Does It Make the Children Feel? Read a Happy Story and Ask the Same
KEY STAGE 1
Mid-term planning
Year 2: Unit 5 / Term: Summer 1 / Year:
Can stories change people?
Key Concepts: Christianity; Judaism; Old Testament (story of Joseph); New Testament (story of Zacchaeus) / Learning Objective: to explore the way that Old Testament and New Testament stories influence readers and listeners and the reasons for the inclusion of stories.
Background information for teachers
Most religious faiths use stories and histories to communicate some of their concepts. The Torah and the Bible are no exception to this. The books of Genesis, Exodus, Ruth, Esther, the Gospels and the book of Acts (among others) contain almost nothing but story and history. Jesus told stories (parables) very deliberately as a teaching tool, intending to produce a response in those listening to him. Many of the prophets also told stories – either to individuals (Nathan to David in 2 Samuel 2) or to the whole nation (Hosea for example) – and they intended specifically to induce change in people, and encourage them to repent and turn back to God. In the story of Joseph (Genesis 37 – 46 mainly but for this age group use a children’s story Bible, perhaps with short extracts from an easy to read version of the Bible) many people are changed; Joseph, his brothers, the cup-bearer and possibly Jacob as well. In the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19), the tax collector is convicted of his previous bad behaviour and makes a radical change of behaviour. The usual focus for change in both old and new testaments was that of reminding the people of God of their calling to serve God and be a light to the Gentiles (non-Jews). The Israelites repeatedly failed in this task and by the time of Jesus there had been a period of about 2 centuries when there had been no prophetic voices and no deliverance from their oppressors. The Jewish practice that Jesus referred to had become ritualistic and so many of the stories that Jesus tells, as well as those told about him are intended to challenge the status quo and encourage people to relate to God differently.
Expected
Pupils can retell simply the stories of Zacchaeus and Joseph, highlighting the parts of the story that show change in the characters and meant to inspire change in the listener or reader. They will suggest reasons why Christians and Jews still read these stories and what they might learn from them. They will make suggestions as to why stories change people and whether all stories should have that aim.
Developing
Pupils will be able to identify one of the two stories and one way in which either the characters or the listener/reader are intended to be changed. They will recognise some other stories that show people being changed. / Excelling
Pupils will know more details about the two stories and have explored another story about people being changed. They will be able to identify the types of change that these stories are meant to inspire. They will be able to ask deep questions about how change affects people.
Engage:
- Read a sad story – how does it make the children feel? Read a happy story and ask the same question.
- Why do those stories make us feel like that? How do we feel when we read a story where a character has dealt with a problem we are dealing with? Does it help us? How? Children could perhaps share some of their stories. Choose a story that reflects the needs of the pupils in your class.
Enquire & Explore: (AT1)
- Read the story of Joseph; who is changed in the story? How are they changed? Why do we read this story? What does it teach people today?
- Read the story of Zacchaeus; who is changed in the story? How are they changed? Why do we read this story? What does it teach people today?
- Other possible stories: Gideon (Judges 6); Elijah and the ravens; Jonah; Saul (Acts 9)
Evaluate: (AT2 Impersonal)
- Why do we read these stories? What do people of faith learn from these stories? Do these stories still change people today? Why? Should people be changed by stories? Is change always good? Are the people who are changed always better people afterwards?
Reflect & Communicate: (AT2 Personal)
- What stories change them? Is it good to be changed? Do we always want to be changed? How do we want to be changed? Is it a good story if it does not change you?
- Can they tell a story about something that has changed their mind about something?
Evaluation:
- What went well?
- Even better if:
Some suggested resources:
- Bibles – Old and New Testament; story of Joseph, story of Zacchaeus; Other possible stories: Gideon (Judges 6); Elijah and the ravens; Jonah; Saul (Acts 9)
- RE Today publications: Developing RE
Stories about God
- Other stories about people who are changed
RE SCHEME OF WORK
CLASS RECORD SHEET
Assessment opportunities & activities
Year 2: Unit 5 / Term: Summer 1 / Year:
Can stories change people?
Some pupils will have made more progress and will use a developing religious vocabulary to:
- Make links between stories and the ways in which people are changed
- Identify the types of change that Bible stories encourage
- Suggest some of the ways in which they are changed by stories and whether the changes are good
- Ask questions about how people are influenced by religious stories
- Write their own story based on a biblical story and suggest how this might change people today
Most pupils will be able to use an increasing religious vocabulary to:
- Retell a story from the Bible about a person who is changed
- Suggest why people are changed by stories
- Identify some ways in which they are changed by stories
- Recognise the importance of story to Jews and Christians
- Use a biblical story as a basis for their own story about change
- Discuss whether being changed is good
- Recognise and talk about their own response to change
Some pupils may have made lass progress but will be able to use religious words and phrases to:
- Recall some Bible stories about change
- Recognise that people can be changed by stories
- Talk about how stories change them
- Talk about the ways in which change is good and bad