Ash Wednesday Focus

Curriculum Links

Learning Areas: Religious Education
Level: Year 2 (Ages 6-7)
Duration: 20 minutes
Class Size: 20 students

New Zealand Curriculum Refresh Alignment

• Key Competencies:
  • Relating to Others: Demonstrate respect for different beliefs and values.
  • Participating and Contributing: Take part in shared activities such as rituals and discussions.
• Principles: Inclusion, cultural diversity and equity, and community engagement.
• Values: Respect, diversity, and reflection.
• Religious Education Goals: Understand how people express spirituality and values in ways that matter to them.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand what Ash Wednesday is and why it is important for many people.
• Recognise the meaning of the ashes and the practice of ash imposition.
• Identify simple acts of kindness, sacrifice, or prayer they can do during Lent.
• Create a Lenten calendar to track daily small acts reflecting Lent’s teachings.
• Reflect on how to bring the message of renewal and forgiveness into their lives.

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Lesson Plan

Time	Activity	Description	Curriculum Alignment
0-3 min	Introduction to Ash Wednesday	Briefly explain Ash Wednesday as the start of Lent, a 40-day period of thinking about how we can be kinder and better people. Show a simple picture or video of the ash imposition ritual.	Values: Respect. Key Competency: Relating to Others.
3-7 min	Discussion about ashes	Explain that the ashes remind people that everyone makes mistakes, but we can try to do better. Show real or paper ashes and describe the sign of the cross on the forehead.	Values: Reflection; Principles: Inclusion.
7-12 min	What children can do in Lent	Discuss simple things children can do: sharing toys, helping parents, saying sorry, praying, or being kind at school. Emphasise these little actions help them grow in caring and kindness.	Key Competency: Participating and Contributing. Values: Caring and Respect.
12-18 min	Lenten Calendar Worksheet Activity	Hand out worksheet with 40 boxes (or simplified calendar). Guide students to write or draw one small act of kindness, prayer, or something they want to give up each day for Lent. Allow them to decorate it.	Reflective Practice, Writing to Inform (English curriculum). Key Competency: Thinking.
18-20 min	Sharing and Reflection	Invite volunteers to share one act from their calendar. Finish with a short reflection about renewal and trying again, reinforcing that Lent is about becoming better and helping others.	Values: Reflection and Responsibility.

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Resources and Materials

• Printed pictures or printable flashcards showing ashes imposition
• Ash Wednesday and Lent simple explanation (teacher script)
• Lenten Calendar worksheet: 40 small boxes arranged by days, space to write or draw one kind act/prayer/sacrifice per day
• Crayons, coloured pencils, and stickers

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Assessment Opportunity

• Formative: Observe participation in discussion and willingness to share ideas.
• Summative: Review completed Lenten calendars to see if students understand the concept of daily acts of kindness, sacrifice, or prayer. Focus on concept rather than spelling.

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Teacher’s Notes and Tips

• Use simple, relatable language suitable for Year 2 children.
• Connect acts of kindness and reflection to students’ daily life experience (family, school, friends).
• Emphasise that Lent is a personal journey; it’s okay if they don’t “get it” perfectly the first time.
• Invite dialogue and questions to engage students actively.
• Link the practice to universal values such as kindness, forgiveness, and renewal, accessible to students of diverse backgrounds.

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Sample Script for Introduction

"Today is Ash Wednesday. It's a special day when many people start a time called Lent. For 40 days, we think about how we can be kind, say sorry when we make mistakes, and help others. Some people get ashes put on their forehead in the shape of a cross to remind them to be loving and caring. We are going to make our own calendar with little things we can do each day to be kind and thoughtful."

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This plan is tailored for Year 2 students in New Zealand, integrating Religious Education with literacy skills from the English curriculum (writing to inform through calendar creation), and promoting key competencies of participation, relating to others, and thinking skills. It aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh principles and values, ensuring culturally respectful and inclusive learning experiences tailored to young learners.

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If you would like, I can include a detailed Lenten calendar worksheet template design and a recommended teacher script for the ash imposition explanation.