Why is Easter The Most Important Festival For Christians?Christianity

Name of Unit:
Why Is Easter The Most Important Festival For Christians? / Faith:
Christianity
Christian Concept: Salvation / Key Stage in which this unit should be taught: Key Stage 1
Previous Learning:
Foundation Units on Salvation: - Easter Story; Special People / Recommended Year Group (if specified):Year 1
AT1 Learning About Religion
Beliefs, teachings and sources. / AT2 Learning From Religion
Meaning, purpose and truth.
What This Unit Teaches:
The Easter Story.
In these four lessons the children will learn about the events of the Easter story, as told in the Bible.
Lesson 1 - Palm Sunday - Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem;
Lesson 2 –Maundy Thursday - The Last Supper;
Lesson 3 - Good Friday - Jesus’ death;
Lesson 4 - Easter Day - Jesus’ resurrection, Looking at the complete story of Easter and using what has been learnt to answer the enquiry question for this unit – Why is Easter the most important festival for Christians?
Key RE Vocabulary:
Easter; Christian; Holy Week; Palm Sunday; Good Friday; Easter Sunday; celebrate; festival; Jesus; disciples;Pharisees, Mary Magdalene; anoint; tomb; resurrection. / Cross-Curricular Links:
English - Drama activities;
Art and Design - Studying the painting The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci, Creating an Easter tree.
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development:
Developing an understanding as to why the events of Easter are so important to Christians;
Developing an understanding of how people’s faith affect the way they behave.
To reflect on own beliefs and what is important to self and others. / Sensitivities:
This unit will cover the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection, as told in the Easter story. Some pupils may find this upsetting due to the cruel treatment of Jesus and / or they may have experienced the death of a loved one. Also be aware that some pupils may be worried about dying themselves.
Although the story and message of Easter is integral to the Christian faith, be aware of pupils of other faiths in the class and make links, as appropriate.
Possible Further Thinking and Extension Activities:
Presenting the pupils’ learning about this key Christian festival in a whole school Collective Worship. Gives a context to school Easter activities. / Future Learning:
Each year group within Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 have a four lesson Unit focussing on Easter and the Christian concept of Salvation.
Learning Objectives / AT1 / AT2 / Suggested Teaching Activities / Points To Note / Resources
Session 1
Pupils should:
AT1:
Know the events of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as told in the Bible, to understand that people thought Jesus was very special;
AT2:
Share how they feel when they meet someone famous / special,
to make links between their experiences / feelings and those found in the stories of Holy Week. / 
 / 

 / What Happened on Palm Sunday
and What Does it Teach About Jesus?
Introduction:
What is it like to be part of a crowd, celebrating a special occasion?
Watch a video clip / look at pictures of famous people, e.g. the Queen or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate, etc. being greeted by crowds at a formal event.
Why is there a crowd? (They want to see the person that is important to them;)
What is the feeling of the crowd? (anticipation, excitement, joy, etc.)
How does the crowd respond? (cheer, wave, shout, etc.)
Compare other situations where people wave things, e.g. flags at a royal occasion or at Last Night of the Proms, etc.
Ask the pupils if they have ever been part of a crowd?
How did it feel?
Ask the pupils if they have ever met anyone famous / special?
How did they feel?
Pupils share their experiences.
Main Part of the Lesson:
Discuss with the pupils that we are approaching a very important festival for Christians called Easter. Over the next week(s) we are going to be learning about the story of this festival. Where do we find this story?
Today we are going to be learning about what happened on the first Palm Sunday and what does it teach us about Jesus?
Read from the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem (e.g. using the ‘Jesus Storybook Bible’) or use a video clip which tells the Bible story.
Discuss Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and what it tells us about who people thought Jesus was:
Why were there so many people?
(They had heard about Jesus and what he had been doing - miracles, teaching about God, etc. or had met Jesus before.)
Who did the people think Jesus was?
(They thought he might be the new King, the person who was going to save them, the Son of God, they knew he was special because of his miracles and teachings, etc.)
Why would some people not have been happy about Jesus’ arrival? (Jealous, threatened, scared of change, etc.)
Retellthe story either as a class, or in small groups, using a series of images and / or props to support story telling. Use freeze frames with spoken comments / feelings and thoughts to explore what different people in the story might be feeling, (e.g. the crowd, the disciples, Jesus, the Pharisees, – even the donkey!)
Explain how Christians receive a palm cross which is a cross made out of a palm branch in church on Palm Sunday and then many churches have a Palm Sunday procession to remember the events of the beginning of Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. Look at some real palm crosses.
Activity:
Explain to the pupils that we are going to act out our own Palm Sunday procession at the end of the lesson, and so they need to make palm leaves, palm crosses and / or banners to act out welcoming Jesus with.
Why would people have done this on the first Palm Sunday?
What does it tell us about Jesus?
(N.B. It is important to note that Jesus came from a Jewish background and wasn’t a Christian, the people waving palms were probably all Jewish. This is a common misconception for primary aged children.)
Pupils could respond with a phrase in writing and drawing on an outline of a palm leaf to the question ‘What would it have felt like to be in the crowd on Palm Sunday?’
Act out a Palm Sunday procession using the palm leaves, palm crosses and / or banners they have made. A Palm Sunday hymn / song could be played during the procession (e.g. ‘All Glory Laud and Honour’, ‘Sing Hosanna!’ ‘Hosanna, Hosanna!’ ‘You are the King of Glory!’ or ‘Blessed be the Name of the Lord’, etc.)
Plenary:
Remind pupils of the key question for the lesson: ‘What happened on Palm Sunday and what does it teach about Jesus?’
Discuss their answers to the question.
Draw out ideas about Jesus as a leader and king, (but not the sort of ‘king’ people expected) humble, (on a donkey not a grand horse or chariot;) and saviour, (‘Hosanna’ means ‘Save us!’) / You may want to take pictures of the Palm Sunday procession and save the palm branches for recapping in future lessons.
Specific RE Vocabulary:
Palm Sunday – the name Christians give to the day at the start of Holy Week when they remember Jesus entering Jerusalem;
Hosanna – a Hebrew word meaning ‘Save us!’
Disciples – Jesus’ special friends who followed him.
Resources:
The Bible,
appropriate versions such as Jesus Storybook Bible;
Video clip of the first Palm Sunday;
Books of The Easter Story;
Palm crosses;
Materials for making palm branches, palm crosses and / or banners;
Palm crosses, (real ones!)
Suggested hymns / songs:
‘All Glory Laud and Honour,’
‘Sing Hosanna!’
‘Hosanna, Hosanna!’
‘You are the King of Glory!’
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!’
etc.
Sensitivities:
Children having worries / negative memories of being part of a big crowd.
Other religions will not view Jesus in the same way that Christians do and some children may find it uncomfortable to ‘welcome’ Jesus as part of a drama scenario.
Learning Objectives / AT1 / AT2 / Suggested Teaching Activities / Points To Note / Resources
Session 2
Pupils should:
AT1:
Know the events of the Last Supper as told in the Bible and say some things that Christians believe from it;
AT2:
Ask interesting and puzzling questions about why Jesus did what he did at the Last Supper. / 


 / 

 / What Happened at The Last Supper
and What Does it Teach About Jesus?
Introduction:
Have you ever had a special meal? When did you have it? Why? What was it like and who did you share it with? Why? What do you remember about it?
Discusswith the pupils what made their meal particularly special. Was it a celebration of some kind, or did it mark a special occasion?
Explain that today we are going to learn about a very special meal that Jesus had with his disciples (special friends,) which people call the ‘Last Supper’.
Recap with the pupils about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the Palm Sunday procession at the beginning of Holy Week. This meal took place a few days later, on the Thursday of that week.
Main Part of the Lesson:
Introduce the key question of this lesson: What happened at the Last Supper and what does it teach about Jesus?
Recap: Palm Sunday was a time when people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem like a king. Look back at any evidence gathered in the previous lesson, e.g. photographs of freeze frames, palm branches/ palm crosses / banners. How did people feel about Jesus on Palm Sunday?
However, after only a few days (count the days on a calendar – Sunday to Thursday) people had started to turn against Jesus. The religious leaders (Pharisees) didn’t like how popular Jesus was and they were worried that he might become more powerful than them, they felt threatened.
Explain that Christians remember The Last Supper in Thursday of Holy Week each year, this day is called Maundy Thursday.
Read the events of the Last Supper from The Bible or watch a video clip showing the same events.
Discuss with the pupils:
What did Jesus do?
Why?
Bread and wine: have you ever heard the words “Do this in remembrance of me” before?
If so, where and when?
Washing the disciples’ feet:why was this a strange thing for Jesus to do?
How do you think the disciples felt at each of the different parts of The Last Supper? Why?
This event is called ‘The Last Supper’, why?
Look at Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting of ‘The Last Supper’, referring back to the Bible story.
Discuss with the pupils:
What can you see?
What is on the table?
Who is there?
What are the facial expressions of the people there?
What are they doing?
Why is Jesus in the middle of the picture?
Activities:
Provide a copy for each child (or large copy for a group) of ‘The Last Supper’painting, and use speech bubbles for them to write what the different characters are saying, (e.g. “I wonder what will happen?”“I feel a bit worried,” “I will remember Jesus,” etc.)
Jesus shows his love by serving his disciples, (friends).
Have you ever served your friends? What did you do?
Describe these times in RE books.
Plenary:
Display ‘The Last Supper’ painting again and ask the pupils to share some of the ideas they had about what the disciples were thinking. What do they think Jesus was thinking?
Explain that it is called ‘The Last Supper’ because it was the last time Jesus shareda meal with his friends before He died.
However, Christians believe that Jesus rose again from the dead and came back to see his friends, so this is not really the end of the story. Christians believe that they can still be friends with Jesus now.
Explain that many Christians re-enact the events of that Thursday before Jesus’ death each year on Maundy Thursday in Church, as well as sharing The Last Supper at many other times throughout the year, especially on Sundays.
Ask what happened at The Last Supper and what does it teach us about Jesus? (Jesus loves his disciples, He wanted to have a special meal with them before He died, He was humble and He served others,He wanted them to do to others like He was doing to them, he wanted them to always remember him, etc.)
Give the pupils the opportunity to wash each other’s feet. How does it feel to wash, or to be washed?
Illustrate what was the message that Jesus was leaving His disciples with at The Last Supper. / Specific RE Vocabulary:
The Last Supper – The last meal Jesus had with his disciples before He was taken to be crucified;
Holy Communion – what Christians do to remember Jesus’ death, by eating bread and drinking wine, like the disciples at the Last Supper;
Remembrance – Remembering someone or something through a special activity;
Servant King – How Jesus is sometimes described because he acted as a servant and humbly. Christians believe He is the king of everything.
Resources:
The Bible;
Video clip: Maundy Thursday - Good Friday
(e.g. ‘The Servant King’ from Jesus Storybook Bible);
‘The Last Supper’ painting by
Leonardo Da Vinci;
Templates of ‘The Last Supper’ painting; (A4)
Speech bubbles;
Water jug, water bowel, water and towel.
Sensitivities:
If washing feet: Be aware of health and cultural issues with this, be sensitive to anyone who has health or religious reasons for not wanting to do this.
Try not to end the lesson on sadness, being aware some children may be scared of dying and death.
It is important to point out that there is a very happy part of the Easter story to come, (the hope that the resurrection brings to Christians.)
Learning Objectives / AT1 / AT2 / Suggested Teaching Activities / Points To Note / Resources
Session 3
Pupils should:
AT1:
Know the events of Good Friday as told in the Bible and some things that Christians believe from it;
AT2:
Talk about how people felt when Jesus died,
Recall sad times in our own lives and what/ who helped us,
Talk about how people show love. / 


 / 


 / What Happened on Good Friday
and What Does it Teach About Jesus?
Introduction:
Have you ever had a hot cross bun? What was it like? Do you know why they have crosses on them?
Lookat a hot cross bun with the class and point out the cross shape on the top.
Explain that Christians have made these for hundreds of years to help them remember ‘Good Friday.’
Have they ever heard of ‘Good Friday?’
Do they know what happened on the first ‘Good Friday’?
Main Part of The Lesson:
Introduce the key question of this lesson: What happened on Good Friday and what does it teach about Jesus?
Recap: On Palm Sunday, many people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem like a king, but by Thursday, many people had been turned against Jesus by the religious leaders, (Pharisees).
Remember the events of The Last Supper.
Read the story of Good Friday. You could also watch anappropriate video clip of this, (but be very careful that it is suitable for your pupils and not too upsetting for them to watch.)
Explainthat after Jesus’ special meal with his disciples, The Last Supper, He went out into a garden called The Garden of Gethsemane with 3 of his friends to pray.
However He was arrested, taken to stand trial and finally put on a cross to die.
Explain how when Jesus had died, His body was placed into a tomb with a large stone rolled in front to close it.
Lookagain at the hot cross bun. How, then, does it remind us about what Christians believe happened on the first ever Good Friday?
Where else might you see crosses? Show some examples on the board, and get the children to share some of their own ideas.
Ask the pupils what questions they have and other people might have about what happened on Good Friday?
The most obvious questions will be about why Jesus was killed and had to die.
Explain that this is something difficult to understand but that Christians believe from The Bible that this was ‘salvation’.
It was part of God’s plan for the world, to rescue the world from badness and sin. It was God showing love for the world. He let His son be killed on the cross by people to help the world to be a better place afterwards. By His power he was going to make things better afterwards and was going to show that He was much stronger than death and that there was and always will be hope.
Activity:
Talk about the scene of the crucifixion and the 3 crosses. Talk about who the three crosses were for, (Jesus, with 2 criminals either side.)
Explain how the other two crosses were for thieves who had done wrong things, but Jesus had never done anything wrong.
Christians believe He died on the cross to show people how much He loves them, so people can always be friends with God.