Bible's Story Intro

Overview

This 30-minute lesson introduces Year 5 students in New Zealand to the structure of the Bible — focusing on understanding the Old Testament and New Testament, their differences, connections, and significance. This is the first of four lessons in the unit "Exploring the Bible's Story".

It aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh by promoting collaborative inquiry, reflection, and shared cultural literacy relevant to Religious Education (RE) while supporting key competencies such as thinking, relating to others, and participating and contributing.

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Learning Objectives

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

• Identify the Bible as a key religious text and understand its importance in the Christian faith.
• Describe the structure of the Bible — distinguishing between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
• Understand and discuss the significance of the Old and New Testaments and their relationship.
• Engage respectfully with others’ perspectives on sacred texts.

Curriculum References

• Religious Education Learning Area: Developing understanding of Christianity and its scriptures.
• Key Competencies: Thinking; Using language, symbols, and texts; Relating to others; Participating and contributing.
• Values: Respect for diversity and cultures.
• Principles: Inclusion and engagement.
• Teaching considerations: Use of explicit, scaffolded teaching and interactive discussions to support comprehension and respect for beliefs.
  (Aligned with themes and teaching approaches highlighted in the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, .)

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Materials Needed

• Illustrated children's Bible (physical or projected digital version)
• Chart paper or whiteboard
• Markers
• Bible books list printout/card (names of books in Old and New Testament)
• Sticky notes
• Colouring/drawing paper and coloured pencils

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Lesson Outline (30 minutes)

Time	Activity	Description	Purpose & Notes
0-5 min	Introduction & Engagement	- Begin with a simple question: "What do you know about the Bible?" - Briefly explain its importance as a special book for many people around the world. - Share that today we will learn about how the Bible is made up of two parts.	Activate prior knowledge, engage curiosity, build inclusive learning environment.
5-10 min	Explicit Teaching: Bible Structure	- Show the Bible or its digital equivalent. - Use chart/board to show split: Old Testament + New Testament. - Define Old Testament: stories and laws before Jesus’ birth, important to both Judaism and Christianity. - Define New Testament: stories about Jesus, his followers, and teachings after his birth. - Use analogy: "like one big book with two main sections".	Build foundational knowledge with clear, step-by-step teaching. Use visuals and accessible language for Year 5 students.
10-17 min	Interactive Group Activity: Bible Books Sorting	- Divide class into 5 groups (5 students each). - Give each group a set of "Bible book" cards or names. - Challenge groups to sort these cards into Old Testament or New Testament piles. - Invite groups to share their sorting and discuss any tricky parts. - Teacher clarifies and adds interesting facts (e.g., "Genesis is the first book of the Old Testament; Matthew is in the New Testament").	Collaborative learning fosters engagement and deeper understanding. Supports key competency: Participating and contributing.
17-23 min	Reflective Discussion: Significance of Each Testament	- Ask: "Why do you think it’s important that the Bible has these two parts?" - Facilitate discussion on themes such as history, beliefs, learning from stories. - Highlight differences (Old Testament: stories of beginnings, laws, prophets; New Testament: Jesus’ life and teachings). - Emphasise connection: New Testament builds on Old Testament. - Affirm respect for all beliefs shared.	Supports thinking and relating to others. Encourages empathy and reflection on religious texts’ role.
23-28 min	Creative Reflection: My Favourite Bible Story or Book	- Ask students to choose one Bible book or story from either Testament they found interesting. - Draw or write a sentence about why they like it. - Encourage sharing with a partner or small group.	Reinforces learning via personal connection. Supports self-expression and confidence in sharing ideas.
28-30 min	Lesson Wrap-Up & Preview Next Lesson	- Recap key points: Bible is two big parts, Old & New Testament. - Preview the next lesson: Exploring important stories from the Old Testament. - Collect any student notes or drawings for display or future reference.	Consolidates learning. Builds anticipation for next lessons.

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Assessment and Reflection

• Formative assessment during group sorting activity and reflective discussion to gauge understanding of Bible structure.
• Teacher notes on students' ability to describe the Old/New Testament distinction and engage respectfully.
• Creative reflection drawings/writing provide insight into individual understanding and interest.
• Use observations to plan scaffolds or enrichment for upcoming lessons.

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Differentiation & Inclusive Teaching

• Support EAL learners with visuals and simplified language.
• Provide additional scaffolding with sentence starters for writing/drawing task.
• Allow drama/role-play option for students who prefer oral learning.
• Be mindful of student diverse religious backgrounds; encourage respectful listening.

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Links to Future Lessons in Unit

• Lesson 2: Key Stories of the Old Testament
• Lesson 3: Stories of Jesus and the New Testament
• Lesson 4: How the Bible influences life and values

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This lesson empowers students as curious learners, promoting respect and literacy about religious texts consistent with New Zealand’s diverse cultural context and educational priorities. It integrates foundational knowledge with interactive and reflective learning approaches, aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh's emphasis on inclusive, scaffolded, and competency-oriented teaching .